The Huyck Preserve and Biological Research station has a long history of scientific research. In an average year, 15-30 researchers visit Huyck Preserve from around the world to conduct research on a wide range of topics such as forest succession, gap ecology, fern physiology, acoustic communication, disease ecology, and more. Research activities are coordinated by the Director of Conservation and Education (DCE). The DCE invites scientists interested in conducting research at the field station to contact us directly to discuss potential research proposals that will be well-served by the Preserve's resources, facilities, and biology, and that do not interfere with ongoing programs. Short research reports are requested annually for both finishing and continuing projects. Research, teaching, collecting, or activity of any kind requires permission from the DCE. Requests for research support as part of our Huyck Research Grant program are due yearly by the third Friday in February.
Projects will be assigned lab/office and field space in accordance with their needs and will have full use of all the station facilities, equipment and computer network services. Researchers are encouraged to contact the Preserve in advance to confirm equipment availability and to make any special arrangements for facilities use. All station residents pay lodging and facilities fees. Please note that anyone wishing to stay at the station must contact the DCE to secure a housing reservation.
Projects will be assigned lab/office and field space in accordance with their needs and will have full use of all the station facilities, equipment and computer network services. Researchers are encouraged to contact the Preserve in advance to confirm equipment availability and to make any special arrangements for facilities use. All station residents pay lodging and facilities fees. Please note that anyone wishing to stay at the station must contact the DCE to secure a housing reservation.
The Location
The Preserve is located on the western edge of the Helderberg Plateau (42 10’N, 74 10’W) with elevation ranging from 360 to 650 meters. The Plateau, 117 km square, has a well defined 260 meters escarpment that rises abruptly from the Hudson Valley in the east and the Mohawk Valley to the north. The elevation of the Plateau rises toward the west reaching a maximum of 600 meters on the western most portion of the Preserve. Catskill Creek to the southwest and Schoharie Creek to the northwest separate the Plateau from the Catskill Mountains.
Climate & Habitat
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The climate of the Helderberg Plateau is essentially continental although influenced by the Hudson River, Great Lakes, and Atlantic Ocean. Winters (Dec-Feb) are cold (mean = -6.6C) to frigid (min. = -32C) with ample snow (mean = 1.3 m/yr). Summers are warm (mean = 21C) with short periods where 38C may be reached. Rainfall is higher in spring and fall than in summer, with an annual mean total of 900mm. Winds are northerly in winter and northwesterly in summer. Weather data available for the Preserve and for Albany County (back to 1871) were summarized by Thaler (1992, 1994). The Preserve’s 60-year long research and monitoring record provides valuable baseline data against which change may be evaluated.
Natural habitats on the Preserve include several water falls, a 40.5 ha lake, 4 ha pond, beaver ponds, kilometers of permanent and intermittent streams, a bog (total wet areas = 5%), old fields (15%), mature hemlock forests, pine and spruce plantations (3%), and extensive areas of maturing and mature hardwood forests (72%).The remaining 5% are roads, trails, and building sites. All of the Preserve’s 800 ha are available for research. Because we are also a nature preserve in addition to a research station, we do have about 2000 visitors per year. Our management plan calls for keeping the public on trails around Lake Myosotis and near the Rensselaerville Falls away from most research areas. To date we have had few problems with vandalism or other interference with research sites. |
Click to download the habitat map
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