Mission: Analysis lets you turn seemingly disconnected observations into useful information that gets you closer to answers, solved problems, and new ways of seeing, understanding, and taking action.
Mission Overview Use the map to see how invasives are expanding and moving from one year to the next.
Then, after you see what has happened in the past, predict what will happen over the next 5, 10, 20 years!
Mission Overview Use a model to figure out if your lake is more or less at risk of invasive species than others in the state.
Then, compare the model with your own investigation results and Google Earth map layers. What makes sense? What doesn't add up?
Mission Overview Use the VS export table and Excel to create simple bar graphs using species data and biodiversity counts.
Then, compare the biodiversity counts where invasive species were found with the biodiversity counts where invasive species were not found. Is biodiversity different when invasive species are present?
Mission Overview Find indicators of ecosystem health in the VS database: biodiversity counts, macroinvertebrates, native species found, invasive species not found, and water quality measures.
Then, compare what you found during your own field investigation with the data others published.
Mission Overview Use the Google Earth data layers we have tucked away in our Curriculum Resources to see what more you can learn about your species. Choose a VS dataset you're curious about, transform it into a Google Earth layer, then layer on information about habitats, watersheds, vectors, more! Look for patterns. See where it takes you.
My students are knocking my socks off. I think they really, really get it!
Sherry Littlefield, Warsaw Middle School, Somerset County
When scientists finish analyzing and making sense of their data, they often end up with a whole new set of questions to ask and investigations to do. What will your next research question be?
