BioBlitz

Base camp at a BioBlitz in Auckland, New Zealand.

A BioBlitz, also written without capitals as bioblitz, is an intense period of biological surveying in an attempt to record all the living species within a designated area. Groups of scientists, naturalists and volunteers conduct an intensive field study over a continuous time period (e.g., usually 24 hours). There is a public component to many BioBlitzes, with the goal of getting the public interested in biodiversity. To encourage more public participation, these BioBlitzes are often held in urban parks or nature reserves close to cities.[1]

Features

A BioBlitz has different opportunities and benefits than a traditional, scientific field study. Some of these potential benefits include:[2]

History

The term "BioBlitz" was first coined by U.S. National Park Service naturalist Susan Rudy while assisting with the first BioBlitz. The first BioBlitz was held at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, Washington D.C. in 1996. Approximately 1000 species were identified at this first event. This first accounting of biodiversity was organized by Sam Droege (USGS) and Dan Roddy (NPS) with the assistance of other government scientists.[3] The public and especially the news media were invited. Since the success of the first bioblitz, many organisations around the world have repeated this concept.

Since then, most BioBlitz contain a public component so that adults, kids, teens and anyone interested can join experts and scientists in the field. Participating in these hands-on field studies is a fun and exciting way for people to learn about biodiversity and better understand how to protect it.

In 1998, Harvard biologist E.O. Wilson and Massachusetts wildlife expert Peter Alden developed a program to catalog the organisms around Walden Pond. This led to a state-wide program known as Biodiversity Days. This concept is very similar to a BioBlitz and occasionally the two terms are used interchangeably.[4]

A variation on the BioBlitz, the Blogger Blitz began in 2007. Rather than gather volunteers and scientists at one location, participant blogs pledged to conduct individual surveys of biodiveristy. These results were then compiled and mapped. The purpose of this blitz is not to survey down to species level across all taxonomic groups, but rather to raise awareness about biodiversity and provide a general snapshot of diversity.

BioBlitzes by country

Australia

Canada

Active Bioblitz

Inactive and historic BioBlitz

Hong Kong

First HKBioBlitz was organized by Tai Tam Tuk Foundation from 24-25 Oct,2015. 50 experts leading 300 secondary students recorded 578 species in 30 hours, covering marine, terrestrial and intertidal habitats, in Tai Tam site of special scientific interest (SSSI). This event comes as part of the ‘Biodiversity Festival 2015’, an Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) lead project that encompasses many events, exhibitions and seminars, and is a major section of Hong Kong’s Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (BSAP). Highlights included 2 species of moth that are extremely rare and native to Hong Kong, the first official record of coral in Tai Tam Bay and the first official record of juvenile horseshoe crabs on Hong Kong island.

Ireland

Israel

Malaysia

New Zealand

Dr Peter Buchanan, the organiser of the 2004-2008 Auckland BioBlitzes

Portugal

Spain

Sweden

Taiwan

Trinidad & Tobago

United Kingdom

Bristol Natural History Consortium now host the National BioBlitz Network. (www.bnhc.org.uk)

United States

See also

References

  1. "BioBlitz - Definition of BioBlitz n the Entomologists' glossary". Amateur Entomologists' Society (AES).
  2. "Bio-blitz home page". Patuxent Wildlife Research Center.
  3. "Kenilworth BioBlitz Home Page". Patuxent Wildlife Research Center. Retrieved 20 February 2012.
  4. "About".
  5. http://www.gettoknow.ca/events/bioblitz/
  6. "2103 Whistler BioBlitz summary". Retrieved 1 January 2015.
  7. http://bioblitz.burnabylakepark.ca/index.html
  8. "2014 Humber BioBlitz summary". Retrieved 1 January 2015.
  9. "Canadian Biodiversity Institute Online".
  10. "2010 BioBlitz Report" (PDF). Faculty of Science, St. Mary's University. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  11. "Saint Mary's University BioBlitz - Past BioBlitz". Retrieved 20 February 2012.
  12. http://www.stanleyparkecology.ca/bioblitz.php
  13. http://fraservalleyconservancy.ca/calendar/bioblitz/
  14. "Hoopoe, Yeruham Center of Ecology and Ornithology, Google + site". https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/yerucham1/LIXRoAm0ZpM. External link in |website= (help);
  15. "MY Garden Birdwatch". http://www.mygardenbirdwatch.com/. External link in |website= (help);
  16. Cairns, Lois (19 February 2012). "Mining opponents plan blitz to help protect Coast plateau". Sunday Star Times.
  17. Bioblitz
  18. The Center for Conservation and Biodiversity
  19. Center for Conservation and Biodiversity - Results from the 2007 BioBlitz
  20. http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/bioblitz2001/results.php
  21. http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2001/06/0614_bioblitz.html
  22. TDWG Techno/BioBlitz
  23. "BioBlitz". Bell Museum of Natural History. October 21, 2013. Retrieved 12 March 2014.
  24. "BioBlitz Makes Coastal Species Count - Gateway National Recreation Area (U.S. National Park Service)". www.nps.gov. Retrieved 2016-01-08.
  25. "Atlantic Herald". Atlantic Herald. Retrieved 2016-01-08.
  26. http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/07/0708_030708_bioblitzresults.html
  27. http://nymag.com/news/intelligencer/topic/central-park-animals-2013-9/
  28. Macaulay Honors College BioBlitz website Accessed 2014–9–4
  29. http://depts.washington.edu/natmap/bioblitz

External links

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