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Last Updated: Oct 16th, 2008 - 13:33:17 |
Dr. Christy Carello, Metro associate professor of biology, has been working with students on a field study for the past five years at Cucumber Gulch in Breckenridge. The focus of this conservation monitoring is "to keep track of how human influence is impacting our natural resources, so that we can take measures to protect them before it's too late," Carello said.
The Environmental Protection Agency considers the Cucumber Gulch to be an Aquatic Resource of National Importance (ARNI) because of its unique soil and high levels of biodiversity. The biggest concern regarding the gulch is "human disturbance from adjacent large-scale development," Carello said. New resorts, hotels, and gondolas in the gulch are slowly taking over the habitats of the animals in the area.
This ecosystem monitoring is giving students a chance to indulge in some scientific fieldwork. "I think the only way you can be in biology is to be in the field," Metro senior Tanya Chesney said. The study includes many types of monitoring from owl and bird surveys to trail monitoring and ungulate pellet counts (otherwise known as hooted animal excrement).
While on one of the scat counts I found myself captivated by Colorado's majestic landscapes, even with the mounds of moose and elk pellets I was holding. I was also able to take part in a beaver and muskrat survey where I encountered the unexpected.
After one night of observing a few birds and the occasional swarm of mosquitoes, I thought I would never see any wildlife. After spending an entire day observing moose pellets that I was sure were elk pellets, the next morning I was finally convinced Summit County was home to the North American moose. When I encountered a majestic bull, my hands trembling with excitement, and I was able to watch and photograph this beautiful creature as he munched on some willows in the early morning light.
This monitoring, funded by the town of Breckenridge, is "giving students an opportunity to engage in actual research projects that have an impact," Carello said. Eric Thomas, a Metro graduate, describes the project as the "watchdog for any environmental concerns."
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