A Brief Description of the Site
The location that I have picked can be found in the backyard of my house at Elfin in Hillsborough, North Carolina. This is a temperate grassland ecosystem where there is also a freshwater aquatic system nearby. An aerial view of the site was obtained using Google Maps services (see Fig. 1). The habitat assessment checklist provided by the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation was completed to finalize the assignment and make important conclusions about the area.
The Score of the Site
The following subtotal results were achieved when completing the scoring guide for the given site: 1A (3/10), 1B (3/10), 1C (15/37), 1D (20/30), 1E (5/13), 2A (16/25), 2B (8/25), 3 (30/35), 4 (20/40). The overall score achieved for the habitat assessment was 120 out of 225 total points. Sections 1C and 1D were the most difficult to complete because of the lack of relevant flora in the assessment area. The âbeforeâ value of the site for pollinators and/or other beneficial invertebrates, as determined by my scoring, shows that significant issues must be resolved as soon as possible. For instance, based on the results of the evaluation, it could be suggested to pay more attention to the importance of summer-blooming native wildflowers and summer- or fall-blooming shrubs.
Almost no food for specialist bees was found in the area, suggesting that more diverse native wildflower plantings might be required to support the ecosystem. It would be a reasonable recommendation to stay away from utilizing pesticides, as non-chemical controls would not be as harmful while generating similar outcomes. Invasive species should be removed from the land in order to help wildflower species spread in the area. Nevertheless, non-native species would have to be exterminated in order to set the foundation for recurrent pollination. Leaf litter and dead wood debris will be left on site to improve the existing lawn and yard care practices. A tall grass habitat is going to be maintained in some of the areas by keeping grass unmown.
Ultimately, the current habitat assessment showed that fruit trees and fruit-bearing shrubs could significantly contribute to the positive development of the habitat. This would be achieved by means of native species that would encourage and speed up the process of pollination. I have also exerted exceptional efforts to improve the assessment score by engaging in relevant community actions with as many locals as possible. I showed my pollinator-friendly yard to my peers and parents and explained the importance of pollination during the tour. Closer to the end of the project, I became interested in organizing a neighborhood native plant or seed exchange. There are opportunities to contact my city officials to move forward with a bee-friendly resolution.
Activity Evaluation
Overall, I did not encounter any specific challenges when completing the habitat assessment assignment. It was easy to select an appropriate site and then complete the survey that was carefully divided into several crucial subsections. The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation guide can be described as easy to read and use, so I did not experience any challenges associated with filling in all the blanks. I am not going to criticize the scoring guide because I quickly grasped each of the points and it also sparked my critical thinking ability along the way. When I was ticking off certain elements throughout the checklist, I immediately thought about the potential ways of improving the current state of affairs in the habitat.
In order to complete this lab, I spent approximately ten hours since the prep work, the fieldwork, and drafting the report took around two, five, and three hours, respectively. I took my time with the field work because it was interesting to investigate and assess the habitat using objective terms. I have spent additional time studying the checklist and trying to grasp every little detail that could aid me in improving the local habitat and making it more suitable for pollination. Arguably, the checklist provided by the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation and the course materials turned out to be the most valuable resources that helped me complete this habitat assessment successfully.
Despite achieving extensive results and completing the lab successfully, I believe that teamwork could be a much more appropriate option for this assignment. Every member of the team would bring their best qualities to the table while benefiting from the capabilities possessed by their peers. As a team project, the habitat assessment could have been finished much quicker, leaving more time to draft a high-quality report. To my mind, the best way to improve the educational value of the habitat assessment would be to have students set specific objectives that they might need to achieve when completing the assignment. These objectives should be related to protecting the environment from the negative anthropological impact, where pollination would serve as the bridge between humans and nature.
Work Cited
The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation. Habitat Assessment Guide for Pollinators In Yards, Gardens, And Parks. 2019.