Exploration of Other GIS Software

 

Further exploring free, available options for GIS software, led me to DIVA GIS , a program specifically useful for mapping biodiversity. Installing this software was a relatively simple affair, and its user interface was straightforward. The Free spatial data provided through the DIVA website was useful for sourcing available data; including country and global level data, global climate, crop and species occurrence data, and global 90 meter satellite data. Of these, the ones I chose to explore were country level, and species occurrence data. First, with country level data, the DIVA website provides tools for selecting a country and refining the data selection down to administrative boundaries, roads, railroads, altitude, land cover, population density. Of these I selected land cover for the United States (image provided), which implemented well. Secondly, I explored adding species occurrence data through the link to the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). From here eBird data was able to be accessed via Excel file, however this data in both csv and text format was unable to be uploaded into my map on DIVA; a problem I was unable to rectify. On the whole DIVA requires more GIS knowledge than Google My Maps, and there is some clunkiness inherent in the system and a lack tutorial help for solving problems that make this particular software difficult for me to use casually within my skill set.

DIVA (Image Source: Me)

Next, I explored the uses of ARCGIS Pro through Virginia Tech. Unfortunately, I was unable to install this software due to a Net software bug. Where I had the appropriately installed software however the installers refused to recognize the appropriate software on my computer.

ARCGIS Installer Error (Image Source: Me)

Google My Maps (Week 4 Assignment)

 Google My Maps is a decent free tool for the aspiring birdwatcher or natural resource management student conducting their own projects for assignments. The pin feature is wonderful for marking locations from which to conduct a variety of surveys. As it provides the latitude and longitude of points, and the description and image adding feature are also excellent additions in this regard. Another benefit is the add polygon feature, which is useful for delineating survey habitats, and for a rough approximation of the area of your survey site. Downsides to this feature is the inability to zoom in and out while making a polygon and the sites tendency to snap to certain zoom distances which makes it difficult to fully view certain locations without cutting of portions of the area. 

Ecology Slideshow Presentation

 

Draft of Biodiversity and the Importance of Biodiversity

 

Importance of Biodiversity Locally, Regionally, Nationally and Internationally.

First Draft of Biodiversity: Biodiversity is a unit of measurement, measuring the number of species in a given geographic area that can range in size from a garden to a continent.

Found Definition: “Species, genetic, and ecosystem diversity in an area, sometimes including associated abiotic components such as landscape features, drainage systems, and climate” (Swingland, 2001).

Second Draft of Biodiversity: Biodiversity is a unit of measurement, measuring the genetic, species, ecosystem, and abiotic diversity in an area ranging in size from a garden to a continent.

Locally

When examining the scientific literature and environmental policy decisions regarding the importance that biodiversity plays in both management and policy at the local level, there is a growing volume of material emphasizing management at this level of biodiversity. Specifically, its import can be seen with the organizations who do much of the research and protection at this level, as it is the local groups who “…are left to care for those smaller and less glamorous areas which are nevertheless of great importance to the biodiversity of local ecosystems” (Garrod & Wills, 1994).

Regionally

              At the regional level, maintaining high biodiversity through proper management and policy is also of great importance for natural resources management. This is impart due to the necessity to keep a large pool of species on the landscape to ensure the functioning of ecosystems on landscapes that are increasingly undergoing more intensive land use. Although even at high densities, its important to maintain high biodiversity due to the dispersal limitations imposed by habitat fragmentation. That if left unchecked can cause a feedback loop back at the local level, and so therefore “long-term maintenance of a given level of diversity at local scales requires a much higher diversity at regional scales” (Loreau, 2001).

Nationally and Internationally

              On the national and international stage is where a large bulk of the discussion on managing global biodiversity lays. Here is where the larger NGO, agencies, and laws are useful, such as the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity, with 83% of its 193 members developing National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans. What makes management important at this scale is the difficulty in protecting biodiversity in international areas such as the open ocean, with NGO’s like the Sea Shepards being integral for protecting these resources.

Works Cited

Garrod, G. D., and K. G. Willis. "Valuing biodiversity and nature conservation at a local level." Biodiversity & Conservation 3 (1994): 555-565.

Loreau, Michel, et al. "Biodiversity and ecosystem functioning: current knowledge and future challenges." science 294.5543 (2001): 804-808.

Swingland, Ian R. "Biodiversity, definition of." Encyclopedia of biodiversity 1 (2001): 377-391.

Rational for Choice of Survey Area

 Rational for Choice of Survey Area

Wetlands are one of the most biodiverse habitats that can be encountered across the flat plains and rolling hills of Ohio. With examples, such as the unique freshwater coastal wetlands found along the Lake Erie shoreline, famed as one of the best birding areas in the United States during the spring migration along the central flyway as birds make a pitstop to cross over the lake. However, Ohio’s wetlands are not only for the benefit of birds, but also to “One-third of all threatened and endangered species and nearly all of the fish in the Great Lakes basin rely on wetlands” (Holtshouse, 2018) to provide “…important fish spawning and nursery areas, as well as nesting, resting and feeding areas for waterfowl” (Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, 2016). These services not only benefit Ohio’s biosphere, but transfer benefits to human society as well: storing excess stormwater that would otherwise contribute to destructive flooding, act as nature’s kidneys filtering out pollutants such as heavy metals and agricultural runoff, and also provide opportunities for hunting, fishing, watersports, and birdwatching.

However, Ohio’s wetlands have long been under threat, with only 1.8 percent remaining, and having been historically ranked as one of the states to have lost the most acreage of wetland habitat with “90 percent of Ohio’s wetland resources have been destroyed or degraded through draining, filling or other modifications”, from 5,000,000 acres to around 483,000 acres (Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, 2016). This can be attributed to two primary factors, the loss of the Great Black Swamp that was centered around the Maumee river located in northwestern Ohio, as it was converted to agriculture in the 1800s, and the loss of 96 percent of Ohio’s coastal wetlands to coastal development.

Therefore, we arrive at the rational for why I selected the wetlands of Ohio, like Sandy Ridge Reservation and Sheldon Marsh, as the survey areas for my project. For Sandy Ridge Reservation in particular, a number of unique features and its location sealed it as survey point. Firstly, its location as the closest wetland to my residence allows for it to be easily accessed for 5 minute point counts and vegetation surveys. Secondly, the location boasts a number of Palustrine wetland habitats; including forested wetlands, marsh habitat, open water and scrub/shrub wetlands. That will be beneficial for the Dendrology, general ecology, and classification and taxonomy refresher assignments that will be assigned later on in the course.

Works Cited:

Division of Surface Water, Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. “Ohio Wetlands.” Environmental Protection Agency, 2016.

Holtshouse, Amy. “Getting Our Feet Wet.” The Nature Conservancy, 3 Oct. 2018, www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/where-we-work/united-states/ohio/stories-in-ohio/getting-our-feet-wet/.