77 Protecting and Securing Our Nation Tim Becker, ZooAmerica naturalist, and Erika McKinney, Fort Indiantown Gap research associate, stand outside the butterfly houses on the grounds of ZooAmerica in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Conservationists and land managers collaborate with GIS tools. “If we need data, we can email Penn West and the students will go out, use the nectar plant density app, collect all the information, and upload it,” Swartz said. “It’s nice to have partners collecting data we can access almost in real time, because some of our sites are 300 miles away. Instead of waiting while we drive four hours each way, we have the data as soon as they finish the survey.” The sharing goes both ways. “If somebody needs a GIS file that we have, like site information or game lands, we share back and forth. It’s a great resource.” Conservation teams can quickly adjust their actions based on the latest data, enhancing efforts to protect the eastern regal fritillary butterfly. They work with a deeper and more immediate understanding of ecological dynamics and conservation needs. This level of informed collaboration, together with technology, helps make sure that every action taken is as effective as possible in keeping the butterfly's habitat safe.
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