Nutria Eradication Project Nutria (Myocastor coypus) are an invasive non-native species that are semi-aquatic that were first released in Dorchester County, MD in 1943 (USFWS, 2016). In 1968 there were less than 150 animals in the marshlands, but by 1998 there were as many as 50,000 nutria (USFWS, 2012). In 1993, it was apparent that... Continue Reading →
Knowing the dendrology in your area is important in order to maintain forest health. Please view my slides of the Potomac River Watershed region!
With the rise of smartphones it is only natural that the appearance of natural resource applications are available too. I have used both iNaturalist and the Mid-Atlantic Early Detection Network (MAEDN) application for invasive species in the Mid-Atlantic region. Both have their pros and cons, but ultimately I favor the MAEDN app more. These apps... Continue Reading →
What are those plants? This is a question I have gotten a lot from visitors in National Parks where I have worked. Why are you spraying them? Most of all my favorite question is what are you spraying them with? These are all important questions that the everyday person will have while it's visiting an... Continue Reading →
Good evening everyone! I am going to share my experience with the Web Soil Survey (WSS) tool provided for free by the USDA. For those who do not know, USDA is short for the United States Department of Agriculture which is a federal executive department within the United States. The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)... Continue Reading →
When people think of weather and climate, many believe it is the same thing, it is not! Weather is a daily occurrence whereas climate is the weather we expect to occur over time. Click here to view a video explaining the difference between weather and climate. Rising temperatures in the climate of the Potomac River... Continue Reading →
According to the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, the definition of ecology is... "The scientific study of the processes influencing the distribution and abundance of organisms, the interactions among organisms, and the interactions between organisms and the transformation and flux of energy and matter." With the environment in a constant state of change this is... Continue Reading →
I have used a number of GIS applications from ArcGIS to the basics of Google Earth, all of which have their purpose. The application that I have been using is called QGIS which is a free GIS software offered to users. Yes folks, I said FREE! If you have a basic understanding of any GIS... Continue Reading →
Why did I choose the Potomac River Watershed as my study area? It was hard to just choose one aspect of the Appalachian region for me. The Appalachian Mountains is a large area to cover and it would be impossible to be highly detailed. There are so many different aspects of this region and to... Continue Reading →
What is biodiversity? Biodiversity is defined as all species and biological communities and must be considered on all levels that the communities engage in. All species on Earth are included along with the genetic variations within species and how species interact with the ecosystem (adapted from Primack, 2014). Primack, Richard B. Essentials of conservation biology.... Continue Reading →
Potomac River Watershed 