So, you ask, “What is a BioBlitz?” A BioBlitz is an attempt by scientists and volunteer naturalists to tally as many species of organism as they can in 24 hours on a particular parcel of land. It is designed to increase awareness of the variety of life that surrounds us on even the most mundane-looking land, and of the value of these species to the quality of our lives.
In the first RINHS BioBlitz in June of 2000, 33 volunteers observed 663 species in a highly degraded urban park in Providence, RI. Since then an average of 100 volunteer naturalists have surveyed a different parcel every year (see map of bioblitz sites below). In addition to generating publicity for the issue of biodiversity, BioBlitz yields valuable information on species for the Survey’s databases and has contributed to works in our publication series as well. The land-owning entities of each BioBlitz site benefit from the rapid assessment of their property, identifying sites and species as potential education or conservation targets, and generating publicity for their land conservation efforts. BioBlitz is one of the Survey’s signature programs.
BIOBLITZ 2011
BioBlitz 2011 will take place Friday, June 10, and Saturday, June 11, from 3 p.m. to 3 p.m., at the Joslin Farm site, part of Providence Water’s Scituate Reservoir Watershed Forest, in Scituate, Rhode Island. Providence Water is the local host, Roger Williams Park Zoo is once again sponsoring. For complete information on the event, including registration info (advanced registration is required), directions, photos, maps, team lists, rules, and additional sponsors, go to the BioBlitz 2011 Page.
David Gregg analyzed participation and results of past bioblitzes.
See charts and data
