Bull Trout Conservation in Glacier National Park: GIS Lessons for High School Science Education

Menicke, Richard; Glacier National Park; Glacier National Park Conservancy; Voss, Morgan

This two-part lesson is meant to be an early point of entry in the use of ArcGIS software for high school students. The lesson objective is to have students working collaboratively in groups of 2-3 use existing data to view the distribution of the federally protected bull within Glacier National Park and understand what conservation efforts are currently underway to support this species’ survival. Part 2 of the lesson investigates the impacts of warming stream temperatures on bull trout habitat. Part 1 of the lesson provides background for the entire lesson and has students explore research-based native fish distribution in the ecosystem in addition to US Fish and Wildlife Service designated critical habitat areas within the park and surrounding area. Natural and human-made barriers inside Glacier that serve an ecological role in native fish conservation are also presented. Students will develop a map using ArcGIS software that shows existing bull trout presence and where barriers to movement/migration of non-native species that threaten bull trout exist. Students are encouraged to consider both the siting of existing human-constructed barriers and where, if any, additional barriers might be constructed to protect bull trout populations from invasion by non-native species. Part 2 of the lesson uses predicted stream temperature modeling data to explore what may happen with suitable habitat for bull trout, which is dependent on cold, clean water to survive.

Bull Trout Conservation in Glacier National Park: GIS Lessons for High School Science Education

Program