The goal of this project was to conduct a comprehensive, four-season inventory of rare plants and animals on Plum Island and develop a seamless map of the island’s natural communities, documenting communities of statewide significance. We identified and visited sites for botanical and zoological field surveys, conducted natural community inventories, compiled and processed data, and produced final maps and reports.
Citation:
New York Natural Heritage Program and InnerSpace Scientific Diving. 2020. Initial survey of Plum Island’s marine habitats. Report to Save the Sound. Available from New York Natural Heritage Program, Albany, NY. (PDF, 2.4 MB)
Here we present results of the first-ever subtidal survey of the waters around Plum Island, conducted in September 2019. In partnership with InnerSpace Scentific Diving, we documented substrate types and characteristic organisms in SCUBA surveys around the island, setting the stage for more detailed work in future years to map the marine habitats more fully and document their impressive biodiversity.
Citation:
Schlesinger, M.D., E.L. White, S.M. Young, G.J. Edinger, K.A. Perkins, N. Schoppmann, and D. Parry. 2016. Biodiversity Inventory of Plum Island, New York. New York Natural Heritage Program, Albany, New York, and SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, NY. (PDF, 12.1 MB)
In this report we present the results of our year-long inventory of Plum Island, conducted in 2015. We also bring in data compiled for our earlier report (below) and species lists from colleagues to provide the most complete picture to date of Plum Island's biodiversity. We also make recommendations for management, restoration, and future inventory and monitoring.
Citation:
Schlesinger, M.D., A.L. Feldmann, and S.M. Young. 2012. Biodiversity and ecological potential of Plum Island, New York. New York Natural Heritage Program, Albany, New York. (PDF, 6.9 MB)
Appendix C: Conservation Guides (PDF, 4.0 MB)
In this report we document the historical and current known biodiversity, including natural communities and plant and animal species, of Plum Island, New York. We also note potentially undiscovered rare species and the potential of the island to support additional species with management and restoration. We draw from published literature, museum specimens, recent surveys, and expert opinion to form a comprehensive ecological picture of the history of the island’s biodiversity and its current status.
Citation:
New York Natural Heritage Program and InnerSpace Scientific Diving. 2022.
Survey of Plum Island’s Subtidal Marine Habitats. Report to Save the Sound. New York Natural
Heritage Program, Albany, NY. Available at https://www.nynhp.org/projects/plum-island-
inventory/. (PDF, 2.2 MB)
Nov. 30, 2020 | Updated March 31, 2022, 12:29 p.m.