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Indicator 3. Biodiversity (Plants and Animals) |
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measure |
sources |
method |
| 3.A. The amount and arrangement of habitat types. The different types of habitat (woodlots, fields, riparian areas, residential, urban, etc.) indicate the overall diversity of the landscape. The pattern of the types may indicate critical areas, such as corridors. (This type of measure is extremely valuable in areas which are growing and the land use is changing rapidly.) |
Audubon Society; Nature Conservancy; school/science clubs or classes |
Collect information from groups doing annual counts |
| 3.B. The diversity of vegetation in the community. This can be an indicator of overall ecosystem health, although caution must be used in increasing vegetative diversity by introducing exotic species or species from outside that ecosystem. |
Environmental activist groups; school/science clubs or classes | Conduct a plant diversity index which establishes a score based on the number of species present. This score can be compared over the years. |
| 3.C. Number of birds counted in community counts. Birds are a good measure of overall ecosystem health as they tend to migrate to areas with ecosystems which can support them. |
Audubon Society; Nature Conservancy; other environmental advocacy organizations; school/science clubs or classes | Compare yearly, systematic counts done by groups |
| 3.D. Number of types of birds. Numbers of types of birds is a good measure of overall ecosystem health. |
Audubon Society; Nature Conservancy; other environmental advocacy organizations; school/science clubs or classes | Compare yearly, systematic counts done by groups |
| 3.E. Number of types of fish. The numbers of types of fish in an aquatic system will indicate the biodiversity of the system. |
Audubon Society; Nature Conservancy; other environmental advocacy organizations; school/science clubs or classes | Compare yearly, systematic counts done by groups |
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