by California Invasive Plant Council
What can a map tell us about the past—and the future? Finding a single nonnative plant doesn’t tell us very much ecologically. Is it a new arrival? A long-established population? Is it spreading quickly or disappearing? CalWeedMapper combines thousands of plant observations from scientists, land managers, and community scientists to reveal patterns that would be impossible to see from individual sightings alone. Users can explore how invasive species have spread over time, identify plants that are just beginning to invade a region, and, for some species, even see how suitable habitat may shift as the climate changes. The tool demonstrates how scientists use maps to transform individual observations into a much bigger picture of ecological change.
- Excellent introduction to how scientists use large datasets to identify ecological patterns.
- Demonstrates the value of combining observations from multiple sources, including community scientists.
- Interactive maps encourage students to explore questions rather than simply read about results.
- Timeline view provides an opportunity to investigate ecological change through time.
- Could be paired with local mapping activities or iNaturalist observations.
- Why isn’t finding a single nonnative plant enough to understand whether it is a problem?
- How can thousands of observations reveal patterns that a single observation cannot?
- How can maps help scientists understand how ecosystems change over time?
- What kinds of environmental information would help predict where an invasive plant might spread next?
- How might community scientists improve our understanding of invasive species?