PLEASE WEAR HEADPHONES WHEN LISTENING
When the second image appears in the videos, underground sound will be heard.
These videos connect these ecosystems and communities through the shared experience of underground sound.
In the summer months, a breezy field of wildflowers inhabits this small field. It is also a bioretention area that is used for research and to help protect nearby lakes from algae overgrowth. By way of filters, excess nutrients are removed from stormwater runoff and nourish these wildflowers and grasses instead of the algae blooms in the lakes.
Phragmites (in the 2nd video) is found all over New York City and was accidentally introduced from Europe in the late 1700s. Phragmites forms dense monocultures that displace diverse native plant communities, like the ones in the bioretention area. While Phragmites provides some erosion control benefits, it increases the risk of fire and degrades wildlife habitat. Overall, more biodiverse native plant communities provide a greater suite of benefits including habitat for a variety of wildlife, absorption of excess stormwater, and resistance to pests and disease.