Experiences Shared: AMC's 2023 Research Internship Participants Recount Their Summer Experiences
In the pristine landscapes of the Appalachian Mountains, a group of dedicated interns are making significant strides in environmental monitoring and conservation. The Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) has been instrumental in fostering these efforts, with its research interns playing a crucial role in various projects.
One such project is the Appalachian Trail iNaturalist project, where AMC's interns might assist in documenting biodiversity along the trail. This involves photographing and uploading observations of plants and animals to the iNaturalist platform, contributing to citizen science. Their contributions help scientists understand the distribution and abundance of species, which is vital for conservation efforts and ecological research.
Another project is the Dragonfly Mercury Project, where interns participate in fieldwork by collecting dragonfly nymphs or other aquatic organisms. These samples are used to study mercury levels in ecosystems, providing insights into environmental health and pollution. By contributing to this project, interns aid in understanding mercury accumulation in aquatic food chains and its impacts on ecosystems.
Air quality monitoring is another essential aspect of the interns' roles. They could assist in setting up and maintaining air quality monitoring stations, collecting data on pollutants, and analyzing these data to understand trends and impacts on ecosystems. Their work helps identify areas of poor air quality and informs strategies to mitigate pollution, contributing to better environmental health.
AMC's research interns also work deep in the backcountry, educating the public on community science. For instance, Isla Lyons, an AMC Dragonfly Mercury Project Intern, spent her summer sampling sites in the White Mountain National Forest to research mercury levels using dragonfly larvae as biosentinels. This research is part of a national project testing mercury in all National Parks.
Maya Shyevitch, the 2023 Base Research Intern at Pinkham Notch, also contributes to AMC's long-term monitoring projects in the area. Shyevitch works with backcountry hut naturalists and citizen scientists to get more people involved in AMC research. Shyevitch's activities, such as sampling streams and checking plant plots in Crawford and Pinkham Notches, are essential in understanding how different species respond to climate change.
Larz von Huene, another intern, is collecting cloud samples this season at AMC Lakes of the Clouds Hut in New Hampshire. Von Huene's work is particularly relevant in light of recent smoky conditions and variable weather.
AMC is encouraging people to join their plant-related projects, such as Flowers and Fauna Along the Appalachian Trail Corridor, Northeast Alpine Flower Watch, and New England Trail Nature Watch. These projects use crowdsource data to study environmental and climate change on plant phenology.
In conclusion, AMC's research interns serve as the boots on the ground for stream, lake, and plant monitoring in the Maine and New Hampshire mountains. Their work aligns with AMC's broader mission of promoting environmental conservation and engaging communities in scientific research. These interns are making a significant impact in understanding and preserving the delicate ecosystems of the Appalachian Mountains.
- The dedication of AMC's research interns extends to various domains, such as environmental science and climate-change research, as they actively contribute to the Appalachian Trail iNaturalist project, documenting biodiversity along the trail.
- In tandem with this, their roles encompass education and self-development, particularly through online education, as they delve into lifelong learning, for instance, assisting in community education about citizen science.
- Furthermore, their contributions to projects like the Dragonfly Mercury Project and air quality monitoring not only provide a foundation for environmental health and pollution studies but also contribute to the broader field of science, aiding in understanding the effects of climate change on ecosystems.
