BioBlitz Indiana Dunes

DONT FORGET TO REGISTER, WE'LL BE THERE 24H!

Intro Slides on Plant Diversity by Noel Pavlovic

The National Geographic Society and the National Park Service are organizing a BioBlitz in Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore on May 15-16, 2009. We are now recruiting field scientists and naturalists to participate in the BioBlitz, and we invite you to join us.

A BioBlitz is a unique combination of taxonomic inventory, public outreach, and science education. At its core is a species inventory in which teams of volunteers, each led by an expert, try to find, identify and map as many species as possible within a 24-hour period. While the inventory is not systematic, it can nevertheless yield valuable biogeographic information. Recent BioBlitzes, for example, have revealed new undescribed species of arthropods and bacteria in the middle of city parks. New county records and other indices of species distribution are common.

Apart from the inventory, other activities include public presentations about biodiversity, structured field exercises with K-12 classes and teachers, demonstrations of field technology, and exhibits ranging from global biodiversity to local nature photography. These activities will occur mostly at our base camp at West Beach in the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, but also at peripheral sites around the park. All told, a BioBlitz is a wonderful opportunity for scientists to meet each other, get out in the field, learn about possibilities for research and teaching in National Parks, and engage the public in hands-on field work.

The 2009 event will be our third annual BioBlitz and is part of a series that we are conducting in different National Park Service units around the country. This year’s BioBlitz in the Santa Monica Mountains involved over 6,000 people and yielded more than 1,700 species. For information, visit www.nationalgeographic.com/bioblitz.

We hope very much that you will join us for all or part of next year’s BioBlitz. The success of an event like this depends greatly on the knowledge and enthusiasm of trained scientists. Your participation in this festive “species marathon” will help make this a valuable study of biodiversity, and will contribute immeasurably to inspiring the next generation of biologists and stewards of Northwest Indiana’s natural heritage. Please see below for further descriptions of the important roles that scientists and naturalists play in a BioBlitz.

If you are interested in participating or would like more information, please reply to this message (bioblitz@ngs.org <mailto:bioblitz@ngs.org> ). Please let us know in particular if there are specific roles, like leading teams and working with school groups, that interest you most. We will keep you on our contact list and will be in touch with you again soon. Note that on-line registration is required and will be available in January for scientists. We anticipate that registration for the general public will open in March.

Please forward this message to your colleagues, graduate students, professional listserves, and others who you think would be able to provide scientific expertise to the BioBlitz. If you would like to distribute or print the attached flyer, you are welcome to do so.

Sincerely,

Tim Watkins, PhD                                      Constantine Dillon, Superintendent
National Geographic Society                              National Park Service
BioBlitz Science Coordinator                              Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore



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What do biologists do at a BioBlitz?

Biologists like you participate by doing one or more of the following – leading field teams of public volunteers (including at night, as appropriate), identifying and photographing species in the field and at base camp, collecting and preparing new voucher specimens for curation, working with school groups and teachers in structured field class settings, interpreting for the public and media, talking about your own work and career, etc. You may also conduct inventories by yourself or with your professional peers, but we do ask that you involve the public on at least one of your trips into the field.

What is expected of team leaders?

Team leaders will be responsible for taking volunteers into the field to find and learn about species of interest. In addition, team leaders must verify scientific names, ensure the accuracy of the inventory data, and coordinate with organizers concerning any collected and/or curated specimens after the Blitz. About a week before the Blitz, team leaders will contact their enrolled team members to advise about proper procedures, confirm meeting location and time, remind them about appropriate field dress, etc. We will provide guidelines and support for that task.
 
Which biologists should participate?

Any professional or trained amateur who can lead people safely in the field, find and identify species (by sight, under a microscope, with a dichotomous key, etc.), and is willing to share his or her enthusiasm for organisms. Past participants have included academics, museum staff, members of amateur naturalist societies, public agency scientists, employees of environmental consulting firms, and graduate students. 

Do I need to bring field supplies?

Yes. Please bring whatever field gear you ordinarily use to find and identify species (waders, digital camera with macro feature, nets, microscopes, taxonomic keys, etc.). We will provide tables, chairs, general lighting, power, and some laptop computers dedicated to data entry.

Can I collect specimens?

Yes. We will provide a list of known species in the park and a blanket permit for all registered scientists that will allow destructive collection of non-vertebrate organisms. While we recognize that some taxa (e.g. insects) must be collected and killed for identification purposes, we generally encourage capture and release. Our goal is to minimize the mortality of animals and rare plants. We can provide some general curation materials (e.g. glass vials and ethanol) on a case-by-case basis subject to availability of funds. Please note that specimens collected from National Park Service lands for the purpose of curation are the property of the NPS, but may be loaned for long-term curation in an approved facility (e.g. a natural history museum). Specimens collected for identification purposes only are not subject to this rule. We will provide further details and guidance on loan procedures.

Can I publish my results?

Yes, you are free to publish as you see fit. Furthermore, popular media, including National Geographic print and film crews, will be present at the BioBlitz and may wish to interview you about your activities and discoveries in the field.

Will I be paid?

No, unfortunately we cannot pay participants so your involvement is voluntary. We will provide gifts to recognize your valuable contributions of time and expertise, however, and host a dinner for registered scientists the night before the BioBlitz starts. 

Will I be fed?

Yes. Meals will be provided during the 24-hour inventory, and a celebratory BBQ will occur once the inventory is completed on Saturday afternoon. Coffee and snacks will be provided throughout the inventory.

Do I have to be present for the full 24-hours?

No, but we hope you’ll be with us for most of them! The opening and closing ceremonies (noon on Friday and Saturday) will be festive events where we hope to have as many scientists as possible. At the closing ceremony, we will ask team leaders to take the stage and announce their tallies, surprising or valuable finds, and tales from the field.

We will provide small cabin-style accommodations with bunk beds for registered scientists. Alternatively, many hotels serve the area. Campgrounds in the park will also be available to BioBlitz participants.

Do I have to stay up all night?

Only if you want to. Team leaders for nocturnal species will, of course, be out in the field at night with enthusiastic volunteers. Others may wish to use the dark hours to sort through notes and photographs, and enter data. The 24-hour marathon creates a fun “esprit de corps” that we hope you’ll enjoy. And the longer you’re awake, the more species we will have identified by the closing bell!


Your time and talent is very much appreciated and we look forward to welcoming you as a scientist at the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore BioBlitz.