Home Institution
Smith College
Publication Date
Spring 2019
Abstract
Human-driven changes to environmental conditions alter the habitats, behaviors, and migration patterns of migratory species. Changes in temperature, vegetation, and precipitation are just some of the factors contributing to shifts in phenology, demography, and distribution of migratory birds. These changes are driven by anthropogenic climate change and amplified by human land-use change, and are especially intense at high latitudes. This project creatively communicates the effects of environmental changes on three species of migratory birds in Iceland—the northern wheatear, the Greenland white-fronted goose, and the black-tailed godwit—using principles of storytelling and game design. The resulting interactive product is a game that can extend the reach of scientific information on migratory species to non-expert audiences and, by enabling players to engage with their observations and investigate further questions, increases accessibility of the scientific process.
Disciplines
Biodiversity | Climate | Environmental Sciences | Game Design | Ornithology
Recommended Citation
Duncan, Frances J., "Iceland's migratory birds in changing environmental conditions: An interactive synthesis" (2019). Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection. 3038.
https://digitalcollections.sit.edu/isp_collection/3038
Included in
Biodiversity Commons, Climate Commons, Environmental Sciences Commons, Game Design Commons, Ornithology Commons
Program Name
Iceland and Greenland: Climate Change and The Arctic