Imagining Northeastern Beach Tiger Beetle: Coastal Ecology

Northeastern Beach Tiger Beetle (absent), Piping Plover (absent), Beach Grass (absent), Beach Pea

The Northeastern Beach Tiger Beetle is an insect that inhabits the coastal regions of New York, primarily Long Island. They spend their whole lives on sandy beaches, creating burrows and spending their extended larval stages underground. These beetles are important to beach ecosystems as they prey on nuisance insects like flies, fleas, and lice. They also eat up deceased sea creatures that wash ashore, helping keep beaches clean and pest populations down. However, due to accelerated rates of development in coastal areas, this insect has seen drastic declines in its own population. They are currently listed federally as a Threatened Species. Since beach tiger beetles are in a larval stage for over two years, they are particularly vulnerable to habitat disruptions. With more human development, local populations are being wiped out. Coastal mismanagement has also disrupted the various environments that the beach tiger beetle needs during its lifetime, further endangering this species. Their populations also influence the birds that rely on them as a source of food. One such bird, the piping plover, lives along the coasts of northeastern states. The piping plover is currently Endangered in New York State. Beach disturbance and coastal development have destroyed their habitats in the same ways that have affected the Northeastern Beach Tiger Beetle.

Composition installed and designed by: Sungyon Cho

My name is Claudia Buszta, and I am an Environmental Geography major. I am working this year with Professor Haughwout on the 6th E Street project to illustrate how different organisms relate to each other within their ecological communities. Our focus is on regional ecosystems in New York State, identifying how native species interact with human activity. These summaries are meant to accompany the visualizations of the ecologies within the tunnels.