| 11 weeks 5 days 55 min ago Scientists Bioblitz Maine preserve
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(Marnie MacLean, NECN: Wells, Maine) - Teams of biologists from Maine and across New England
Have been in Wells, Maine this week for a bio-blitz. It's a focused
Three day effort to learn about every plant, animal and
Insect living in a new nature preserve.
"So each snake has its own frequency that's emitted by a radio transmitter"
Jonathan Mays is Maine’s own snake hunter. He's looking
For the endangered racer snake....there are seven living
In the wells Barrens in Maine....each is fitted with a small
Transmitter so Jonathan can track them.
Jonathan wants to know how far the snakes travel and how
Well they can live in this habitat.
While Jonathan looks for the snakes other biologists are focusing
Their efforts on the plant life they like to hide under. It's
Called a bio-blitz...three days of intensive survey of one specific
Area.
Parker Schuerman is leading this team of biologists. His motto
Is there's no bad weather...just bad clothes...so dressed to
Work in the rain...they head out to plot a section of the wells
Barrens.
Parker Scheurman--nature conservancy
"we're looking at plant diversity on the forest floor....the mid-story and overstory with
The trees themselves."
It's a lot more than spotting an oak tree....they follow strict
Guidelines when mapping out a plot...measuring exact
Distances from a center point.
Once
the marks are in place, they'll catalogue all the plant life within the plot.
"what we're looking for is a baseline so we can establish change."
"the nature conservancy bought over 500 acres in wells, Maine last fall....most of it
Is blueberry barrens..and while want to keep blueberries...want the land to be more
Diverse."
The way to make that happen is to eventually burn sections of the land....
Which will encourage new growth...and bring new species
Of plants...animals and insects. The ones living here
Now, know how to get out of the way of the fires..including
The racer snakes.
Jonathan has found one of the snakes....but says she's hiding
Underneath the brush--out of the rain.
It would be nice to see the four foot black racer...but Jonathan
Says it's more important to protect her and her home in the barrens.
NECN’s Marnie Maclean reports.
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