Seeing the Forest for the Trees: What's in Your Woods?

Michael J. Urban, Bemidji State University
Ken Laustsen, Maine Forest Service
Pat Maloney, Project Learning Tree
Donald Sprangers, Washington Academy
Gerry Saunders, Unity College

Published: May 2010. Last updated: May 2011

Description

Note: This chapter was retired in October 2018. The visualization tool (My World GIS) is no longer supported.
maine woods
The North Woods: Penobscot Experimental Forest. Source: NASA Earth Observatory Article: North Woods Maine 2009.

In this chapter, you will investigate forest biodiversity in several plots in Maine and consider the environmental factors that contribute to tree species diversity. The chapter begins with a simple statistical analysis using Microsoft Excel and ends with a comparative analysis between forests in different regions of Maine using My World GISTM. You will learn how to import, symbolize, and investigate biodiversity forest data (e.g., tree species) with the geographic information system, My World GISTM.



This chapter is part of the Earth Exploration Toolbook. Each chapter provides teachers and/or students with direct practice for using scientific tools to analyze Earth science data. Students should begin on the Case Study page.


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