Developing a Framework for an Inventory of the Biodiversity on the Conserve School Acreage
File(s)
Date
2011-03Author
Schofield, Charles Elliott
Publisher
University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, College of Natural Resources
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
This project consists of the development of the framework for an inventory of
the biodiversity on the Conserve School’s 1200 acres of land. In an effort to further
develop the curriculum in the Conserve School Semester Program’s science classes, this
project will develop the framework to perform an inventory of the various species of
mostly terrestrial plants and animals that can be found on the school’s property. Using
methods translated from various literature sources, and from personal knowledge of
the Conserve School faculty, the framework was developed collaboratively to meet
Conserve School’s needs. Methods for Point-Centered Quarter sampling and/or Random
Pair sampling of forest ecology, line grid trapping for mammals, and observational
sampling for mammals, birds, and other wildlife will be described so that it may
implemented into the curriculum so that the students can be the scientists collecting
the data should the Conserve School Faculty decide that it is something that they can
use.
This project will also provide a database that can be added to by the students
and faculty to facilitate an ongoing study that will monitor how the property changes
over the years. Suggested methods to monitor change will be coupled with the use of
the database and examples will be given so that students and faculty will know where to
begin. The database itself is split up into six different categories to include: mammals,
birds, trees, saplings and shrubs, herbs and fungi, and an “other” category that will be
used to possibly include reptiles, amphibians, and some invertebrates.