Knowing Hermann Park

 Soil Survey Map  Photo generated on the Web Soil Survey website:  Web Soil Survey (usda.gov)      The picture above was taken from the USDA Web Soil Survey website where I explored the soil types and characteristics in Hermann Park. Creating an Area of Interest (AOI) was simple as I simply entered the address of the area I wanted and used the scroll tool to find the correct position on the map. The tools were helpful as they give you the option to create rectangles and polygons to establish an AOI. After creating my AOI, I was able to explore the different tools and click on information about the soils. This tool was easy to navigate as I went back and forth from different layers. One thing I really enjoyed within this tool was the descriptions tab on the bottom of every layer that explained what that layer was.       I have used this tool before during my undergraduate college days, but this time I was able to appreciate how user frien...

  The Houston Climate  Photo from:  Houston climate: weather by month, temperature, rain - Climates to Travel Houston is in a subtropical climate and has precipitation year-round, creating hot and humid conditions. Though the temperature does decrease in the Fall and Winter seasons, Houston's proximity to the coast means humidity lasts all year. The graph above shows the minimum and maximum temperatures for each month of the year as well as the average precipitation.  The links below are great resources to explore more about changes in the Houston climate: 1.  Climate (weather.gov) This link takes you to the National Weather Service's page on Houston weather where you can see the historical weather patterns of the Houston area.  2.  Resilient Houston | U.S. Climate Resilience Toolkit In this link information is provided to help Houstonians learn about the hazards of potential Houston weather and what they can do in partnership with the city and state o...

  Mapping Hermann Park  Below are three different mapping tools that I used to map Hermann Park and mark a few of the important locations within the park.  Google MyMaps: MyMaps is a great mapping tool to create initial maps of an area and explore the landscapes. The layer function allows you to separate your map to show different perspectives. For instance, I created a layer for landmarks, habitats, and the park perimeter. You can also turn the layers on and off to view all or specific parts of the map. This tool is definitely a good option to get your bearings on an area and/or project.  Link to map: https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=13QoBjtHLhOQEhmCs8sFdj6GEslUVHDo&usp=sharing ArcGIS StoryMaps: StoryMaps is an ArcGIS tool that allows you to create a map and present it in a presentation format. This tool is like a crossover between ArcGIS Pro and Microsoft PowerPoint. My experience with this tool, while mapping Hermann Park, was that it was easy t...

Below is a PowerPoint to give an introduction to ecology!  Ecology Slides .pptx

Thoughts on Biodiversity  Photograph taken from:  Why Is Biodiversity Important? (greenmatters.com) In the previous post I explained my definition of biodiversity and how it can both broad and small in scope. Biodiversity at all levels is important, and as E.O. Wilson said, "it is the foundation of the world we know" ( NPS, 2022).  At a local level biodiversity plays a role in the culture of an area and helps to keep the regions we know and love functioning. Regionally, biodiversity becomes even more broad as we would now be including a whole state area. For example, I am from Austin, Texas, but currently live in Houston. The ecosystems and organisms differ from my local Houston area to the regional Texas areas (including Austin). The importance of this is the balance of the state. Biodiversity and the interconnections of life and ecosystems is what makes a place what it is. Then, add culture and history to it and the importance of biodiversity becomes even more prevalent...

What is Biodiversity? Biodiversity can be defined as the diversity of life. However, to expand more on that I have adapted my own definition; the diversity of life in an area which encompasses organism and environment interactions (Primack, 2014). These interactions include the minute interactions that are often overlooked, such as microorganism, bacterial, and fungal processes. Biodiversity can be as simple or as complicated a person makes it depending on the scope of their area of study.  For example, an initial biodiversity survey may include the mammals, reptiles, amphibians, plants, and birds that are initially seen. A closer look would reveal invertebrates, larger fungi, and smaller animals. Then, after an even closer look, microorganisms could be identified in the soil, fungi, bacteria, and other microscopic organisms could also be uncovered.  Taking this a step further, biodiversity can also refer to the diversity within a species. Genetic variations in a species means...

 Hermann Park  Photo taken from the Hermann Park Conservancy Website I chose Hermann Park as my study area for this project due to its immense value in the downtown Houston Area. I moved to Houston about a year and a half ago and Hermann Park has been one of my favorite places visit to escape city life and see how a beautiful park can be, especially when created in the midst of one of the country's largest cities.  Hermann Park is roughly 445 acres and located in the Museum district of downtown Houston, Texas. (TCLF 2024).  The picture above is a glimpse of how the park has integrated city life and green space into a beautiful area. Within the park there are nature trails, the Houston Zoo, Museum of Natural Science, and access to bayous.  With the immense value the park has in Houston, and the access that I have to it, I hope to explore the park and discover and learn more about the biodiversity within. The park has much to offer, and I am hopeful that the resea...