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Kimberly Wise│Biology in the Age of Technology│ GFP Project Dragonfly│Miami University│ wisekl@miami.edu
What is GIS and how is it used?
What is GIS and how is it used?
Image From GIS Information Course
Photo by Michigan Audubon Society
If you have ever used Google maps to look up information then you have used a GIS program! Whether you were looking at restaurants in your area or looking to see how far you are from your friend's house GIS is a visual representation of information and a way to examine spatial relationships. For example, if you are traveling to a set destination that is 5 miles from you then you can guess how long it will take you to get there. But when you put the location in google maps you will see the geographic data between you and your destination. This information gives you a better understanding of the route you need to take therefore know how long it may take you.
GIS stands for "Geographic Information System" and, at its core, it is a way to map out data points and have a visual representation of landscape information. GIS is not just used to make our travel easier it is also used in modern science. Instead of the information being placed on charts or graphs, it is put onto a map so that the information can be analyzed more easily.
Let's take a look at this picture to the right for example. This image is of the four main bird migratory pathways from the Michigan Audubon Society. To get this information, birds were tracked using a variety of methods and the data that was collected was placed on a map. Being able to see these paths allow scientists to focus their conservation efforts on certain areas. But this is GIS in its basic form. While useful, there is even more information that can be taken from this
Photo From ebird.org
GIS programs can measure frequency and density. This can be really useful when looking for patterns in a data set. Take a look at this map from eBird on Grasshopper sparrows. The darker purple areas show that there is a higher frequency of Grasshopper Sparrows seen in those areas. These birds are endangered in the Midwest area as seen by the lighter purple shaded areas. The lighter areas would be a place to start conservation efforts in an attempt to protect this species.
Jenkins, C. N., Pimm, S. L., & Alves, M. A. D. S. (2011). How conservation GIS leads to rio de janeiro, brazil. Natureza & Conservação, 9(2), 152–159. https://doi.org/10.4322/natcon.2011.021
Jenkins, C. N., Pimm, S. L., & Alves, M. A. D. S. (2011). How conservation GIS leads to rio de janeiro, brazil. Natureza & Conservação, 9(2), 152–159. https://doi.org/10.4322/natcon.2011.021
This GIS heat map highlights where there is a high concentration of threatened bird species. Similar to the map above, we can see that if we focused on conserving this one area, then it would be more beneficial to the most threatened species.
With GIS systems we can take this another step forward and look at the geographic landscape and see if the terrain has an effect on the data. We know from the heat map above that there is a high density of threatened bird species in Rio de Janeiro, but if we look at the heat map here we can see that the concentration of endangered species is found in lowlands within the biological reserve. From the data displayed on this map, we have a better understanding of the habitat of these endangered species. This, in combination with the chart above, demonstrates the importance of layering data to maps and accounting for multiple geographic considerations.
The advanced computer application GIS is layers of information that are collected and displayed in a geographic location to help us consider spatial components, change over time, and attributes of the landscape. Instead of just looking at data points on a map, GIS allows for common themes to be tracked around the landscape. With the aid of this advanced technology bird conservation efforts are benefitting from the information being discovered.
Issues bird populations are facing
Issues bird populations are facing
Given that birds are everywhere and can be seen daily it may feel as if there is no need to prioritize their conservation. When in fact there are many threats to bird populations.
Habitat loss and fragmentation reduce the number of bird species that live in that area but also increases the population of other species. For example, if we look at urban areas we know that the natural habitat was removed to make way for development. This reduces the number of species that can live in that area. However, for some non-native birds like the European Starling, there is an increase in population because they can easily adapt. The reduction of bird diversity and the increase of non-native species will continue to have an effect on the environment.
European Starlings in an urban area. Photo by Red~Star via Birdshare.
Canvasback swimming in polluted water. Photo by Feng Li
A European white stork trapped in a plastic bag. Photo by John Cancalosi
Pollution is another human-related cause of bird deaths. For example, harmful chemicals can contaminate the water that birds need for survival. Harmful pesticides can be sprayed on plants and have been known to poison birds. This happens because they consume the plant directly or eat bugs that ate the plant. Additionally, improperly disposed plastics can be consumed by birds or physically restric them.
American Robin flying at a window. Photo by Bill Olmsted
Domestic cat with native bird. Photo by Vishnevskiy Vasily
Two of the main causes of bird deaths are collisions and outdoor cats. Bird collisions happen when a bird strikes an object causing them to perish. This could be caused by windows, cars, planes, turbines, etc. Bird collisions cause between 1 million to 1 billion deaths per year in the United States alone. Cats that have the ability to be outside, whether they are feral or pets, cause between 1.3 to 4 billion birds deaths in the United States
Benefits of Birds
Benefits of Birds
Birds are a large contributor to biodiversity which aids in keeping the environment healthy.
