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Now that you understand how the scientists selected their species,
we are going to jump right into their process. We will use the five
species they selected (some of which may be the same as those you
selected with your class) to put together a picture of where to focus
conservation work in the Adirondacks.
Imagine a researcher wanting to understand where to focus her work
with a type of turtle. After much review of existing research and
field work of her own, she determines that this species prefers certain
types of habitat. Initially, she might record her findings something
like this:
A Wood Turtle Hatchling |
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The information is useful, but by itself does not answer the question, Where in the park can turtle x's habitat needs be met? That is, where can the turtle thrive, and thus, where does it make sense to put in the most conservation effort? Take a minute to think about what our researcher needs to do next in order to answer these questions.
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What about if she could find a way to SEE her information? Imagine
she could take her research findings and MAP the turtle’s needs
onto the Adirondacks Park itself. With a map of the Adirondacks spread
out in front of her, she could locate all the areas that meet the
special needs of turtle x. All the streams, creeks, and rivers. All
the streams with sand or sand and gravel bottoms. All the woodlands,
riparian woods, shrub or berry thickets, swamps, and open, grassy
areas.
| The next step for our researcher is to see where
the turtle's needs intersect (or possibly conflict) with the
needs of humans (represented as the human landscape).
When there is conflict, the human landscape may represent a
threat to a particular species. Check out the biological and
human landscape for the five species selected to be Adirondack
landscape species by the Adirondack researchers. |
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Wood Turtle |
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Which environmental conditions influence the turtle's
habitat choice? |
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Why is Geographic Information Systems helpful? |
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Describe a habitat where you would not expect to find
these turtles. |
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