Course Project Proposal DRAFT

 Introduction

    For my course project this semester, I will be looking into suitable habitat for the turtle genus Malaclemys along the New England coast, but specifically M. t. terrapin . I will also be overlaying this data with shoreline development and other prohibitions that may cause other disturbances on the coast that will dismay the terrapins. Diamondback Terrapins are a very unique turtle species because they are the only brackish, a mix of salt and fresh water, living turtle. Their skin, unlike other turtles, has the ability to live in higher than normal salinity levels without any harm don't to the turtle due to its ability to be highly impermeable to salt. These turtles offer an important role in their brackish water environments by controlling different snail and crustation populations as well as cleaning up carrion that may wash up. There are also a total of seven subspecies that range from northeastern Atlantic coast all the way down top the gulf of Mexico. Due to increase human activity and development along our Atlantic coats shorelines, it has actually dramatically decreased the populations and habitat of these species.  "In many states throughout the Atlantic and Gulf coasts they are listed as a species of special concern" (Kristen Hart USGS.GOV). In my project, I wanted to see the areas that are still suitable for terrapins that haven't been touched by human development yet. This is important because we need to identify these areas and hold a top priority in conserving and protecting these areas. 

Objectives

    For this project, I hope to accomplish a few things. The first objective would be to successfully extract and import all of my found data correctly into my ArcMap file. I was struggling with this so I hope to get better and do it correctly for my project. Another objective is the seeing the final result. I am curious in seeing what my final map will tell about the future of these turtle species. One last objective that I have for this project is that I can make my map for easy to understand and interpret. It is very easy to make a mixed and jumbled map so I hope to make my project, by using GIS techniques, will be easy to read.

Methods

    The methods that I'll be using to complete my project are as follows: First I will be extracting and importing all of my data into Arc Catalog. Then, I will create a blank map and add the New England Coast base map as my first layer. Once my map is in then I can start adding my other data that I have found and begin layering them. Once added, I will then start to edit the layers to smooth out any rough spots that may be causing an issue on the map. I will then customize the layers and different symbols I use like color, sizes, symbol icons etc. Lastly I will then error proof my map and add in any infographics that may be required for the project. 

Data Sources

     1. https://nalcc.databasin.org/datasets/49fdf62f7a5d4c6097f8d6417c54db1c/

    2. https://nalcc.databasin.org/datasets/fcfd5e4c96314849b3fe445bdf97ac80/

    3. https://www.northeastoceandata.org/data-download/ 

Work Plan

    The major activities I would need to complete involve heavily on using the GIS software. The first part of my project was finding an interesting topic and then following it up with various GIS data. After that, my plan week to week would be to slowly but thoroughly chip away at it. I plan on focusing on a task or two, depending on how fast I complete said task, to allow myself to go through any questions or troubleshooting I may have. These activities may include importing data, creating and organizing layers, customizing layers and symbols, setting data frames, adding infographics, etc. 

Deliverables

    The other maps and other projects that come out of this can be maps of shoreline development and how that affects other wildlife populations. You can apply this to various species that may be affected by this both aquatic and terrestrial species such as Horshoe Crabs, Sea turtles, or Shore birds. Although not a Environmental application, you can also just look at the human development side of this and equate it to economics and real estate evolution and trends that happen along the coast line as development continues.