Introduction to Ecology

By Sarah Weber

This is slide deck provides an overview on the basics of ecology. Be sure to view the speaker notes for more details on each concept.

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Review: PlantNet Plant Identification App

By Sarah Weber
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PlantNet  is a web and app-based citizen science platform that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to identify and inventory tens of thousands of plant species. Users can share observations which can then be reviewed by the PlantNet community and used by the underlying AI model to recognize plants. A sufficient degree of confidence is required in order for the observation to be added to the public database and the AI model. To take into account new observations and revisions, the AI model is regularly re-trained. This diagram demonstrates the data flow of observations in the PlantNet system. Source: PlantNet.org PlantNet has collected over 1 billion plant images and is one of the biggest contributors to the GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility) international database. Data from GBIF can be downloaded and explored, or you can view the hundreds of publications that make use of PlantNet data. PlantNet's highly sophisticated process for identifying and validating observations ...
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The Sonoran Desert

By Sarah Weber
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I’ve selected the study area for my Biodiversity Stewardship as the Sonoran Desert, a region that spans from a small portion of southeastern California, the southern third of Arizona, into the state of Sonora, Mexico, and down the Baja California peninsula. The Sonoran Desert is considered one of the most biologically diverse deserts in the world, and the most diverse of the four U.S. deserts. “More than 100 reptiles, 2,000 native plants, 60 mammals, and 350 birds call this desert home” (Center for Biological Diversity, n.d.). It houses species that can be found only in the Sonoran Desert like the Saguaro cactus, the Long-tongued bat, the Cactus mouse, and the Antelope jackrabbit, as well as the only population of jaguars in the U.S. In addition to the vast biodiversity, there is a rich history of human ecology in the desert, and the indigenous communities.  I live in Tucson, Arizona, a city situated firmly in the Sonoran Desert, and I’ve cultivated a deep appreciation for the land...
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Climate and Weather in the Sonoran Desert

By Sarah Weber
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As one of the most biodiverse deserts on Earth, the Sonoran Desert also has one of the most unique climates. Much of the ecology is shaped by its two distinct rainy seasons: the monsoon season which occurs from July to September and another more gentle rainy period in the winter. These two rainy seasons provide enough moisture to support a substantial variety of plants and several small trees to thrive in the desert as well as wildlife. A monsoon storm over Tuzigoot National Monument / Source: National Park Service                                                      To further explore the climate and weather in the Sonoran Desert, I recommend the following resources: Climate (National Park Service)  provides a general overview of the climate in the Sonoran Desert as well as links to specific monitoring sites based on past y...
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