Seaweed wrack walk at Plumb Beach

Time: 4PM-6PM, August 15th, 2026.

Meeting Location: We will meet in front of Lew Fidler Park at the southeast corner of the intersection of Emmons Ave and Brigham St (Google Maps Location: here)

Description:

Did you know that New York City has seaweed biodiversity on its shores? Join the Torrey Botanical Society with guest educator, Dr. Lowell Andrew Iporac, as they walk through the Plumb beach coastal area and explore some of the seaweed diversity that would was up ashore and also be on the rocky intertidal zones of NYC. Participants will expect a 1-2 hour walk along Plumb Beach and learn about the local coastal biodiversity, ranging from seaweeds to small invertebrate animals that can be associated with the seaweed wrack. Wear comfortable walking shoes that you don’t mind getting wet or dirty, sunscreen, and any other gear you need to have a pleasant time along the coast.

About the educator:

Dr. Lowell Andrew Iporac (he/they) is a marine ecologist who graduated with their Ph.D from Florida International University in 2023, with their dissertation research focused on marine macroalgae – invertebrate interactions. Their emphasis on this research was on pelagic sargassum in the tropical Atlantic region, and utilized citizen science programming for ‘big data’, field surveys, and lab methods to monitor sargassum landings in Florida and their usage in coastal ecosystems. Lowell moved to NYC after their Ph.D, where they have since taught many ecological concepts at their previous workplaces such as Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Bronx Zoo, Manhattan University, and NYU. Lowell will be a biology lecturer at CUNY in fall 2026, but still does ongoing freelance research and educational programming in seaweed ecology.