Durango Nature Studies Habitat Assessment Project
This project focused on assessing the Durango Nature Studies Property here in Durango, Colorado. My class researched Durango Nature Studies(DNS) to get a better feel of what to look out for. We discovered that DNS has spotted bullfrogs on their property. Bullfrogs are an invasive species and are a threat to the native leopard frogs residing there. The leopard frog is coming close to becoming an endangered species, so getting rid of the bullfrogs is priority. DNS is also concerned about the water quality of the DNS pond, and the Florida River running through the property. Our class took a field trip to Durango Nature Studies, where we conducted four sets of visual encounter surveys, mark-recapture data, and water quality data.
A visual encounter survey, as the name implies, is simply recording the frogs you see. A mark-recapture survey goes like this: Classes go one day and catch as many frogs as they can (using nets) and they are marked with elastomer under their back leg. Classes go the day after and catch frogs the same way. This time they record if the frog has been caught already or not by checking to see if they have been marked. These methods aim to estimate the population of each species of frogs.
Water quality tests were completed to gauge the levels of pH, nitrates, coliform bacteria, phosphates, and dissolved oxygen in the pond and river to assess the health of the ecosystem. Macroinvertebrates were also collected, sorted, and examined to help evaluate the quality of the water.
After all the information was obtained, we examined the data and input it into Excel. In Excel, we learned how to create tables and graphs to represent what our data meant and compare and contrast the data to see how it all worked together. Also, Excel was used to calculate the biodiversity of the pond and river using the Shannon-Weiner Diversity Index.
Finally, after all was done and graphed, our final step was to write a paper using an objective voice to summarize what we learned and introduce our ideas on how we think DNS should handle the bullfrogs. We also put in our two cents on how Durango Nature Studies could modify the property to increase the leopard frog population.
This essay was no easy feat. Accurately projecting the data in a way pleasing to the eye was a challenge in itself, but on top of that I completed a challenge extension in where I analyzed DNS data from the past three years and made additional conclusions on how they could better manage their property. Learning to use Excel and write objectively were also challenges, but in the end I am very proud of all the effort I put in. As a reward, I can now be proud of the paper I have completed.