- The Expedition
- Meet the Team
- Resources
Working in a variety of habitats, from forests to meadows and from wetlands to beaches, we will monitor and observe the behavior of small mammals in the area to determine the impact of climate change and other environmental changes. Drs. Christina Buesching and Chris Newman will train us to establish locations of dens, monitor wildlife trails, and use trapping grids. We will also explore how Nova Scotia's wilderness ecosystem copes with the impact of climate change and how it affects the forestry, hunting, and tourism industries so vital to the local economy.
Join us on our adventure on an Earthwatch expedition, the Mammals of Nova Scotia, from April 13 - 26, 2008!
Meet the Teachers
Paige Krekeler
Memorial Middle School
Houston, TX
My name is Paige Krekeler and I teach 6th grade science at Memorial Middle School in Houston, TX. I have been at Memorial Middle School for 8 years.
When I'm not teaching or coaching, you can find me running, frequently on the wooded trails, looking for wildlife. I also love to travel and explore. I am eager to share my knowledge, experiences and adventures with my students.
Live from the Field: I will be assisting a team of researchers and volunteers on the Mammals of Nova Scotia project. The primary goal for this team is to study the distribution (locations), abundance (counting how many), and behavior of mammal populations in a variety of terrestrial habitats. The goal is to correlate climate changes with the success of a species.
Please visit my blog to find out what I’ve done!
Blog: http://www.earthwatch2.org/LFF/Krekeler/
Erin Livingston
Glenn L. Downs Elementary School
Phoenix, AZ
My name is Erin Livingston and I am a 4th grade teacher at Glenn L. Downs Elementary School, in Phoenix, AZ. I feel very privileged to have the opportunity to travel to Nova Scotia to enrich my understanding of the impact that global climate changes are having on certain mammals there and bring science, reading and writing to life for my students through dynamic mediums, like internet blogging!
When I am not teaching I love being outdoors with friends hiking, rock climbing and even ice climbing. I also enjoy reading and taking trips back to Michigan to visit family and friends.
I am looking forward to seeing, first-hand, the impact that global warming is having on certain mammals of Nova Scotia. My goal is to bring the lessons learned in the field back to my students in Arizona so they might share in finding solutions to protect our wildlife, not just in Nova Scotia, but back home in Arizona too.
Blog: http://www.earthwatch2.org/LFF/Livingston/
Kathy Megivern
Ankeny High School
Ankeny, Iowa
I am in my third year at Ankeny High School in Ankeny, Iowa, just north of Des Moines. I teach Biology, Animal Science, Plant Science, and Geology. I have many hobbies and interests, including backpacking, camping, hiking, rockhounding, gardening, tennis, cross-country skiing, photography, birdwatching, cooking, music, sewing,and crafts.
We will use various methods to monitor wildlife, such as using trapping grids to trap small mammals, observing the behavior and feeding habits of large mammals, using infrared video surveillance and camera traps to monitor more elusive large mammals, and counting droppings to provide density estimates and habitat prefences for some species. We may also sample invertebrates and survey seabirds and marine wildlife.
Blog: http://www.earthwatch2.org/LFF/megivern/
Brianne Messick
St. Michael/Albertville Middle School
St. Michael MN
Hello! My name is Brianne Messick, I teach 7th grade Geography, 8th grade U.S. History, and an 8th grade Environmental Education class at St. Michael/Albertville Middle School in St. Michael MN. When I’m not teaching I spend most of my time outside enjoying various activities like running, hiking, snowshoeing, snowboarding, camping and my newest hobby fly-fishing. I’m looking forward to learning more about the wildlife in Nova Scotia and sharing my experiences and information with you all!
During this expedition I will be assisting the scientists in collecting data and observing the habitats of the native mammals in Nova Scotia. Through collecting data we will be learning how climate change is affecting these animals and their environment. I am excited to bring my experience back to my school and hope to create awareness of our changing environment in my community.
Blog: http://www.earthwatch2.org/LFF/messick/
Meet the Scientists
Dear Volunteers,
Nova Scotia offers a wilderness experience, where a wealth of mammal species can be observed and studied to shed light on the growing impacts of climate change on their behaviors and ecology. Watch beavers busily harvesting wood out on the lakes, see otters fishing on the coast, and enjoy the antics of skunks, raccoons, and porcupines as they forage around the fieldsite in the evening. Come and enjoy the delights of Atlantic Canada and discover how much of a difference your contribution can make to conservation!
Dr. Christina Buesching
Wildlife Conservation Unit, Oxford University
Dr. Chris Newman
Wildlife Conservation Unit, Oxford University
Links to More Information Expedition Briefing from Earthwatch Institute Volunteer Team Blog from May 2007 Information about the Mammal Monitoring Project from our Europe Office Archived Teacher Blogs: Amy Andrews Jennifer Griffith Robert Minott |
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