Activity 1

Making Species Maps

Introduction

Biogeography is a branch of science that studies changes in the distribution of life forms on the
planet over time. A distribution is the area where you can find a plant or animal, and can be
shown on maps by marking a geographical range where the organism is found. Different
organisms have different distributions, some are very rare while others are nearly everywhere.
Cosmopolitan species, like the common housefly, have a very broad distribution and can be
found almost world-wide. Other species are endemic, like the Giant Panda, and are very rare
because they are only found in a small geographical region. Often times, a rare endemic
species may be at risk for extinction, and in need of protection.

Changes in the distribution of a species can be natural or due to human impact on the
environment. Human activity and movement across the globe have allowed some species to
move into new environments, and so are called exotic species. Sometimes, an exotic species
can become an invasive species, which means it spreads rapidly in new environments and
competes with native species for resources. Often, a cosmopolitan species is also an invasive
species.

It can be very difficult to remove an invasive species, because usually they have no natural
predators in their new environment. Sometimes an invasive species can put a native species at
risk, which can be a problem for sensitive species that are already endangered.

Experimental Procedure

1. First choose your observation site. It should be a place you like to explore and where
you think you might find a diversity of organisms. If you are not going to do the
experiment at home, make sure you get a parent to accompany you on your
expedition. Good places to choose are:
1. a backyard,
2. community garden,
3. open field,
4. park,
5. pond,
6. lake,
7. wetland,
8. marina,
9. tidepool,
10. stream,
11. wooded area, or
12. desert.
2. Next, you will need to map out your location on a piece of plain white paper. Use a
drawing pencil to draw in the structure of your test site as you walk around. For example,
if you use your backyard you will want to draw the location of your house, the patio, a
shed, etc. Try your best to draw the location to scale, but it doesn't need to be perfect.
3. When you are satisfied, use a black marker to trace over the image with strong, clean
lines. Then use a good quality eraser to erase all of your pencil markings.
4. Make several copies of your map. You will use these to color in the distributions of
different organisms as you make your observations. Put all of your copies in a 3-ring
binder to bring with you to make your observations at your test site.
 5. For your location, choose a good time to go out and observe. Depending upon what
you are observing, you may want to sit quietly or walk around and explore. If you are
observing plant life, you will want to walk all around your site to see which plants grow in
each of the different areas of your map. If you are observing birds, you may want to sit
quietly with a pair of binoculars. If you are observing animals, be patient they will
eventually come around. If you are observing bugs, you will want to explore and even
dig around under rocks or with a shovel. Bring a magnifying glass to look for very small
animals in the soil, leaves or under rocks.
6. Use a new copy of your map for each organism that you survey for. Use colored pencils
to shade in areas where each organism is found. For example, if there is grass in the
middle of your yard, choose a color to represent grass and use it to shade in a region
where the grass is on your map. Be sure to label each area after you draw it on your
map.
7. Use a digital camera to take pictures of the organisms you find to help you identify
them later. Pictures will also be a nice addition to your poster. You may also want to
consult a nature guide for your area to help you identify the plants and animals.
8. Write down some notes about each organism, what it looks like, where you saw it, and
what you think it is. Don't worry if you can't identify something right away, if you write it
down and take a picture, you can figure out what it is later.
9. When you are done, you will have a notebook full of different organisms, some pictures,
their locations and distributions, and some notes and information about them. You may
want to assemble the information into a large map that includes all of your data. Use a
different color for each organism and remember to include a color key, or legend.
10. How many different species were in your location? Which areas had the most different
kinds of species? Are there areas with invasive species on your map? Are there any
interesting native species on your map? Can you think of a project to invite more native
species in your project area?

Note: Please Do not go out if you are under lockdown or etc. Always observe proper health
protocols.