General Information on the Upton Ecological and Research Reserve

A little over two years ago, the U. S. Department of Energy designated 530 acres of Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) as protected habitat. The acreage, called the Upton Ecological and Research Reserve, makes up 10% of the site.  It is located in the eastern portion of the Laboratory site, within the Core Preservation Area of the Pine Barrens. Under an Interagency Agreement with DOE, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) conducts resource management programs for the conservation, enhancement and restoration of wildlife and habitat in the Reserve.

The reserve is a treasure trove of diversity, providing a home for more than 220 species of plants and 162 species of mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians. Populations that are threatened or nonexistent elsewhere in New York State, such as tiger salamanders and hognosed snakes, appear to be thriving at BNL. In 2002, BNL birding enthusiasts were the first to document a summer tanager nesting in New York State. BNL, DOE and USFWS are working together with neighbors of the reserve, environmental organizations, regulatory agencies and other stakeholders to develop a comprehensive, ecosystem-based Natural Resource Management Plan for BNL and the Reserve.

Activities conducted in 2002 included the following.

Conservation and Habitat Protection 

• Posted Reserve boundaries.
• Drafted a Fire Management Plan.

Monitoring  

• Surveyed populations of white-tailed deer, breeding songbirds, small mammals, tiger salamander. 
• Conducted an aerial survey to document the extent of forest damage from the gypsy moth and orange-striped oakworm.
• Contracted for an updated “ground-truthed” vegetation map that can be used to predict animal and insect distribution and track changes over time.
• Entered data on natural resources into the Laboratory’s Geographic Information System (GIS) so it can be analyzed and used for natural resource planning.

Research: by BNL, USFWS, Stony Brook University, Dowling College, and Fordham University. Research findings are presented at the annual Central Pine Barrens Research Forum held at BNL.

• Established deer exclosures to evaluated forest regeneration.
• Assessed the effect of defoliation on woody plant growth and function.
• Studied conditions under which invasive plants thrive and how they threaten forests.
• Evaluated the effects of fire on oakmoth pupae survival and nutrient uptake.

Outreach

• In cooperation with Suffolk County Community College, BNL and DOE education programs and Longwood High School, teachers and high school students learned about ecology on Long Island and the pine barrens, conducted monitoring, and mapped distribution of gypsy moths.
• Reserve staff participated in Earth Day activities, tours for teacher in-service days, and Lab employee nature walks.
• Formed partnerships with local, state and federal agencies like the Fire learning Network (The Nature Conservancy), the Central Pine Barrens Wildfire Task Force to learn more about pine barrens ecology and work together to make better natural resource decisions.
• Founded the Long Island Native Grassland Group to grow Long Island native grasses, providing seeds for grassland restoration activities across the island.

In FY03, there are plans to assess reptile and amphibian populations, conduct a research prescribed burn (the use of fire to control insect outbreaks will be unique), complete more aerial surveys, identify and map invasive plants and plan for control (this project will be the most detailed survey of its kind within the Pine Barrens), finalize a sitewide Natural Resource Management Plan, conduct additional research, and offer tours, talks, and other educational programs.

What makes the Reserve unique?

• Protected habitat, one of four pine barrens ecosystems in the Northeast
• Unique hydrology--sandy soils, high water table, near headwaters of the Peconic
• Central location (near to numerous universities and colleges)
• Wealth of environmental monitoring data available for the last 50 years (also have a meteorological tower onsite)
• Research and development capabilities of the Laboratory: specialized equipment, Geographic Information System (GIS), etc.
• Land is owned, controlled and secured by the U.S. Dept. of Energy
• Inexpensive lodging is available onsite for researchers
• Some unique conditions or historical experiments: the Gamma Forest, Meadow Marsh project.
• Existing partnerships with U.S. Fish and Wildlife, The Nature Conservancy, the Central Pine Barrens Commission, etc.

If you would like more information about the Upton Ecological and Research Reserve, visit the website at http://www.bnl.gov/esd/reserve/default.htm or contact the USFWS staff for the Upton Reserve at (631) 344-5810, 344-6125, or Dr. Tim Green, BNL’s Natural Resources Manager, at 344-3091.