Eco-tracking: On the Trail of Habitat Change

by Daniel Shaw

Overview

In this much-needed work for our nation's youth, Daniel Shaw tracks the interconnections of small regional ecosystems to larger ones, and in the process demonstrates the accessibility of nature to everyone. As Shaw notes in his introduction, the story that is too often told about the environment is one about despair and destruction, which basically suggests to young people that all is lost and everything was better before their time.

Instead, this book tells true life success stories of young people involved in citizen science efforts and how others can join in tracking climate change, local wildlife, and other parts of the natural world. Shaw's work demonstrates by example a story of hope for a natural environment that exists in the world.

At the core of this book is the notion that humans are components of their ecosystems. Shaw encourages readers to learn what becomes of their outputs and to understand human contributions to various ecological cycles. Sidebars and activities give readers a chance to discover these cycles right in their backyards and to link their discoveries to neighborhood environments.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780826345318
Publisher:	University of New Mexico Press
Publication date:	12/15/2010
Series:	World's of Wonder Series
Pages:	98
Product dimensions:	7.00(w) x 10.10(h) x 0.60(d)
Lexile:	980L (what's this?)
Age Range:	10 - 14 Years

About the Author

Daniel Shaw is a middle school science teacher at Bosque School in Albuquerque. He created and for fourteen years has been the principal investigator of a nationally honored student-centered monitoring project in the Rio Grande bosque, which today involves more than 2,500 young adults.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments ix

Chapter 1 Becoming a Citizen Scientist and Eco-tracker 1

Sidebar: Map Your Habitat 8

Sidebar: Map Your Neighborhood's Wild Habitat 9

Sidebar: Sustainable Living 10

Chapter 2 Out Your Door and into the Environment 13

Sidebar: Maintaining a Field Journal 16

Sidebar: Keeping Species Lists 20

Sidebar: Reading the Land 22

Chapter 3 Ecological Drivers Change Habitat 27

Activity Sidebar: Build a Weather Station 37

Chapter 4 Habitat and Wildlife 39

Activity Sidebar: Make a Track Pit 51

Chapter 5 Biological Diversity 53

Activity Sidebar: Setting Pitfall Traps 61

Chapter 6 Healing a Wounded Land 63

Activity Sidebar: Joining Forces for a Better Environment 72

Further Information 73

Glossary 75

Illustration Credits 81

Index 83