Hello to all the 2009 Oklahoma Envirothon Competitors,

 

Our competition for 2009 is coming up quickly. We will of course be in beautiful Southeast Oklahoma. Many of your students will be surprised at the scenery around Beavers Bend State Park.

 

I wanted to take this chance to drop some additional study hints. There are already several on the Oklahoma Envirothon website that you should make good use of.

 

Since we will be in an ecologically unique part of the state, knowing and understanding ecoregions will be valuable. Ecoregions play a vital part in the assessment of biodiversity as well. Check out this link where you can find a printable graphic of Oklahoma's ecoregions. Pay particular attention to the specific ecoregions in the 5 county region surrounding this years location (Choctaw Co., Pushmataha Co., LeFlore Co., McCurtain Co.)

http://www.epa.gov/wed/pages/ecoregions/ok_eco.htm#Please%20note:

 

It is pretty hard to have any type of discussion about biodiversity and not consider endangered species, threatened species and those species of special concern. The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation has a complete list of species which are listed in the three categories. For the purposes of our competition this is the list to study. There are only minor variations in the state list as compared to the federal list. Pay particular attention to those species found in Southeast Oklahoma and especially those endemic to the ecoregions within McCurtain Co. Here is a link to that list.

http://www.wildlifedepartment.com/endanger.htm

 

Here are a few more links to information from the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation that should be of interest to the well prepared team.

http://www.wildlifedepartment.com/mccurtain.htm

http://www.wildlifedepartment.com/publications/mccurtain.pdf

 

This year's special topic is Biodiversity. What better location for our Envirothon than one of the most diverse parts of our great state? You can find excellent information on the special topic on the North Carolina Envirothon website. This is of course the host state for the 2009 Canon Envirothon (what we like to call "The Big Show") this summer. One well prepared team will be our state champion and go to Ashville, NC to compete against 43 other states and 5 Canadian provinces for prizes and scholarships. Look at the information at this link. I think it is valuable.

http://www.ncenvirothon.org/CEI%202009/Biodiversity-%20Background%20Information%20for%20Educators.pdf

 

You will certainly want to sharpen your fish ID skills. There are particular species found in the area native to no other locations in the state as well as two introduced species within the park that should be looked at closely, both from ID and natural history points of view. Take a look at this link, as well as links from it to other agencies dealing with fisheries management and water quality.

http://www.sdafs.org/OKAFS/Fishes%20of%20Oklahoma.htm

 

Again, be sure and check out the Key Points section on the Oklahoma Envirothon website, and review the study hints section.

http://www.envirothonok.com/study%20materials.htm

http://www.envirothonok.com/tips%20and%20hints.htm

 

I wish every team the best of luck! We will see everyone at Beavers Bend April 6,7 and 8, 2009.