Ecology Research Project/Poster

Spring 2010 Ecology Research Project/Poster – Interpretive Nature Trail Bio 121 – Introduction to Ecology Laboratory This assignment is 15% of your final grade

Poster Due Tuesday, April 27 – Ecology Research Project/Poster Presentations. Your group will be giving oral presentations with your completed poster on the due date.

Purpose: The purpose is for students to design an interpretive nature trail at OCTC’s nature area. At the nature center, your interpretive trail will consist of 10 trees that are well-spread but somewhat in an order for potential labeling. You won’t be putting any markers in the field or on any trees. The most important part of the project is documenting your trees, putting them on a map and defending your choices. It is important that your trees can be relocated from your poster.

Guidelines: 1. Each group will consist of no more than 4 people. 2. At the nature center, each group will identify 10 trees that would be good for an interpretive nature trail. Groups can pick the same trees but I don’t want total overlap. 3. To get ideas of what is an interpretive trail, you can find these at Yellow Creek Park and the green belt (bike trail) to get ideas. Basically, each tree would potentially have a marker at it identifying what type of tree it is. You won’t be placing any markers but you need to find and document your trees. 4. Your group will need pictures. If the tree is showing flowers or buds on the twigs, I want this picture on your poster. A larger picture of each tree would be good as well. If no one in your group has a digital camera, you can use your cell phone to take pictures. 5. One picture of each tree must be on your poster. This can be a close-up or further away. 6. To greatly add to the project but not necessary, you can identify the tree to species. Get a tree identification book from OCTC Library, or public library or you can purchase one from a bookstore. If you are getting on from the library, ONLY check out one of these books per person. Identifying the tree will help you but identification can be difficult without leaves. 7. Each tree must also be identified on the nature center map. The map is on the back of this page but there is also a digital copy on blackboard. 8. We will be working on this project for a few lab sessions weather permitting so be ready to go in the field for each lab but you will need to work outside of class to successfully accomplish this project. Some lab sessions we will be doing other labs. 9. Your poster must include the following: Title, Authors (This is your group members), a picture of each tree, map with trees located, any supporting text. Your poster should be able to stand up by itself and use large font (24 point at least) so people standing can be able to see it. Don’t write by hand. Make it look professional. You can purchase poster boards from Wal-Mart, Office Depot or Staples. 10. Oral poster presentations will occur on the due date. Explain your project and defend your trail and the trees you chose. 11. Citation: Please cite any tree identification text that you used. If you have an iphone, there might be an “app” for tree identification. You can use this if you feel it works for you. Spring 2010 OCTC Nature Center – The mobile units that are on this map have been recently torn down. The white dots indicate the boundaries of the nature center (You can remove these from your digital copy when you place your trees on the map. There are many trails throughout. Take some time to get yourself oriented to the area.