Advanced GIS Project Proposal
Proposal Draft
February 10th, 2020
Prevalence of Creeping Jenny Lysimachia nummularia
Anna Kuhne
Siena College
Loudonville, NY
Introduction:
Invasive species are non-native species, both plant and animal, that have entered a region.
Specifically, invasive species cause harm to the ecosystem, human health, and economic
industries. These plants and animals are introduced to different regions and ecosystems
through means such as transportation like boats and trailers which could have been both
intentional and unintentional. Many plants and animals were intentionally brought to
different regions for ornamental purposes. After being introduced, these species have
been known to be spotted outside of their region of original introduction where they out
compete native species for resources.
Anthropogenic global climate change, the changes of earth’s climate over time due to
human activities, has many indicators. These indicators include rising sea levels, melting
glaciers and ice, rising ocean temperatures, changes in extreme weather patterns,
wildfires, loss of species and biodiversity, and the prevalence of invasive species. All of
these trends are currently being experienced in today's modern world. Climate change
has been helping invasive species take over through the changing of weather patterns,
like changes in seasonal patterns. Invasive species are causing a lack of biodiversity, c
hanging soil chemistry, increased amounts of shade, and are costing the U.S. billions of
dollars in eradication efforts.
One such invasive terrestrial plant that is causing issues is creeping jenny, or moneywort.
Native to Europe, the perennial herb, was brought over to the U.S. to be sold, and is still
being sold, as an ornamental. The plant was used as a ground cover to make gardens
and yards look fuller (Klingaman 1). The plant itself, and its issues are fast growing.
Creeping jenny is now found along hiking trails in woods that are far removed from
heavily landscaped neighborhoods.
Objectives:
The overall objective of this project is to assess the density of creeping jenny.
The density of the plant will be assessed in two different regions of New York - the Catskill
State Park and the Adirondack State Park. These two areas are both ecologically important to
New York and it is important to know just how prevalent this plant is. Recommendations will
be made at the end of the analysis as to how to go about treating the issues at hand.
- To use a density function to represent the frequency of individual creeping jenny
To show the prevalence of creeping jenny in the Catskill and the Adirondack regions
To use a map overlay tool, perhaps create a model builder, to compute an area of risk
Make a map displaying the overall findings
- Draw comparisons between the prevalence of creeping jenny in the two regions
- Give recommendations on legislation and eradication efforts that would mitigate
Methodology:
First, using imap invasive New York, I will identify all identified creeping jenny
plants in both the Catskill and Adirondack regions. I will then put the latitude and
longitude information for each individual plant into an excel file to be added into
ArcMap. I will most likely have two excel data sets - one for each region.
I will then be comparing the two regions together to determine which region creeping
jenny is most prevalent in. I will use a density function to show the frequency of the
plant in each region. I will then assess possible damages that have resulted from the
presence of creeping jenny in these two areas. A map overlay function will also
be used to identify areas at risk of a creeping jenny invasion. The final product will
be a poster to present the professional density map, along with the identified areas
of risk, as well as including recommendations for treating and mitigating the issue.
Data Sources:
Imapinvasives New York (2010, currently being updated) [downloaded from the internet].
Imapinvasives powered by esri, Albany, NY 12203
https://www.nyimapinvasives.org/
Work Plan:
Week of February 3rd- Identify individual plants on imap and put the latitude and
longitude into an excel file
Week of February 10th - Finish compiling excel data and download into ArcMap and find
data on the preferred habitat of creeping jenny such as elevation, open space, soil type, etc.
Week of February 17th – Create shapefiles for the individual plant points
Week of February 24th - Use a map overlay: Create a model builder using the criteria for
creeping jenny habitat and the intersect tool to compute areas of risk (create two models,
one for the Catskill State Park region and one for the Adirondack State Park region).
Week of march 2nd – Complete a point density function, outside of the model first to become
familiar with the function, then within model builder.
Week of March 30th – Compare the data for the two regions
Week of April 6th - Create two professional maps using ArcGISPro
Week of April 13th – Start creating a professional poster
Week of April 20th – Research for recommendations to mitigate the issue
Week of April 27th - Hand in final project
Deliverables:
The end product of this project will show how prevalent creeping jenny is in
the Catskill and Adirondack regions of New York State. This will help indicate
the effects of global climate change on the two ecologically important areas of the state.
The final product will be a poster displaying all of my findings.
Works Cited:
Klingaman, Gerald. “Plant of the Week: Moneywort (Creeping Jenny).” Division of Agriculture:
Agricultural Experiment Station, University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture Research
and Extension, 24 June 2005.
and Extension, 24 June 2005.
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