<p>
	<img alt="" src="{filedir_5}FB_2.png" style="float: right;" />Many students are drawn to the study of biology by their fascination with the lives and behavior of animals. But those who go on to positions of research and management in environmental science and conservation soon learn that everything starts with plants. Plant species and plant communities influence soil structure and nutrient availability, alter site-specific topography and hydrology, and create or alter the specific conditions and availability of resources on which all animal species depend. Thus, modern conservation technologies like Geographic Information Systems (GIS), satellite imagery, and rapid assessment inventories all begin with plant species and plant communities.&nbsp;</p>
