Check for the organization of article. Most articles will have the following sections listed.
Check to see that authors are listed, if no authors, this is most likely not a trustworthy article! In some cases, there will not be an author list, but instead, there might be a government organization listed such as the EPA, USGS, or USDA. These articles are still trustworthy and may be used. Check if the authors have trustworthy credentials associated with a research university or government agency. Look for a statement in the header or footer of the document that says submitted (date); accepted (date). This is a sign that the document went through the peer-review process. Check for graphs and tables. This is a sign that research has been conducted and analyzed. When in doubt, ask your instructor or a librarian!
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I am in the middle of teaching GIS for the first time this year. I teach at an institution that prioritizes experiential education and getting student outdoors. I have struggled to find resources that engage students in GIS skills but also allow us to be away from the computer once a week. Throughout the semester I have developed several resources that I believe will be helpful to other professors at similar institutions that are also teaching GIS. The first installment in this series is Measuring IRL.
Beaver have long been known as ecosystem engineers - altering their habitats in ways that benefit themselves and change the function of the ecosystem in which they enter. For instance, beaver will move to a new location with running water where they will fell trees effectively slowing down the flow of water. Here, a new ecosystem of slow moving to no-flow water forms, allowing for a shift in the ecosystems composition. But, did you know that beaver can also alter the effects of climate change? As climate change continues altering precipitation patterns worldwide and leading to the drying of lands, the retention of water in fire-prone ecosystems is becoming increasingly important. Once these fire-prone ecosystems dry, wildfires are able to rage out of control with no natural firebreaks left due to the drying of ponds and streams. Kenneth McDarment, a councilman of the Tule River Tribe in the foothills of the Sierras, had the idea to reintroduce beaver to tribal lands that have experienced significantly worsening wildfire seasons. This idea came into being from the knowledge that beaver create wetland habitats wherever they go. However, the problem with reintroducing beaver into their historic ranges is that in most states it is illegal to move beaver. Here, tribes decided to build man-made beaver dams in hopes that beaver would return on their own - and it worked! Figure 1: North American Beaver cutting down tree (Troy Harrison / Getty Images)
With beaver reintroduced to tribal lands, scientists have found the retention of surface water in the landscape increased by 2.5 percent. Dr. Emily Fairfax discovered through her research that beaver ponds, no matter how few or many, were able to protect land from wildfires. Furthermore, she discovered that areas along streams with no beaver present were on average 3 times more affected by wildfires than their beaver-dammed counterparts. The next time you are out near a stream, look for signs of beaver. Before European colonization of North America, beaver could be found in each of the contiguous 48-states. These creatures are true masters of the environment - as both ecosystem engineers and ecosystem saviors. As an added bonus, when near water, you never know when you might see one. Sources and Further Reading: Hall, A. (2016). Exploring with Beavers, Nature’s Ecosystem Engineers. https://defenders.org/blog/2016/09/exploring-beavers-natures-ecosystem-engineers Sherriff, L. (2021). Beavers Are Firefighters Who Work for Free Is it time to rethink beaver relocation bans? https://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/wildfires-tek-beavers-are-firefighters-who-work-for-free de Visser S., Thébault, E., & de Ruiter, P.C. (2012). Ecosystem Engineers, Keystone Species. https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-1-4614-5755-8_4 C2ES. Drought and Climate Change. Accessed 2 February 2022 from https://www.c2es.org/content/drought-and-climate-change/#:~:text=How%20climate%20change%20contributes%20to,the%20timing%20of%20water%20availability. I have experienced first-hand the anxiety, fear, and panic associated with exams. Over the years I have learned several key approaches for dealing with exam anxiety and some key ways to prepare for examination time. Here is a list of suggested practices.
You can find more great exam advice here. *Thanks to A. McKinzie Sutter for sharing the Cornell Note Taking System with me. I am a first generation college student and researcher. I come from a working-class family with parents who always pushed me to excel in school. I knew from a very early age that I would work tirelessly to attend college and ultimately receive a doctorate degree. School was not always easy especially when navigating the academic system for the first time - all while working a full-time job. However, through the hardships I learned my way and I hope to help others first-gens have an easier time! Currently, I am a doctoral candidate in the Infrastructure and Environmental Systems program where I research biogeochemical processes of restored headwater streams in Charlotte, NC. I am passionate about seeing other first-gen and minority students succeed and have been a mentor to women in STEM and Latin American students wanting to attend college and graduate school in the United States. I enjoy giving back to the community and have served as the Secretary of Sustainability for the Graduate and Professional Student Government on campus. To all first-gens, never be afraid to ask questions about the academic process and never give up on your dreams... and remember, always leave time to have fun!
Today my dear partner helped me do some fieldwork! I had to go out and measure the length of the strings holding data loggers in my wells. We have to have accurate measurements so we can show detailed changes in groundwater levels!
I couldnt have done it without his help. <3 Everyone plays an important role in maintaining the water quality of local streams. Here you will find a list of activities you can do in your own home, garden, and yard that will benefit the water quality in your local stream!
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This looks to be an exciting series showcasing women in river research! Click the button below for more information!
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