Category Archives: National Park Service Tech

National Park Service Tech

Invasive Species: Causes, Impacts & Environmental Effects

Invasive species are plants or animals introduced to new environments where they cause environmental, economic, or health harm. Unlike exotic species that coexist peacefully, invasives thrive without natural predators, reproduce rapidly, and disrupt native ecosystems. They're the second-leading cause of species extinctions globally, costing an estimated $120 billion annually in the United States alone. One…
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Birds as Environmental Indicators: What They Reveal

Birds serve as environmental indicators because they respond predictably to changes in habitat quality, pollution, and disease. Scientists study bird populations, behaviors, and physical samples to detect ecosystem stress early — often before other methods reveal a problem. Their sensitivity, visibility, and practical sampling methods make them one of ecology's most reliable monitoring tools. Environmental…
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Hydraulic Fracturing: Health Risks, Regulations & Career Impact

Hydraulic fracturing extracts natural gas and oil from deep shale rock by drilling vertically, then horizontally, and pumping high-pressure fluid to fracture the formations. Now producing 67–79% of US natural gas and 50% of crude oil, the technology has transformed American energy independence. However, peer-reviewed research increasingly links fracking operations to elevated childhood cancer rates,…
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Dendrochronology: How Tree Rings Reveal Environmental History

Dendrochronology is the scientific analysis of tree-ring patterns to date wood samples and reconstruct past environmental conditions. Students from archaeology, climate science, chemistry, and forestry use dendrochronology in their research. Tree rings reflect annual growth influenced by climate, enabling scientists to date artifacts, calibrate radiocarbon testing, and study historical climate patterns spanning thousands of years.…
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