As I continue with my surveys of the Ohio and Erie Canal, the need for rethinking management strategies is becoming more apparent to maintain the many various wetland habitats that have taken hold within the canal embankments. Given the long and fairly linear nature of the canal, one would think that hydrologically it would function …
Category Archives: Uncategorized
Preserving Dark Skies in the Texas Hill Country
Hi! My name is Isabel McIntyre, and I am a recent graduate of Mount Holyoke College where I double majored in astronomy and biological sciences, and a soon-to-be Astrophysics PhD student at Arizona State University. At school, my research is on galaxy evolution, but this summer I have been shifting gears to work on a …
Continue reading “Preserving Dark Skies in the Texas Hill Country”
The Scientific Method in Action
My main roles as the SIP Fellow stationed at Buck Island Reef National Monument are to build a computer model of St. Croix Ground Lizard (Ameiva polops) distribution and abundance, lead outreach programs regarding the lizard, and assist with other NPS projects such as working at their native plant nursery, taking soil measurements, and patrolling …
Climate Change: it’s real, it affects you, and its happening now!
Do you love the beach? Have you ever seen the wonderful jungles portrayed in those exotic NatGeo programs? Or even closer to home, have you sat under a tree at your local park?. Remember those feelings that arise from your inner self as you smell the fresh aromas of spring!. Now think about a planet …
Continue reading “Climate Change: it’s real, it affects you, and its happening now!”
The Canal Wanderer
Have you ever found yourself lost in thought wondering what it would look like if some of the United States’ most important transportation infrastructure was abandoned and left to return to nature? Would what is left behind even be recognizable in 100 years? And exactly what kind of natural state would these areas take on …
Resource Monitoring During a Natural Disaster
Hi everyone! I’m Ally, a master’s student studying stream ecology at Utah State University. My thesis research focuses on greenhouse gas emissions from natural rivers and human-constructed canals. I am interested broadly in the environmental factors influencing water quality, and how water quality is being affected by humans and climate change. In my free time, …
Continue reading “Resource Monitoring During a Natural Disaster”
Setting up for reef flat monitoring
Before moving to Guam, I read about how Guam has the highest coral reef biodiversity of any US state or territory. So, getting the opportunity to be a Scientist in Park (SIP) Fellow at the War in the Pacific National Historical Park (WAPA) has been the highlight of my summer. My name is Motusaga Vaeoso, …
Changing Life Cycles: Plants and Young Ecologists
Howdy! I’m Jay (she/her) and I am the 2022 Biology Assistant Scientists in Parks Fellow at Grand Canyon National Park, and I’m ecstatic to share my journey with you! If I had to describe my career path, I would tell you to imagine a very windy highway that has dozens of intersections, potholes, and red …
Continue reading “Changing Life Cycles: Plants and Young Ecologists”
The Bittersweet Priority of Invasive Plants
I am Meagan Fairfield-Peak and I am currently a Master’s student at University of Maryland Baltimore County, where I focus my GIS experience in forest restoration monitoring, which aligns nicely with the GIS prioritization model that I will create during this internship. Since moving to Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore (SLBE) I have been able …
Continue reading “The Bittersweet Priority of Invasive Plants”
Adapting to a Changing Climate
Climate change is already impacting our national parks. Whether it is the increasing risk of wildland fires, sea level rise that is encroaching on cultural heritage sites, or prolonged droughts that are affecting the makeup of ecosystems, the effects of climate change pose significant challenges to sustainable management of parks resources. How can adaptation to …