1. Concept Maps Visual road maps that depict known or suggested relationships between ideas. Idea/info relationship examples Dairy products Meat/Fish Fruits/Veges Idea/info REQUIRE CAUSE CONTRIBUTES For example

2. Downward-branching hierarchical structure Messy Interactions & Feedbacks Too detailed That’s okay!

3. 1. Hone in on your scientific question 2. Provide context for your scientific question, and organize and structure your Introduction 3. Develop hypotheses to test 4. Determine methodology required to test hypotheses Concept Maps can help you: You have a question You need broad context You need a question You have a broad interest

4. HABITAT AMAZONIAN RAINFOREST Birds Arthropods Mammals ? +/- AMAZONIAN RAINFORESTS give critical to 1. Honing in on your scientific question Olinguito !!! such as

5. + - ??? 2. Honing in on your scientific question (another approach) (taken from Myers-Smith et al. 2011) Arctic tundra is becoming Shrubbier! Arctic tundra is becoming shrubbier!

6. 2. Providing context for your scientific question (for your Introduction) Does the presence of caribou inhibit/promote shrub dominance in Arctic tundra? Who cares ? (start reading!)

7. Does the presence of caribou inhibit/promote shrub dominance in Arctic tundra? Climate Forcing! Caribou are the main large herbivore in northern Alaska Trample Forage Fertilize impacts +/- ? causing Arctic climate warming fast Abiotic & biotic responses are acute thermokarst fire regimes growing season length veg productivity woody shrub dominance energy balance carbon sink/source alters wildlife habitat nutrient cycling thaw depth snow distribution for example which impactscontribute to Feeds back to

8. Shrub dominance understory vegetation damage shrub branches shrub species forage understory species Increase nutrient availability for all species fertilize 3. Development of Hypotheses 4. Determine Methods +/- ?

9. Try it with others ! formulate questions clarify system boundaries identify gaps in existing data Reveal thoughts and assumptions Combine knowledge from different expertise

10. Your turn !