Guide 3A Data Collection
Resources
Additional activities, a behind-the-scenes gallery, recommended books, and more.
About this Guide
Wild or Captive?
We have a LOT of pets, but they do not replace the experience of watching animals in their natural habitats. We may live in a one-room house, but that enabled us to purchase 10 acres of degraded agricultural land. That still doesn’t sound good, but years of recovery work later, we find a new species every week. If you need a bit of the wild, build it in to your life wherever you can.
Lesley
Additional Activities
Take it on the road
Recently we’ve been carrying a quadrat with us to collect repeat data over time. Things like increased microplastics in sand or invasive berries in the fields become quickly quantified, backing up general observations.
Roach pets?
Although exotic animals as pets are becoming more popular, they are not always a great idea. Research carefully: many animals for sale can still cause extensive damage, like dermestid beetles. Roaches vary in their ability to escape enclosures, but under the right environmental conditions, populations can grow rapidly.
Behind-the-Scenes
Field Work
Locating invasive species, taking some into captivity.
Making Media
Out at the E.E. Wilson Wildlife Area just north of Corvallis, OR.
Recommended Books
Data can be fun: an illustrated look at data in daily life.
Data collection varies with the research questions being asked: see how different fields collect and manage data.
Meet the equations behind population research, including genetics, evolution, and animal behaviors.
Build a Library
Whether its digital or print, collect resources that assist in exploring, describing, and explaining the natural world.
Data Collection Product Page
Complete this module’s products before advancing on to the next module
This Module
3: How do I record this?
This Guide
3A: Data Collection