[SEMCO] Mapping Natural Plant Communities Internship @ APCC

[Tara Nye]

*2015 Whitlock Internship: Mapping Cape Cod’s Natural Communities*



The Whitlock Internship provides opportunities for individuals who are
pursuing or have recently earned a graduate level degree. The internship is
a full-time, funded position for 10-12 weeks.



Under the supervision of APCC staff, the 2015 Whitlock Intern will conduct
field surveys to document and map natural communities on Cape Cod through
identification of characteristic plant species, topography, hydrology and
soils. The data will be added to our online interactive map of natural
communities on Cape Cod which is available online as part of the update of
APCC’s *Cape Cod Critical Habitats Atlas* (http://apcc.org/chm/index.html).
Information on natural communities will ultimately be incorporated into the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ natural communities mapping program subject
to NHESP review and approval.



*Background*



In 1990, APCC published the *Cape Cod Critical Habitats Atlas* that
identified sensitive habitats and natural resources on Cape Cod, using a
combination of maps and narrative. Information on wetlands, rare species
habitat, coastal landforms and other sensitive habitat was presented for
each of the 15 towns on Cape Cod.



Since 1990, new approaches for classifying and understanding habitats have
been developed. One of these is the classification of habitats based on
native plant communities, the “natural communities approach” developed by
the Massachusetts Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program, or NHESP
(Swain and Kearsley, 2001, “Classification of Natural Communities in
Massachusetts”).  Natural communities are defined by NHESP as “…. *assemblages
of species that occur together in space and time. These groups of plants
and animals are found in recurring patterns that can be classified and
described by their dominant physical and biological features*.”  In the
field, natural communities are identified by characteristic assemblages of
plant species as well as topography, hydrology and soils.  Statewide, there
are approximately 105 different natural communities.



Using this approach, natural communities in many areas of Massachusetts
have been mapped, but most of Cape Cod’s natural communities remain
unmapped. To fill this gap and update the 1990 atlas, APCC began mapping
natural communities on the Cape.  During 2012 and 2013, APCC interns mapped
natural communities and documented survey locations using a hand-held GPS
unit. In 2014 the APCC Whitlock Intern created an online, accessible,
interactive map of the natural communities to increase awareness of the
Cape’s diversity of habitats, promote environmental stewardship and improve
natural resource protection.



Continuing on the work conducted in 2012 and 2013, the goal of the 2015
internship will be to focus on mapping plant communities on Cape Cod using
field surveys.  Some interpretation of aerial photographs may be utilized.



*Internship Duties*



The intern will use the field methodology for documenting natural
communities that was developed by the Manomet Center for Conservation
Sciences, entitled “*A Guide to the Natural Communities of Eastern
Massachusetts*” (2004) as well as that described by NHESP in Swain and
Kearsley (2001).  NHESP field forms will be utilized to document natural
communities.  A hand-held GPS will be used to document survey locations and
a digital camera will be used to photographically document sites and
natural communities.  A desktop computer, GPS and camera will be provided
by APCC.  The information collected will be organized into a GIS database
and shared with NHESP. The deliverables will include hard copies and
electronic documents containing all field notes and data, a brief written
report, and GIS database entries.



Qualifications include the following:

·         Earned or pursuing a graduate level degree in botany.

·         Highly skilled in identifying plant species in the field.

·         Working knowledge of northeastern U.S. native plant species,
particularly for southeastern Massachusetts.

·         Familiarity with Massachusetts Natural Heritage and Endangered
Species Program’s Natural Communities classification system is a big plus.

·         Experience with use of handheld global positioning system (GPS)
for mapping, USGS topo maps, other maps and aerial photographs, Ability to
organize information and maintain accurate records,

·         Ability to write clear and accurate descriptions of environmental
conditions.

·         Ability to drive to locations throughout Cape Cod and possession
of a valid driver’s license.

·         Ability to traverse natural terrain.

·         Ability to synthesize information on plants, topography, soils
and hydrology a plus



Housing is not included in any APCC internship program. APCC will assist
interns in locating housing, but it is ultimately the responsibility of the
intern to obtain housing.



Interested students should submit a resume and letter of interest outlining
their qualifications, relevant coursework and career goals to info at apcc.org.
For more information, please visit our website, www.apcc.org. Applications
received prior to March 13, 2015, will be given preference.


~~~~~~~
Tara Nye
Biologist
Association to Preserve Cape Cod
PO Box 398
Barnstable, MA  02630
508-362-4226
www.apcc.org
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