Southeastern Louisiana University

BioBlitz 2007  -  Sunday, April 22  -  9:00 AM

Celebrate Earth Day at Tickfaw State Park

Southeastern Louisiana University’s Department of Biological Sciences is organizing a BioBlitz on Earth Day, April 22nd, 2007 at Tickfaw State Park.  A BioBlitz is an all species inventory of a particular area assembled as an educational event, contest, and celebration of the diversity in your neighborhood. BioBlitz events have been hosted throughout the US, but never in Louisiana (e.g. http://web.uconn.edu/mnh/bioblitz/). This is a full day event of identifying every species we can possibly find to compile a species list for the park. This would be a great opportunity to hone identification skills, enjoy the outdoors, teach others about your fascinating study organisms, and learn about different groups that you may not have been exposed to. This event will bring together scientists from Tulane, Loyola, UNO, and LSU in a race to identify as many species of flora and fauna within Tickfaw SP in a 24-hour biological survey.

The Nature Center will act as the “base camp”. The base camp is a centralized location where scientists will be identifying species collected from volunteers. Equipment such as microscopes, computers, and other collecting tools will be located at the Nature Center along with the official species list.

Each major taxonomic group will have an assigned expert responsible for confirming ID’s and keeping a tally of species observed. A core group of individuals (grad students and other volunteers) will assist the expert by collecting specimens.  For example, Dr. Kyle Piller (the fish “expert”) would be keeping a tally of all fish species and confirming uncertain ID’s while fishy grad students would be leading groups of seiners, electrofishers, and dipnetters. 

For some the BioBlitz will begin after the SLEEB reception (Sat. April 21st), however officially the Blitz will begin Sunday morning April 22nd.  Additionally, people would have the opportunity to stay overnight at the campground and perhaps take part in night surveys of respective groups (e.g. bats and herps). Tickfaw SP has generously agreed to waive all entrance fees for volunteers!

Please contact Tiffany Schriever (tiffany.schriever@selu.edu) if you would like to volunteer during BioBlitz 2007 so we can anticipate participation.  Please include in your email your biological expertise, if you have none that’s okay!