A rare strip of earth runs through northern Maryland and southern Pennsylvania. The discontinuous band, known as serpentine barrens, follows the eastern border of the Appalachians from Newfoundland through New England to Alabama. What makes this earth special is a shallow layer of serpentine bedrock only a few feet below ground level. The serpentine mineral results in a soil that is extremely low in essential nutrients and high in metals such as nickel, magnesium, and chromium, making it toxic to most plants and animals. Found only in a few places around the globe, serpentine communities are exceptionally rare. And the flora that has evolved to live under these conditions is just as rare.
Join us to learn about the Bare Hills Barrens, our local area of this unusual rock and soils ecosystem near Lake Roland, with Roger Latham, an ecologist/conservation biologist. Dr. Latham is instrumental in the recent rehabilitation of this area by creating a plan to manage the increasingly dense tree canopy that restricts light, leading to a decline in the populations of many of the barrens’ rarest plants that are adapted to more open settings. Our day will begin at NHSM with a PowerPoint talk presented by Dr. Latham about the geology, ecology, restoration, and stewardship of serpentine barrens, including an up-close opportunity to see our barrens rock collection housed at the museum. He will speak on the geological history of the rock globally and the natural history of the eastern US serpentine barrens ecosystems.
Moving from NHSM to the field, we will carpool to the Bare Hills Barrens to hike in this unique ecosystem with Dr. Latham. Peter Lev, Environmental Committee Chair for the Lake Roland Nature Council will accompany us on the hiking portion, to further discuss the current restoration efforts a the barrens.
The lecture is set to begin at 10 am, with carpooling to begin around 11 to the barrens. We will park at one location and ferry people to the hiking trail. There is very limited parking available at the trailhead. Our hike should last from 12 to 1 pm. This event is free. Please consider donating to cover our costs in offering this specialized program to you.
Meet your Naturalist:
Roger Latham has worked as a research ecologist, conservation biologist, and environmental planner for over 40 years. Since earning his Ph.D. in biology at the University of Pennsylvania, he has served as Pennsylvania Director of Science and Stewardship for The Nature Conservancy, post-doctoral researcher in biogeochemistry and fire ecology at the University of Pennsylvania’s Department of Geology, and as Assistant Professor in the
Department of Biology at Swarthmore College. Since 2000 he has been a full-time consultant, conducting applied research and planning for the National Park Service, The Nature Conservancy, Natural Lands Trust, Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, Audubon, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and other organizations and agencies involved in wildland restoration and management.
Difficulty: Easy to moderate (low-intensity hiking)
Remember to
- Dress according to the weather, layers with non-cotton clothing work best. Gloves and warm hats for cooler temps. For sunny days, a hat with a brim may be needed.
- Wear sturdy closed-toe hiking boots or sneakers with non-slip soles that can safely handle slippery surfaces.
- Bring water, snacks, sunblock, and for your camera- an extra battery, extra memory card, and lens-cleaning cloth
- Since we will be traveling during lunch hour, prepare to snack in your car on the way to the field site. There will be no lunch stop during the trip.
- Bring binoculars and a magnifying glass or a hand lens
- Bring your guidebooks
- No pets, please
SPACES ARE LIMITED — The lecture should take approximately one hour, one hour for transportation to the field, and one hour in the field. The exact carpooling and hiking location will be provided when registration and payment are complete.
Cancellation Policy: NHSM Field Experiences – Cancellations made seven or more days in advance of the field experience will receive a refund (minus a $5 processing fee). Cancellations made within the week of the event will not receive a refund but can be transferred to a friend.
For questions, please email Jayne at JAsh@marylandnature.org.
Location
Lake Roland Park