They aid in pollination by fertilizing plants and dispersing seeds.
Birds are also natural pesticides. They help control populations of insects and rodents without the need of harmful chemicals.
They also bring people together with similar interests. Bird enthusiasts everywhere come together and appreciate the birds in their area.
Tracking Birds
Tracking Birds
With these important benefits and the few examples listed above that are causing population decline, is imperative to use the resources we have to try to conserve the current populations. By using GIS programs we could pinpoint the areas that are the most concerning and try to prevent these deaths. The first step in making GIS useful in bird conservation is data collection. The information is first gathered then the data points are mapped out. That data can be gathered in a variety of ways, even for the use of other studies.
eBird is used by anyone who wishes to report bird sightings and their locations. It is a simple app that you can download onto your phone.
This app is mainly used by birdwatchers and citizen scientists. Along with reporting birds anyone can also go to the app and look at the recent bird sightings in almost any area. The data that is collected can then be used for studies. It is a great way for community members to get involved in bird conservation efforts.
Trackers are another common way to collect location data. This can be GPS, satellite, or radio transmitters that are placed onto individual birds.
"Point counts" are conducted by individuals during a study. This is a way to survey all the different types of birds in a particular area. A person stands in a designated location and writes down all the birds they see in a set amount of time.
Camera traps are also used for many purposes in bird conservation including nest tracking and recording individuals inhabiting certain areas.
Further applications of GIS in Bird Conservation
Further applications of GIS in Bird Conservation
Map by National Geographic
Since GIS is not a new tool, there have already been successful studies using GIS programs. Using some of the methods mentioned above, scientists have been able to plot the points on the map and evaluate the data. It has been used to help identify areas that birds prefer to inhabit during migration and breeding seasons. It has also been used to identify high diversity areas (as mentioned above). Along with migratory routes of birds, GIS programs have been able to identify stop-over areas. These stop over area are important to identify because they are valuable locations in bird migratory paths. If birds lose these stop over areas then they are unable to eat and rest before continuing their journey. One of many stop over locations is the city of Chicago, therefore there are bird statuaries throughout the city that migrating birds can stop at.
The use of the GIS has not only allowed for a better way to examine the data but it makes it easier to share that data. This data can now be shared with anyone to better understand the results of the study. Instead of looking at graphs and tables, the GIS programs give a visual representation of the results. This helps everyone understand exactly what is needed, like in the study mentioned above showing the areas of most concern in Rio de Janeiro.
Although GIS programs have aided us in the understanding of data results which in turn has progressed conservation efforts, it still is not consistently used. This is sometimes due to the tediousness of entering each data point into a GIS program. During an interview with Christina Burt, who works in the Urban Wildlife Institute (UWI) at the Lincoln Park Zoo, stated that while the GIS programs are useful in analyzing data it is not always the most ideal program due to the time commitment it takes to enter the data. Sometimes there is not enough staff or time to be able to transfer the data into a GIS format because there could be thousands of individual data points that someone has to chart out.
This has been one of the main setbacks as to why GIS has not been used more frequently. But Christina also mentions that the studies that she used it for have aided her in presenting data. Showing geographical information during presentations, in addition to her results, allows her audience to visualize and understand her points more clearly. Although it may not always be the best for time efficiency, it has proven useful.
The Bird Conservancy of the Rockies in Colorado has two full time GIS employees. They enter data into GIS applications and use this data to compare different information. For example in a recent study they wanted to compare the different effects that certain forest management types would have on bird diversity in Ponderosa Pine forest. Some management types such as tree removal (for fuel) opened the forest canopy which increased bird diversity in some areas but reduced it in others. In the example above they used GIS to make predictions of the effects of the different forest management types. This can then be used to show which scenario would work best in each area. This is mainly how GIS is used in conservation, comparing and showing a visual representation of the data to be able to focus conservation efforts.
Ways to learn more and get involved in bird conservation.
Ways to learn more and get involved in bird conservation.
Now that you know all about how GIS programs are useful in bird conservation, we could use your help! One of the main ways that you can help is by going out and monitoring the birds in your local area! Then follow the button below and pinpoint where you saw the bird on the google map. Once you have placed multiple data points onto the map, reflect on the data and see if there is any information you can glean from the data that you collected. What birds are inhabiting wetland areas? Where is there more diversity of species?
But before you go out to identify the birds in your area, be sure to take the bird identification quiz to be sure you are ready for the fieldwork. Don't be afraid to use a bird field guide as a reference!
For additional ways to help your local bird conservation efforts, click on the button! As previously mentioned GIS is a lot of data collecting and mapping out points. With your help mapping out data points can become easier!
Sources
Sources
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