Highbanks Metro Park

 Highbanks Metro Park Above is a GIS map of Highbanks Metro Park in Columbus, Ohio. The park features many unique landscapes and habitat areas. the large shaded area on the top represents the prairie grass habitat and the lower shaded area represents the wetlands found in the park. The vertical arrow represents forested areas of the park. Most of the park is forested. The triangles represent ponds, the two pushpins in the middle represent tributaries and the larger pushpin represents the Olentangy river. Overall it was fairly simple to use the only mapping software. I have some familiarity with ArcGIS as I have taken a class for it in undergrad, however, the online version is a little different. I enjoyed looking through the various layers and tools that are available with the software.

 Biodiversity What is it?  To me, biodiversity is how many different species of plants, animals, fungi, and all other living organisms a given region has. It is also how rich and diverse an area is in different species. It can also be how the different species interact with one another and how they make up a certain ecosystem and how they contribute to the biosphere.  Importance:  Biodiversity is extremely important on all levels, not just locally. However, it is still important to all local ecosystems because each species plays a critical role and fills a niche in their respective ecosystems. without some species of predators, there can be an overpopulation problem of prey which can cause harm to landscapes and wipe out food supplies for other species. Biodiversity is also important at the global level because different species such as birds and insects migrate and do not stay in now place all year. these species play important roles in multiple ecosystems and help out in many places.

 Study Area: Highbanks Metro Park Why here?:   I chose to study Highbanks Metro Park because of its uniqueness, beauty, natural landscape, and its close proximity to the city of Columbus, Ohio. The park is over 1,200 acres and has a range of different habitats and landscapes including, restored wetlands, meadows, riverfront, and forests. Due to the size of the park, I am curious to see how biodiversity is affected by being close to roads, the Olentangy River and surrounded by neighborhoods, and being close to such a large city.      What Else?  I have also had a love for reptiles and amphibians for as long as I can remember. Another reason I chose this area is because of its many habitats. I would like to see how herps utilize the different habitats in the park, and whether they stay in one habitat or move to different ones depending on conditions.  Below is a link to the park website: Highbanks Metro Park