Take a look at some of the great research projects associated with our CESU!
From Fawns to Bucks: The Science of Deer Counting
From August to October in 2020 and 2021, Dr. H. Bryan Underwood of USGS Eastern Ecological Science Center and Dr. Donald Leopold of SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry studied white-tailed deer in the fertile forests of Delaware. Their goal was to develop a cost-effective and efficient method for estimating deer populations without disrupting park staff. With the help of two graduate students, the researchers explored various existing deer counting methods to estimate the populations in both the First State National Historical Park and the adjacent Brandywine Creek State Park.
A Tick-ing Time Bomb: Parasite Populations and their Effect on Moose in Maine
The juvenile moose of Maine face two challenges in the dawn of their lives: harsh, frigid winters and thousands of parasitic ticks slowly draining their life source. The combination of the two establishes a low survival rate for these vulnerable moose calves, a phenomenon that may be aggravated by our warming climate.
Reality Bites on Cape Cod: Marine Debris Sculpture Raises Awareness for Plastic Problem
During the summer season of 2023, a 14-foot white shark loomed over Herring Cove along the Cape Cod National Seashore, reminding visitors of the potential dangers that lurk beneath the waves. However, this particular shark wasn’t like its living, breathing counterparts, as it was crafted entirely out of plastic debris. This art installation from the Center for Coastal Studies (CCS) served both as a symbol of these important annual visitors to the Cape as well as a warning to the public of a greater threat to marine life: marine debris pollution.
