Forest Ecology Walk with Tom Wessels

Tom Wessels, professor emeritus at Antioch University New England, has studied forest, desert, arctic, and alpine ecosystems around the world, but has a special fondness for Mount Desert Island, a place where “earth, air, fire, and water—in the form of glacially scoured granite, winter winds, fire, and ocean fog—have converged to create a landscape that can be found nowhere else.” So much so, that he and his wife recently retired to Somesville where they live year-round.   Wessels has authored seven books, several focusing on forest ecology in New England. On Saturday, May 13th, 1-3pm, Tom will lead a guided walk near Lower Hadlock Pond in Northeast Harbor, discussing the natural history of the area. He’ll show us how to spot features of the landscape that hint at past events. For example, observing the topography of the ground may reveal “pillows” (mounds) and “cradles” (depressions) in close proximity. These can be indicative that long ago, a large tree blew over, its roots unearthin