My name is Nicole Mangano and I am interning at the Umass Boston Nantucket Field Station during May 2014. I have experienced Nantucket for two winter seasons (January to April), so it is interesting seeing the island come to life.  So much more green covering the island and so many people! The seasonal changes have a lot of impact here.

So far, we have done lots of fun activities individually and in group settings. At several different locations, such as near the Grist mill, we have pulled garlic mustard, a plant invasive to Nantucket. This plant likes disturbed soils and can quickly overwhelm areas, outcompeting native plant species that would normally be there. Along with the Clean Team, who cleans trash from rotating areas on island each week, activities like this help keep Nantucket pristine and healthy.

At the Nantucket Field Station, education is an important aspect of protecting the environment for future generations. For five days, a group of students from North High School in Worcester came to the island and we showed them what the island has to offer, such as its history and its ecology. It was an amazing experience for the students to do hands on science. We seined Folger’s Marsh, saw horseshoe crabs mating, went to Great Point to see grey seals and do water testing in the harbor, and even checked out some of the biodiversity at the vernal pools in Squam Swamp!

This week, we will do some water quality testing in the harbor and at groundwater wells . We will also be working with the junior rangers, who do environmental activities with the field station, like garlic mustard pulling. I also hope to do some exploring, since there are so many wonderful, natural places to see all over the island. Every day is an exciting and new experience, so I look forward to whatever we do next.  Now, it’s time for me to make new memories to write to you about later! See ya around!