I&M Evaluations

One of the difficulties paleontologists face is the preservation of their excavation sites so they can go back to find more fossils. Paleontologists regularly visit multiple sites at Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument to monitor changes to them. You are going to evaluate 3 of these sites from Florissant Valley and write down your evaluations on a special I+M sheet.

You will need:

• I+M Excavation Sites video (look below)

• I+M evaluation sheet

• A pencil

Your I+M sheet is a basic version of what paleontologists use to rate several factors important to the preservation of a fossil site.

Instructions:

Step One:

Take a look at your I+M evaluation sheet and get familiar with the rating system. The 1 to 3 rating system for each factor is explained on the bottom of page 2.
For each site, you will rate 6 factors based on your observations. Erosion is how much sediment you estimate has been moved. Erosion prevention is what has been done to keep more sediment from being removed. Fossil abundance is how many fossils you can see at the site. Actual loss is how many fossils you think have been stolen, damaged, or lost to other factors like erosion. Site access is how easy it is for people to get to the site. Access prevention is what is being done to protect the site and keep people from reaching the site when they shouldn't be there. You will rate each of these factors as a 1, 2, or 3.

Step Two:

Watch the I+M Excavation Sites video below. Our Geoscientists in the Parks Intern will show you three sites including the excavation pit and two petrified stumps. Pause the video as needed to take time to look at the sites and make observations. Write down which site you are evaluating on your I+M sheet and make sure to rate each factor.
How are the sites you evaluated different from each other? How are they similar? What do you think could be done differently to help preserve and protect these sites?

New Words!

• Erosion: noun; the action or process of eroding or wearing away by or as if by the action of water, wind, or glacial ice

• Erosion Prevention: noun; the act or practice of keeping erosion from happening

• Fossil Abundance: noun; the quantity of fossils found at a site

• Actual Loss: noun; the amount of loss of material or fossils from a site

• Site Access: noun; the state of how easily a site can be reached by people

• Access Prevention: noun; the measures that are taken to prevent or keep people from reaching a site

 

Duration:

8 minutes, 19 seconds

Intern Nichole takes us to a demonstration excavation site and past petrified tree stumps and demonstrates how to complete the inventory and monitoring evaluation worksheet.

 

Lesson Plan

Lesson Plan for Inventory + Monitoring Activity