Biscayne BioBlitz Reveals National Park’s Rich Diversity
National Park Service & National Geographic News Release May 3, 2010 For Immediate Release National Park Service: Linda Friar, 305-242-7714, Linda_Friar@nps.gov National Geographic: Carol Seitz, 202-775-6186, cseitz@ngs.org
Biscayne BioBlitz Reveals National Park’s Rich Diversity After 24 straight hours of exploration and documentation, the Biscayne BioBlitz provided a snapshot of the many land and water species that live in Biscayne National Park. Led by more than 200 scientists from around the country, thousands of amateur explorers, families and schoolchildren from south Florida conducted an inventory of the plants, insects, fish and other creatures that inhabit one of the nation’s largest marine national parks.
The event, from noon Friday, April 30, to noon Saturday, May 1, was presented by National Geographic and the National Park Service, with support from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.
Highlights:
The initial species count as of 12:30 p.m. Saturday was more
than 800, with this number rising rapidly throughout the
afternoon. Over the next few months, organizers expect this
number to increase significantly as state-of-the-art testing of
the collected samples continues.
On-land observations of a number of species rare to the park
included the silver hairstreak butterfly, mangrove cuckoo,
bay-breasted warbler and nesting roseate spoonbills.
Underwater park divers were excited to observe black, red and
gag groupers on a night dive on the park’s reefs. In addition,
park scientists were delighted not to have seen any invasive
exotic lionfish during the BioBlitz inventory.
BioBlitz participants identified 11 species of lichen and 22
species of ants that had not previously been documented in the
park.
Internationally known tardigrade specialist William (Randy)
Miller, a biologist at Baker University, identified a phylum of
tardigrades — commonly known as water bears — not previously
found in the park.
Seven candidate champion trees — paradise tree, Bahama strong
bark, blolly, milk bark, Joe-wood, inkwood and pigeon plum —
were observed at the end of Totten Key. Scientists were excited
to see these unique trees survived Hurricane Andrew, which hit
the area in 1992.
More than 2,500 people of all ages participated in the program
during the 24-hour BioBlitz, including more than 1,300
registered school children from Miami-Dade County.
The Celebrate Biodiversity Festival that followed the BioBlitz
included several bands, talks, nature walks, live animal
demonstrations and other activities. The festival focused on
biodiversity and encouraging the public to do their part to
protect the environment. Many visitors graduated from
“Biodiversity University” by participating in an education
program throughout the festival.
The BioBlitz was part scientific endeavor, part festival and part outdoor classroom. Participants combed the park, observing and recording as many plant and animal species as possible in 24 hours. Activities included exploring the reefs and Elliott Key, catching insects, searching for hidden moss and lichen in shallow waters, seining fish and other aquatic organisms, and observing birds.
“This was a fantastic opportunity for the public to meet the scientists and understand what makes Biscayne National Park a special place,” said Mark Lewis, Biscayne National Park superintendent. “Sunny skies and temperate weather brought thousands of people out to help us learn more about the park.”
“I was thrilled by the connections made through the event,” said John Francis, National Geographic’s vice president for research, conservation and exploration. “Scientists joined students and people from the surrounding coastal communities and celebrated their unique roles as members of the natural systems where they live.”
Biscayne National Park was the fourth in a series of 10 annual BioBlitzes to be hosted by National Geographic and the National Park Service leading up to the Park Service’s centennial in 2016. During closing ceremonies Saturday at Convoy Point, the BioBlitz flag was passed to Darla Sidles, superintendent of Arizona’s Saguaro National Park, where the fifth BioBlitz will take place in 2011.
The first BioBlitz was held at Rock Creek Park in Washington, D.C., in 2007; Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area in California was the BioBlitz site in 2008; and Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore was the site of the third BioBlitz in 2009.
-NPS-
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