Is My Campus, or Neighborhood, Beneficial to Wildlife?

Introduction:

To get us warmed up with using the scientific method, this lab activity has us observing our campus (or your neighborhood) for food, water and shelter. In general, urban areas destroy native habitat, but some species (both plants and animals) have evolved to coexist with humans. Urban areas are typically much warmer than surrounding areas (due to asphalt and the urban heat island effect). Other stressors such as predation by pets, competition from invasive species or hazards such as cars, toxins, construction, or light pollution have greatly impacted the distribution of wildlife and their quality of living. While some species adapt, others fail and disappear.

Materials:

• Notebook
• Writing utensils

Procedure:

• First, construct a hypothesis regarding whether you think your campus, or neighborhood, is conducive to wildlife. Be sure to explain why or why not!
• Walk around our campus and take note of any signs of the following. As a substitute, walking around a neighborhood can be used.
  • Traces of food (i.e., nuts, flowers, seeds, garbage cans, gardens, scraps, etc.).
  • Signs of water
  • Shelter (i.e., trees, bushes, burrows in the ground or in trees, nests, hives, rock piles, leaf piles, etc.).
• Record the results. It can help to sketch a map of the investigation area and outline the walking path. Make sure to create a small legend symbolizing what was seen and where on the map.
• In the final lab report, be sure to address whether your hypothesis is accepted or rejected, and why.

Post-Lab Questions:

• Do you notice any direct human influence on any wildlife (i.e., people feeding wildlife, mowed areas, cutting trees or bushes)? Be specific!
• Were potential conflicts between wildlife and humans observed (i.e., roads)? Again, be specific!
• What are 1-2 activities that you can do to make your observed area support more wildlife (i.e., bird feeders)?