Woodlot Biodiversity & Conservation: Your Space, Your Challenge
Remember that when we explored the campus woodlots - one of the observations we made was about the number of non-native species we observed there.
For example, in the North Campus Ravine, we saw the snail below - Cepea nemoralis - a common species in all the campus woodlots that is actually a European species. Furthermore, the species of tree that the snail is on is a common buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica) - an invasive species from Europe that was introduced to North America in the 1880's as an ornamental shrub. Based on your exploration of the campus woodlot GigaPans - you have seen that the woodlot that most features this European invasive is the North Campus Ravine.
For example, in the North Campus Ravine, we saw the snail below - Cepea nemoralis - a common species in all the campus woodlots that is actually a European species. Furthermore, the species of tree that the snail is on is a common buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica) - an invasive species from Europe that was introduced to North America in the 1880's as an ornamental shrub. Based on your exploration of the campus woodlot GigaPans - you have seen that the woodlot that most features this European invasive is the North Campus Ravine.
We also learned that the North Campus Ravine has actually been considered for development in the past.
How large is the North Campus Ravine compared to the other campus natural areas? Based on what you learned in Unit 4 - how would you predict that these areas would rank according to biodiversity - if you knew nothing else about them, only their size? (hint - in the map below, click on the red border to learn the approximate size of each area in hectares (ha).
How large is the North Campus Ravine compared to the other campus natural areas? Based on what you learned in Unit 4 - how would you predict that these areas would rank according to biodiversity - if you knew nothing else about them, only their size? (hint - in the map below, click on the red border to learn the approximate size of each area in hectares (ha).
Woodlot Biodiversity & Conservation: Your Space, Your Challenge
Back in Unit 4 of this Inquiry Case, this was how you were introduced to the planned development on the University of Guelph campus. We asked you to learn more about how such plans affect urban woodlot biodiversity and the protection of natural areas.
We learned that space and land within urban areas is often at a premium in southern Canada - in particular within south-western Ontario where we live in an area designated as a site for planned intensification via the "Places to Grow Act - 2005". Since development space is precious and highly valued - natural areas are often sacrificed for expansion.
Reflect on what you have learned about various ecological concepts such as species/area curves, the effect of fragmentation, edge effects, invasive species, the intermediate disturbance hypothesis, adaptive management.
What do you now see as a possible plan for the development of space on the University of Guelph campus? How might you begin to fill in a table such as the one below?
Back in Unit 4 of this Inquiry Case, this was how you were introduced to the planned development on the University of Guelph campus. We asked you to learn more about how such plans affect urban woodlot biodiversity and the protection of natural areas.
We learned that space and land within urban areas is often at a premium in southern Canada - in particular within south-western Ontario where we live in an area designated as a site for planned intensification via the "Places to Grow Act - 2005". Since development space is precious and highly valued - natural areas are often sacrificed for expansion.
Reflect on what you have learned about various ecological concepts such as species/area curves, the effect of fragmentation, edge effects, invasive species, the intermediate disturbance hypothesis, adaptive management.
What do you now see as a possible plan for the development of space on the University of Guelph campus? How might you begin to fill in a table such as the one below?