tren 2p94 – human dominated ecosystems
local landscape
report overview
David T. Brown
Department of Tourism and Environment, Brock University
500 Glenridge Avenue, St. Catharines, ON L2S 3A1
dbrown@brocku.ca
assignments and evaluation
□ Local Landscape Abstract (due 19 September)
10 %
□ Field Presentation (during field trip)
15 %
□ Local Landscape Report (due 28 October)
30 %
□ Final examination (in class on 04 Nov)
25 %
□ Participation and attendance (mandatory)
10 %
□ Peer evaluation
10 %
□ Total
100 %
2
local landscape field presentation
□ Niagara has a long settlement history
□ through observation and research, we
can see the influence of human
activity on local landscapes
throughout Niagara
□ your major task this term:
examine the effects of human activity
on a significant local landscape of
your own choosing over time
3
local landscape field presentation
□ Step 1: choose a local landscape on
or close to our planned field trip trails
□ Step 2: prepare an abstract about the
landscape describing why it is
significant and worthy of further study
□ Step 3: do a 15 minute onsite
presentation in the field to introduce
your landscape to your peers
4
local landscape report
□ Step 4: prepare a written local
landscape report :
□ describing the current state of the
landscape
□ documenting changes to the landscape
made by humans over time
□ relating the changes you see to principles
of sustainability (TREN 1F90 review!) and
principles of landscape ecology (from
assigned course readings)
□ examining broader ecosystem effects
5
local landscape report
□ Step 4: prepare a written local
landscape report using:
□ reference materials from the Brock library
and elsewhere (independent research)
□ conventional maps and aerial imagery
□ digital mapping resources
(Niagara Navigator, Google Maps, Google Earth, NPCA
Natural Areas inventory, historical maps online)
□ digital photos taken in the field
6
local landscape report
You will be provided with a report
template to organize your report
□ Section headers will be provided; you
will fill in relevant information
□ Questions will follow each section. You
will answer them based on:
□Your observations in the field
□Assigned readings specified in report
template
□Your own research
7
local landscape report
□ structured analysis of the main features
of your landscape
□ Local Landscape Data Form will be
used to guide report writing
□ you will analyze and describe your
landscape based upon specific
approaches found in the course
readings
8
local landscape report
CONTENT
‘BOILERPLATE’ INFO FOR YOUR LOCAL LANDSCAPE
LOCATION:
□ Municipality: (e.g., St. Catharines)
□ Local area name: (e.g., Port Dalhousie)
□ Other identifying names or descriptions (e.g., Central Business District)
□ Latitude and longitude
□ Physical Dimensions
□ Length, Width, Surface Area, Elevation (Highest / lowest point)
(Google Earth will tell you the elevation for any point in your local landscape)
□ Map References
□ Digital maps: Google Maps 'My Map' URL; Google Earth; Niagara
Navigator
□ Air Photo References: Photo number(s) and location(s) for air photos
relevant to your local landscape
□ Other Graphical Resources (List as appropriate)
9
local landscape report
SIGNIFICANT FEATURES
HISTORICAL
□ Archaeological: features and attributes
□ Land use history: Commercial / Industrial / Agricultural /
Residential Uses
CULTURAL
□ Recreational uses
□ Cultural attributes of settlers
□ Architectural Heritage
10
local landscape report
SIGNIFICANT FEATURES
ECOLOGICAL
□ Biota: Plant species / assemblages / communities
□ Animal species / assemblages / communities
□ Rare / threatened / endangered species
GEOLOGICAL / HYDROLOGICAL
□ Geology / soils / geomorphology
□ Water features / Hydrology/ Hydrogeology
Other surface / topographic features:
CLIMATE / MICROCLIMATE
11
local landscape report
SIGNIFICANT FEATURES
LAND TENURE
□ Jursidiction / Ownership: (e.g., private land, government ministry,
provincial agency, corporation, etc.)
□ Public access permitted?
□ Zoning: (Residential / Commercial / Industrial / Parks and
Recreation, etc.)
□ Official Plan Designation: (municipal plan, Greenbelt, Niagara
Escarpment, etc.)
□ Land Value if known
Management:
□ Groups, agencies, organizations, individuals (e.g., Parks Ontario,
Ontario Power Generation, etc.)
□ Type of management practices; periodicity / schedule (e.g., utility
corridors clearcut eery 5 years; farm fields plowed and replanted
every year, etc.)
12
local landscape report
CONNECTIVITY
Linkages: Is your landscape connected to adjacent landscapes by roads,
trails, waterways, paths, corridors?
Adjacent Land Uses
OTHER INFORMATION SOURCES
websites
downloadable electronic resources (reports, e-books, etc.)
books
journals
government publications
newspaper / magazine articles
any other relevant information sources on your local landscape
CONTACT:
Name and address of contact person for public lands
13
final examination
□ in class, 04 november
□ exam will test your understanding of:
□ definitions, principles and concepts in the
assigned readings
□ applying theoretical principles to realworld ecosystem change
□ lessons you learned from examining your
local landscape
□ short answer / fill in blank / essay
format
14
course outline
Online course at
www.brocku.ca/tren/courses/tren2p94
15