The beauty of field biology at the Cary Institute

MILLBROOK— Naturalist and herpetologistHarry Greene presented a program at the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies on Friday, Sept. 30. He discussed his book, “Tracks and Shadows: Field Biology as Art.”

Greene is a Stephen Weiss Presidential Fellow from Cornell University and a recipient of the E.O. Wilson Award from the American Society of Naturalists.

Greene opened his presentation with one of his a favorite quotes, from “Lonesome Dove”: “The earth is mostly just a bone-yard, but pretty in sunlight.” 

He showed slides of some beautiful, but deadly, animals and peppered his talk with anecdotes and first-hand observations.

One observation was the fact that ecology is now ranked fairly low on the list of concerns. Greene said the media should be more involved, ask questions and demand answers.

“Education is everything,” he said. 

He questioned why the United Nations isn’t more involved with ecology and  problems inherent in the world. If nothing is done to protect the environment, beyond global warming, hitting on issues of conservation of animals and the earth, he said, there’s trouble ahead.

Greene is also part philosopher, as well as author and purveyor of nature’s wonders. He quoted the poet Robinson Jeffers.

“Organic wholeness of life and things, the divine beauty of the universe. Love that, not man. Apart from that, or else you will share man’s pitiful confusions, or drown in despair when his days darken.”

Greene has worked in all of the continents of the world except Australia. 

“My primary conceptual interests are behavioral evolution, community ecology and conservation biology,” he said. 

He worked for many years doing research in Costa Rica and Brazil, and remembers Africa with special fondness.

After earning a B.S. at Texas Wesleyan College in 1968, Greene obtained a M.S. at the University of Texas at Arlington, and took his Ph.D. from the University of Tennessee. He is currently a Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at Cornell University. 

He studies mammals, lizards and snakes, particularly vipers. One slide showed a magnificent looking snake, which turned out to be a very deadly pit viper. He also had slides of frogs, one of which carries thousands of eggs in a sack just under the skin of its back. When tadpoles, they follow the female frog through the water, looking something like a cloud behind her. If attacked by a predator, they disburse, but then the mother rounds them up and leads them to safety.

Greene talked about his newest book, “Tracks and Shadows: Field Biology as Art.” The book is part autobiographical, but is also about the wonder of snakes and the joy of studying them. “The importance of sharing the love of nature with humanity” is critical to Greene.

In sharing his love of nature, ecology and evolution, Greene added on other bits of philosophy via philosopher Immanuel Kant, quoting, “There are two kinds of finer feeling: the feeling of the sublime and the feeling of the beautiful.”

He continued, “Kant gives examples of these pleasant feelings. Some of his examples of feelings of the beautiful are the sight of flower beds, grazing flocks and daylight. Feelings of the sublime are the result of seeing mountain peaks, raging storms and night.”

The Cary Institute presents many exciting people and topics having to do with earth and ecology. Their schedule of events is listed at www.caryinstitute.com. 

Next is a presentation by Karen Lips on Emerging Infectious Diseases and Amphibian Biodiversity, on Friday, Oct. 21,  at 7 p.m. Lips will describe the impact chytrid pathogens have had on frogs and salamanders globally, and what might be expected as new pathogens emerge and spread.