Geospatial Ecology of Functional Plant Traits and Phenology Using Field Data Collection, Spatial Analysis, and GIS Mapping

lt;pgt;This learning activity introduces students to geospatial ecology through the study of functional plant traits and phenology across diverse environmental conditions and landscapes. Students collect field-based ecological data, including plant height, leaf dimensions, growth form, flowering stage, fruiting condition, and seasonal vegetation characteristics, while also documenting environmental variables such as soil moisture, canopy cover, light availability, elevation, and evidence of disturbance.lt;/pgt; lt;pgt;Using GPS-enabled devices and mobile GIS applications, students collect georeferenced observations that are imported into GIS platforms such as ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Online, or QGIS for spatial analysis. Students create maps, visualize spatial and seasonal patterns, and investigate relationships among plant traits, phenological variability, environmental gradients, and human influences across the landscape. Through field observations and geospatial analysis, students examine how habitat variability, environmental filtering, seasonality, and disturbance shape plant communities over space and time.lt;/pgt; lt;pgt;The activity integrates ecological field methods, spatial analysis, and scientific interpretation while providing hands-on experience with geospatial technologies. Designed for flexibility, it can be implemented in forests, wetlands, urban parks, coastal systems, agricultural landscapes, or campus environments and is suitable for undergraduate courses in ecology, environmental science, GIS, geospatial analysis, and field methods.lt;/pgt;