Our Job: To Play a Role in the "Scientific Process"

Apparently, our job is to observe and record the butterflies we see in 9 different transects located right around the village of Tam Dao. Transects are areas which have certain qualities which Lien is interested in studying. For example, there is a transect along the road, a transect in the forest, and transects at different elevations. Different species of butterflies thrive in each of these areas. For example, the "cabbage butterfly" (common name) thrives in open areas and fields and therefore can be found in abundance along the road.
The "junge queen" (common name) is a common butterfly which resides in the forest and is an "indicator species." Lien is most interested in studying the health of the forest and therefore, pays particular attention to forest species. He has designated four "forest health indicator species." These are species which are very sensitive to changes in the environment, particularly, changes caused by human actions (which include global warming, of course). We looked at a graph before I left for Vietnam. Remember? The graph showed four different species of butterfly populations from 2002 to 2005. Do you remember what happened to those populations (increase or decrease)? In 2005 the populations changed rather dramatically. What do you think happened? Look at the handouts I gave you about the "classroom case study." I have a cool prize from Vietnam for the student who can guess it!