Additional Study Areas

By Sarah Weber

If you're interested in learning more about biodiversity across other study areas, please check out these my peers' blogs from our Virginia Tech Su24 Biodiversity Stewardship course.

Popular posts from this blog

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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Sky Island Alliance

By Sarah Weber
Sky Island Alliance is 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based out of Tucson, AZ focused on protecting and restoring the diversity of life in the Sky Island region. I chose to highlight this organization because of their commitment to the Sky Islands, and it's binational landscapes, wildlife, and people. Sky Island Alliance not only seeks to conserve and protect natural resources; they approach it in a way that is inclusive of the people and culture that are connected to the region.  I've had an opportunity to volunteer with Sky Island Alliance on several occasions, including Spring Seeker, and each time I am impressed with how well their events and initiatives are organized and designed to make a difference. If you'd like to learn more about my personal experience, you can view it here . 
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An Exploration of Melanerpes and the Gila Woodpecker

By Sarah Weber
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The Sonoran Desert is home to more than 350 bird species. One of these many unique species is the Gila woodpecker ( Melanerpes uropygialis ). It is a non-migratory, endemic bird to the Sonoran Desert regions of the U.S. and Mexico. The male and female gila woodpeckers both have brown faces, black and white zebra striped backs, and white wing patches. Adult males have a red cap of feathers on top of their head. While they do forage and nest in trees, they most commonly use the iconic saguaro cacti as nurseries - a true Sonoran Desert animal! I admire the tough and harsh environments where the Gila woodpecker lives, and wanted to use that as an opportunity to further explore their genus, Melanerpes. Adult female and adult male Gila woodpecker.  Image Source: Audubon.org / David Masche Taxon Classification Description Domain Eukaryota Organisms whose cells have a membrane-bound nucleus. This includes all animals, plants, fungi, and many unicell...
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