Research Committee Purpose
The primary goal of this project is educational—to provide students with the opportunity
to create novel research questions, design and implement data collection techniques,
and communicate our discoveries with our peers and community. Furthermore, the information gathered will be used to create products (e.g., presentations, reports, publications) to fulfill our ultimate goal of providing students experience in the research process, data collection methods, and analysis.
Gaining Valuable Research Experience
Location(s) of collection or Activity:
● County: Pima
● Additional Locality Details (water body, canyon, etc): Santa Cruz River riparian zone
Reach Overview
This project aims to provide students with the opportunity to directly engage obstacles inherent with research in the natural world while providing results to better help their community understand the intricate dynamics of the Santa Cruz River. The collection of abundance data will be accomplished through distance sampling.
General Protocol/Techniques:
-
Measuring Diversity/Species Richness using distance sampling
-
Species recognition/identification through animal surveys
-
Line Transects utilizing measuring tapes or a laser rangefinder
-
Cover Board Sampling to create artificial congregation areas for herpetofauna
Latest Updates:
-
Next survey dates: TBA
-
Sign-up Sheet: Link