Crossing Boundaries

A summary of an article that examines the impact of farming on birds in Costa Rica. Apparently, planting and/or leaving trees can have a large positive impact on birds in these contexts.

Arranged in the traditional 7.5-minute quadrangle format, digital US Topo maps look and feel like traditional paper topo maps but users can turn geographic data layers on and off, zoom in and out to highlight specific features or see a broader context; and print the maps...

"Young children are able to recognize every single specimen of the 493 Pokémon "species" (e.g., a value three times greater than our number of "priority protection species"), but they face great difficulties when asked to recognize common animal species... Natural attractiveness of children towards animals should not focus only on few iconic species but must be also directed toward common and local organisms by engaging children with practical experiences with nature. Our study simply adds another call to push the children outside and away from the screens."

This free downloadable report addresses the question of how can we expect to tackle poverty and climate change if we don't look after the natural wealth of animals, plants, microorganisms and ecosystems that make our planet inhabitable? The articles look at the scientific, social, economic and cultural case for keeping diversity, showing how biodiversity supports our health and physical security, food production, medical research, livelihoods, tourism, artistic expression and cultural life.

Summary of a peer-reviewed article on the response of tropical birds to climate change. Contains link to full article.

The National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) supports research into our world's frozen realms: the snow, ice, glaciers, frozen ground, and climate interactions that make up Earth's cryosphere. NSIDC manages and distributes scientific data, creates tools for data access, supports data users, performs scientific research, and educates the public about the cryosphere.

Downloadable world map using Wildfinder data to portray # bird species by terrestrial ecoregion

Overview on the Lab of Ornithology's blog summarizing the Crossing Boundaries trip to Jalisco, Mexico

A short article on how birds are being used as sustainability indicators in Nebraskan farms.

Includes statistics about NY bird species and a map showing variability in bird species richness across the state.

"Rather than look at protected areas as preserves cut off from our human activity except as tourist destinations, we need to recognize their broader role in our economies. "

ESRI videos on GIS careers such as forester, conservationist, and helicopter pilot

Live streaming conversation site.

This online data viewer provides user-friendly access to regional land cover and land cover change information developed through NOAA's Coastal Change Analysis Program (C-CAP). The Land Cover Atlas eliminates the need for desktop geographic information system software, or advanced technical expertise, by processing C-CAP data for the user and providing easy access to that distilled information.

Learn more about the kinds of data available and download data. Use these tools to turn data into the useful information your organization needs. Update your skills by participating in one of these training programs. See how data and tools are used to address coastal management issues.

"Google has long offered anyone with an Internet connection a street-level view of cities and landmarks around the world, from the Golden Gate Bridge to the Roman Coliseum. Now, it's teaming up with a Brazilian environmental group to offer a 3-D, on-the-ground view of one of the planet's most remote areas: the hamlet of Tumbira in the center of the Brazilian Amazon. The goal is to show how people in the Amazon live - and educate the public about their effort to protect the forest."

Evaluate the effectiveness of your map in telling its story by answering these 10 questions.

"Use the Interactive Footprint Calculator to find your country and see how it compares to others. See what makes up the biggest components of our water footprint. Watch how the index for species populations move and change over time."

"an innovative online career exploration and planning system designed to make career exploration and planning fun and easy... students can choose an occupation & read the job description, interests it utilizes, skills required, education needed, average wages for entry level and senior level, and job outlook.

My class and I loved this! It is funny (and now they will never forget what ecological succession is!)