Ecoregion and Ecosystem Research
Get started by learning everything you can about your chosen ecosystem/ecoregion. What are its characteristics? What challenges does it face? How will climate change impact any of the answers you get above?
Start by looking at your textbook. and then check out the following sources to see what you can find:
- EPA Ecosystem/EcoRegion SourcesCheck out a general map of ecoregions in the US (or by state if you use the links on the right.)
- EPA: Ecosystems ResearchNatural ecosystems play a critical role in providing benefits to people and other living things. EPA researchers are delivering tools, data, and information necessary to accurately account for ecosystem services in decisions, and to help advance healthy, sustainable, and more prosperous communities.
Ecoregions : the ecosystem geography of the oceans and continents by Publication Date: 1998
Not finding what you need? You can also search the catalog or Google for Ecological Regions and the continent that you're working on. (For example, ecological regions and Africa)
If you're using websites, make sure you have evaluated them for currency, accuracy, and bias: see the box below.
Design Your City: Research Subtopics
As you start to design your sustainable city, think about the different topics you are asked to address, and start to search for information specific to your ecoregion. Starting places for your topics include:
- Find native plants suggested by zip code (US only.)
- US Department of Energy: SLED (Stats and Local Energy Data) provides detailed information about energy usage, talks about buildings and efficiencies, renewable power, transportation, etc. Look up data by city or state
- Google Maps will show you a good physical layout of your area, from greenspace to public transportation options to whatever else you might be able to imagine.
- Data USA will provide city or county-level data about demographics such as income, housing, and health. This database draws upon census data and was constructed by MIT.
There are also many books that address the different topics you're researching. A sample of them include:
BIG. Hot to Cold. an Odyssey of Architectural Adaptation by Call Number: NA1223.B485 A4 2015Publication Date: 2015
Keep looking
If these don't fit, try searching the catalog using the following keywords:
- Green cities
- City planning -- Environmental aspects
- Public Transit
- Sustainability and cities
- Sustainable urban development
Local Resources
Interested in resources to design a city in the Chicago Region? Check out the following resources:
- The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning On to 2050 GoalsCheck out Community, Mobility, and Environmental Goals, among others
Other Potential Information Sources
So, you've exhausted the sources above, and would like to look for more information? Here are some other places to look:
- Adding site:.gov to your Google searches will get you government results for your topic
- Adding site:.edu to your Google searches will get you educational results for your topic (and many universities have good info about sustainability as well.)
- If you do a general Google search on your topic, remember to evaluate the information you find.
You can also search library databases for any of your topics specific to your ecoregion. Try searching for your specific topic and region to limit the number of results. For example. Chicago and architecture or United States and south and public transportation
Good starting places include:
Evaluate Websites
While you're doing Google searches to either narrow your topic or in order to dig up more information on certain subject, you want to be careful to decide if the information you find is trustworthy.
When it comes to science, nearly everyone has opinions: should we be labeling genetically modified food for consumer's awareness? What will fracking do for our economy or to our groundwater supply? Your job is to evaluate the information you can find through search engines such as Google to find the good websites--those written by authors with clear expertise, with up-to-date information.
Authorship: Who created this website? What is their background on the topic? Are they trustworthy?
Bias/Mission: Why was the website created? What point of view does the author or website have? Does that limit the facts they present or how the facts are presented?
Date: How old is the information that is presented? Is it still accurate?
Questions? Check out the COD Library's guide to evaluating information.
Cite
Want some more concrete help with citations? Try the following:
- Google Scholar can create citations for articles. Click the quotation marks below the article information after doing a search.
- COD Library's guide to APA citations
- Purdue OWL's guide to APA citations and paper format
Want software to create citations for you? Check out the database below:
- NoodleTools
NoodleTools allows you to find, organize and store your research citations all in one place. Create complete Works Cited and Bibliographies with the click of a mouse, and keep notes and ideas related to your work all in one place. Available in browser and mobile app.
Create an account with your COD email to access this resource.
