Developing a Framework for an Inventory of the Biodiversity on the Conserve School Acreage

Abstract

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.