The Flax Pond Summer Institute

The Flax Pond Summer Institute (FPSI) is a five day intensive research program conducted at the Flax Pond Lab and in the Flax Pond saltmarsh itself.

The purpose of the program is twofold: to gather scientific data about the marsh each year and to give the public an opportunity to learn about protection of estuarine ecosystems by working with academic marine scientists. The program is sponsored jointly by the Friends of Flax Pond, Stony Brook University, and the NY State Department of Environmental Conservation. It is made possible by a growing collaboration of these agencies together with the efforts of local high school teachers, environmental groups, and interested parties.

The program is composed of three independent research projects: a Blue and Ribbed Mussel study, a Marsh Cover Study, and a Juvenile Horseshoe Crab Tide Pool study.

All three studies are repeated on a yearly basis and the recorded data is preserved by the Friends and made available to all participating scientists and interested individuals. The first FPSI was conducted during the summer of 2004 and repeated in 2005. In 2005, The Friends of Flax Pond was awarded a $25,000 grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Fund which helped to cover equipment for the study.

Due to renovation of the Flax Pond Laboratory during the Summer of 2006, it was only possible to repeat the Marsh Cover Study (Glenn Richard and Heather Young) that year. In 2007, the full program resumed and now continues. Over a period of several years, we will be able to detect trends in each of the studies which will serve as indicators to the health of the marsh ecosystem. In particular, these indicators will be of relevance to Stony Brook University and the Department of Environmental Conservation who manage Flax Pond jointly and make decisions about species protection and public access.

The Marsh Cover Study (Glenn Richard and Fred Mushacke) uses GPS and GIS technology to map changes in overall habitat vegetation in Flax Pond. Aerial photograpy taken by the DEC in 1974 and 2005 reveals significant progressive loss of the wetlands of a half acre per year. The Marsh Cover Study continues this mapping from the ground and our citizen scientists learn to assess the state of marsh vegetation.

The Ribbed and Blue Mussel Study (Bill Wise) assesses the health of these shellfish in Flax Pond. Previously rich in mussels, clams and oysters, comparatively few of these shellfish remain. Not only do shellfish provide an important food supply for marine animals as well as humans, shellfish also serve the important function of filtering the water. In particular, ribbed mussels, which are not valued as food for the dinner table, have an additionally significant role in the marsh. Ribbed mussels are found at the base of tussocks, the clumps of Spartina which make up the habitat of the low marsh. The bissel threads of the mussels entwine with the roots of the Spartina grasses and hold them into the peat in which they grow. Without ribbed mussels, just as without Spartina, there would be no marsh as we know it and no habitat for the particular species of crabs and fish and shellfish which we find there today.

Not only do Horseshoe Crabs spawn in Flax Pond, the tiny juvenile crabs spend their early years in marsh tidepools. Saltmarshes are nurseries for many of the marine shorebirds, fish and crustaceans which inhabit the ocean ecosystem Their size can range from .5 to 2 inches. The Horseshoe Crab Tide Pool Study (Matt Sclafani) samples the tidepools and collects data on the size, weight and numbers of the juvenile crabs.The ability of species to reproduce and thrive in the saltmarsh, like the horseshoe crab, the diamondback terrapin, as well as other crustaceans and fish, are indicators of the health of the estuary.

The number of participants in the Summer Institute is limited to 20 people, including high school students and community members. Therefore application is required in advance. The number of people who can be in the marsh working at one time is regulated by consideration of the degree of impact on the marsh. The marsh is a fragile ecosystem and therefore all projects and participants must be permitted by the DEC. (Summer Institute permits are arranged by FPSI). Often the projects involve muddiness, heat, and sometimes insects. Participants are required to provide their own transportation and may park at the Lab. Sessions run from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, and participants are expected to bring lunch, water bottles, sunscreen and insect repellant. Rubber boots or shoes are needed for walking in mud. Sandals are not adequate footwear. Dress for the weather and wear a hat. Swimsuits are not appropriate and swimming is not allowed due to liability considerations.