A day for seeing all living things, great and small
Naturalists converge in Concord for ‘Bioblitz’
CONCORD - Yesterday, on the anniversary of the nation’s declaration of independence from the British, one thing was troubling veteran ecologist E.O. Wilson: European earthworms.
The Redcoats are long gone, but the worms - first brought to the New World in the Pilgrim’s potted plants - remain a menace to forest life as they munch on delicate plants.
“There’s something happening below our feet that most people don’t even know about,’’ said Wilson as he examined insects in the woods of Concord. “They changed the environment of the forest.’’
Wilson, who turned 80 last month, was feted yesterday at the 11th annual Bioblitz, a day where ecologists identify and document any living thing larger than 1 millimeter. The event is held each July 4, the day Henry David Thoreau moved to Walden Pond in 1845. About 200 people took part yesterday, said Kathi Anderson, executive director of the Walden Woods Project, an event sponsor.
“It’s an endlessly fascinating world, if you just get out in it,’’ said Ellen Breed, a self-described amateur naturalist who had traveled to Con cord with her husband, Alan, from South Brunswick, Maine “The miracle of getting close to something - it’s amazing.’’
Early in the day, Breed stalked something moving through the tall grass and, after a moment’s examination, identified it as a brown toad.
Naturalist and author Peter Alden worked with Wilson to plan the first blitz, in 1998. Because most scientists have highly focused areas of expertise, Alden invited what he called “a Noah’s ark of experts.’’
“The butterflies need a certain plant, but most butterfly people don’t know their plants,’’ Alden said. “So now we have the butterfly people with the plant people.’’
Armed with little more than weathered field guides, the scientists aimed to identify 1,000 species that day. They found 1,905. This year, the experts are trying to digitally photograph 1,000 species. A final count will be tallied over the next few days.
At 13, Wilson discovered that a species of fire ants had come to the United States from South America through ports in his hometown, Mobile, Ala., then made a career of studying the picnic-ruining insects. Yesterday, he estimated that somewhere between 40 and 50 species of ants lived in Estabrook Woods, the sprawling property that served as the day’s hub. During the first Bioblitz, in 1998, Wilson discovered a new ant species.
“You can’t look around in a place like Estabrook Farm and not find something interesting,’’ he said.
Richard Primack, a Boston University biology professor, uses Thoreau’s notes to study climate change.
Thoreau took copious notes on everything from the animals he encountered to the time of year plants flowered, Primack said. Thoreau’s notes, which he was known to store in his hat, were so detailed that Primack cites them in his peer-reviewed research.
“In my mind, one of the most striking results of what we’re doing in Concord is using the data to show the real effects of climate change,’’ Primack said. About one-third of the species Thoreau observed no longer exist in Concord, and wildflowers are blooming about two weeks earlier than they did in the mid-1800s, Primack said.
Bill Bolger, who works for the historic landmark division of the National Park Service, traveled from Philadelphia to Massachusetts this weekend to take part in the survey.
“What interests me is using a historical place as a springboard for issues of conscience, of biodiversity,’’ said Bolger. He said he hoped events like yesterday’s would prompt more awareness of threats to the environment, such as development and climate change.
The superintendent of Minute Man National Historic Park, Nancy Nelson, said she was enthralled Friday night watching moth experts identify scores of insects that flew onto white sheets illuminated by spotlights.
“It was amazing. An appalling number of insects came onto that sheet,’’ she said. “It’s all around you and you’d never see it until you’re with someone who knows. It’s like veils are lifted.’’
Alden said he hoped yesterday’s event would prompt more people - especially children - to examine and question their environment.
“Every town has thousands of species, and what irritates me is that people don’t see this.’’ he said. “Natural history is vanishing,’’
Matt Collette can be reached at mpcollette@globe.com. 