SPECIES INVENTORY OF ANY NATURAL PLACE

Art by  Faith Cruz

Project goals:

FIND A PLACE OUTSIDE, IT MAY BE A PARK, A YARD, a garden, Any PATCH OF NATURE NEARBY...IT ought to be a place where you can walk or move about  in, even a little...

·       Gain experience in field studies

·       create a species inventory of a place such as a park, a field, or any natural area of your choice

·       make a map illustrating the location of plant species

·       create a dichotomous key of the plants

·       identify plants to the best of your ability. 

·       Note the abiotic conditions

·       Present the project as a report. 

·       Make a recommendation on how the area can be improved based on your observations and insights

Scope:  
Create a report consisting of a pages  in colour.  The book has the following 6 pages:
Pages are: 

1.   CREATE A TITLE PAGE: This place is traditional unceded territory of one or more First Nations.  In your title page, tell me whose territory this is, and draw or find a photograph showing the First Nations art and culture from people of the nation(s)
2,    Take at least four site photos from different directions, North, South, East, West.

3.     Make a MAP OF THE PLANTS YOUR Study area :  This is a general overhead map of the different species in your area: 

a.     Classify what you find there, to the best of your ability:  Use inaturalist,  or plant snap, either photo app can help you.                                                                 

b.     Observe, photograph or draw  and  any evidence of animal life in your area:

                                      i.     Indirect: scats, nests, bones, feathers

                                     ii.     direct: hearing bird calls, seeing animals

c.     Take a close look at the soil and observe and identify what you find under a microscope OR if no microscope,  a MAGNIFYING GLASS or  A CELL PHONE PIC of the little things.  

d.      Make a Personal Experience and Perception paragraph indicating the perceptual qualities of this site 

4.     Create a dichotomous key of your area.

5.    Write a one page report

a.     Write some field notes of interest at your site.  What was interesting at your site?

b.     Suggest possible species interaction at your site.  Give evidence of your conclusions. 

c.     Make a recommendation of what you would do if you were in charge of the park

d.     Give reasons for your recommendations

e.     Include field notes of interest

6.  work cited

EVALUATION:                                                                        SCORING

Create a report consisting of                                                                                                                            

• a stapled book
• in colour
• drawings or photos

                                                                                         

1. CREATE A TITLE PAGE.                                  5

• This place is traditional unceded territory of one or more First Nations.  In your title page, tell me whose territory this is, and draw or find a photograph showing the First Nations art and culture from people of the nation(s)      Use this map to find out whose territory you are exploring.   https://native-land.ca/                       

2.   Take at least 4 site photos from different directions, North, South, East, West.      5                                           

3. Draw an overhead MAP YOUR STUDY AREA:  Make a map of your particular study area.                                                             

a.     Make a PLANT species list including photo and the name of the plant.  if you don't know the name, then we can try to find out.  If it is a native BC species, it will be in the links below 

include a minimum of at least 10 species using Use inaturalist,  or plant snap, either photo app can help you.                                                                                                                                      5
 

b.     photograph  or draw any evidence of animal life . 

                                                                              5
  i.    Indirect: photograph or draw any scats, nests, bones, feathers: photograph these.

            ii.     Direct: photograph or draw and  animals, including insects. 
        iii.  Hearing:  what animals do you hear?      
                                                                     

c.      Make an observation of TINY THINGS AT YOUR SITE.                                                               5
If you have a microscope or magnifying  lens to use, then use it.  If you have a cell phone camera, use it to observe VERY SMALL ORGANISMS, such as moss, or mushrooms or bugs.   observe at least 5 items

For each item, do the following:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

                       i.     Draw:  Careful drawings not rushed.  Points deducted for rushed work

                      ii.     Measure:  accurate measurements in cm.

                     iii.    Identify them if you can.  If you cannot, give your best guess based on it's looks

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

d.  Write a Personal Experience and Perception paragraph.                                                                 5

4. Create a dichotomous key of your area, using your photos.  
 Include at least 10 plants.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    5

5.  Write a one page reporT                       5

a.    What was interesting at your site?

b.     Suggest possible species interaction at your site.  For example, if you think coyotes eat squirrels, give evidence of your conclusions. 

c.     Make a recommendation of what you would do if you were in charge of the area

d.     Give reasons for your recommendations                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
6.  Work Cited.                                                                                                                                                  5

           

TOTAL                                                                                              45

for each score out of 5

5- this is excellent and exceeds expectations for quality.  it is complete and covers the material in depth.  your quality of content is matched by the quality of presentation.  You draw in ink and colour or your photographs are of high quality.

4 - this shows skill and an excellent grasp of the subject matter.  You draw in ink and colour or your photographs are of high quality.

1-2 - this is a good start and it shows promise, but you need more time to make it really complete


A sample from last year, by Faith Cruz

Useful links:

identifying native plants
http://www.nwplants.com/business/catalog/fieldguidecolor2012.pdf

IDENTIFYING WEEDS
http://www.dowagro.com/en-ca/canada/weed-id-guide/all-weeds

IDENTIFYING TREES
https://oregonstate.edu/trees/