Winter Term Project
Orientation and Vegetation Mapping in the DePauw Nature Park

Dr. Lauren F. Howard and Bryan R. Helm (independent study)

  • When: January 2005
  • Where: DePauw Nature Park forests
  • What: Learn how to use a compass and map, identify trees in winter, and create forest maps of the Nature Park
  • Why: Investigate park biodiversity, accumulate baseline information about the park for use in future research, gather information on tree species for a future field guide to trees for the Nature Park

Click below for:

Course Syllabus (PDF)

Sampling Methods
- PowerPoint Presentation (Science Advisory Board, Feb 2005)
- Sample Datasheet (PDF)

Site-Specific Results
- Tree Species List
- Tree Species Importance by Site (Excel download)

Vegetation Maps (by Dr. Howard using GPS data)
- Aerial photo showing 41 study sites
- Forest types (from cluster analysis based on relative species importance)
- Map of Sugar Maple and Black Maple
- Map of Oaks
- Map of Ash
- Map of Elm
- Map of Cherry
- Map of Black Locust
- Map of Sycamore
- Map of Cottonwood
- Map of Tulip Poplar

Poster Presentation (by Bryan Helm)
- PowerPoint format
- PDF format

Acknowledgments (all of us who did the work!)