Everyone Is Invited to Join in the S. M. Mountains BioBlitz
It is called a BioBlitz—a 24-hour inventory of all living organisms in a given area. This year the event is taking place in the Santa Monica Mountains on May 30 and 31 from noon until noon.
The Santa Monica Mountains BioBlitz, part scientific endeavor, part festival and part outdoor classroom, is being put together by National Geographic and the National Park Service in collaboration with the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy and the California State Parks agency.
Teams of naturalists, scientists and volunteers will comb the park’s 150,000 acres, observing and recording as many species as possible. The public is invited to participate. Nearly 80 experts have committed to take part in the endeavor and about 1000 school children are expected to get their first taste of what environmental field work is about.
The NPS and National Geographic are planning a series of ten annual events around the country to publicize the activities, which are expected to provide important data about this area.
Last year, the society hosted the Rock Creek Park BioBlitz in Washington D.C. After 24 hours of combing the urban park, the participants found 666 species, plus several more that have not yet been identified.
Paramount Ranch has been designated the base camp where participants can check in and many festivities are planned.
At the camp, people can watch scientists doing round-the-clock research to identify and document species collected in the field.
Additional activities throughout the day and night at base camp include talks by experts, displays and demonstrations, entertainment and children’s activities.
Inventories are being staged simultaneously at five additional field stations where pre-registered participants can meet. Areas selected for their varied ecological conditions include Griffith Park, King Gillette Ranch, Leo Carrillo State Park, Malibu Pier and Lagoon and Topanga State Park.
Activities include exploring tidepools, catching butterflies with nets, searching for hidden wildflowers in the canyons and observing and catching owls with nets at night.
The term BioBlitz was coined by a NPS naturalist during the first such event in Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens in 1996. Since then the events have been sponsored by different agencies across the country.
BioBlitz attempts to establish a degree of biodiversity in a defined area or park. Consequently, the event must take place over a full 24-hour period since different organisms are likely to be found at different times of the day and night.
Following the species count, NPS is sponsoring what is being called the Celebrate BioDiversity Festival on Saturday, May 31, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. with music, including the Banana Slug String Band, talks, displays and an opportunity to speak with the scientists and watch them at work.
The Santa Monica Mountains BioBlitz, part scientific endeavor, part festival and part outdoor classroom, is being put together by National Geographic and the National Park Service in collaboration with the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy and the California State Parks agency.
Teams of naturalists, scientists and volunteers will comb the park’s 150,000 acres, observing and recording as many species as possible. The public is invited to participate. Nearly 80 experts have committed to take part in the endeavor and about 1000 school children are expected to get their first taste of what environmental field work is about.
The NPS and National Geographic are planning a series of ten annual events around the country to publicize the activities, which are expected to provide important data about this area.
Last year, the society hosted the Rock Creek Park BioBlitz in Washington D.C. After 24 hours of combing the urban park, the participants found 666 species, plus several more that have not yet been identified.
Paramount Ranch has been designated the base camp where participants can check in and many festivities are planned.
At the camp, people can watch scientists doing round-the-clock research to identify and document species collected in the field.
Additional activities throughout the day and night at base camp include talks by experts, displays and demonstrations, entertainment and children’s activities.
Inventories are being staged simultaneously at five additional field stations where pre-registered participants can meet. Areas selected for their varied ecological conditions include Griffith Park, King Gillette Ranch, Leo Carrillo State Park, Malibu Pier and Lagoon and Topanga State Park.
Activities include exploring tidepools, catching butterflies with nets, searching for hidden wildflowers in the canyons and observing and catching owls with nets at night.
The term BioBlitz was coined by a NPS naturalist during the first such event in Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens in 1996. Since then the events have been sponsored by different agencies across the country.
BioBlitz attempts to establish a degree of biodiversity in a defined area or park. Consequently, the event must take place over a full 24-hour period since different organisms are likely to be found at different times of the day and night.
Following the species count, NPS is sponsoring what is being called the Celebrate BioDiversity Festival on Saturday, May 31, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. with music, including the Banana Slug String Band, talks, displays and an opportunity to speak with the scientists and watch them at work.
posted by MalibuSurfsideNews @ 5:17 PM
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