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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Invasive Plants: A Threat to the Sonoran Desert

By Sarah Weber
The Sonoran Desert is under threat from several invasive plant species, and they are plants that know no boundaries. They affect the native plants and animals, create fire hazards, and endanger ecosystems. These slides provide an overview of the most problematic invasive plants that are jeopardizing one of the most biologically diverse deserts in the world.
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