lab 12 Pre-Lab
What is a Bioblitz
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In citizen science, the public participates voluntarily in the scientific process while addressing real-world problems. Citizens can help in formulating research questions, conducting scientific experiments, collecting and analyzing data, interpreting results, and even in making new discoveries. If you're interested in participating or learning more, visit citizen.sceince.org, for information and opportunities.
A bioblitz is a communal, citizen-science effort, to record as many species (i.e., the "bio") within a designated location and time period as possible (i.e., the "blitz"). Bioblitzes are great ways to engage the public to connect to their environment while generating useful data for science and conservation. They are also an excuse for naturalists, scientists, and curious members of the public to meet in person in the great outdoors and are a lot of fun! We are going to run a BioBlitz of campus. Now, you are not all extreme naturalists of Western Kentucky flora and fauna, so we will use the iNaturalist App called "seek" for species identification. Please be sure you have downloaded it to your mobile device. Do some practice before you come to lab to make sure you are familiar with the interface...just go outside and point & click! It is very intuitive but lab will go smoother if you practice first! 
We will use the seek app for our BioBlitz.
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Citizen scientists participating in a BioBlitz.
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Tips
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Commonly missed groups
Do you know enough about a bioDIVERSITY?In our last lab, you worked to measure and analyze the biodiversity (the variety of life in the world or in a particular habitat or ecosystem) of two local streams. Cataloging and measuring biodiversity is an important part of many evolutionary and ecological studies, as well as conservation efforts. In some cases scientists cannot catalogue biodiversity fast enough to save it. Our flora and fauna are going extinct at an alarming rate, sometimes referred to as the Holocene or Anthropocene extinction: Vertebrate taxa are declining well beyond the background extinction rate (see figure) and 277 plant and animal species have gone extinct in the US since the 1700s alone. A primary driver of our current extinction crisis is modified habitat and the introduction of exotic (non-native) and often invasive species.
Exotic, alien or non-native species are animals, plants or other organisms introduced by humans, either intentionally or accidentally, into areas outside their natural range. Some of these species become established and negatively impact native biodiversity. These species are often referred to as IAS (invasive alien species) and their impacts go beyond biodiversity and also seriously affect economic activities, livelihoods, food security, and human health and well-being. Overall, IAS risk undermining progress towards achieving 10 of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (ICUN Issues Brief, 2018).
IAS species are also problematic at the state level. As you conduct your BioBlitz, keep these species in mind. You will need to identify your own sightings as native or as exotic. Review the following from Kentucky Fish & Wildlife (link here):
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Current extinction rate. Click to view article.
Impacts of IAS (invasive, alien species), from the ICUN Issues Brief, 2018. Click for a link to the article.
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what will we do in lab and how will we do it?
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Lab 11 contains three exercises:
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If you feel confident with this material, click the bridge icon below and navigate to Blackboard to take the LABridge for this week. Be ready to be tested on this material before you go to the quiz, and make sure you have your Lab Notebook Guide ready to submit as well.
Click here to get to WKU's blackboard to take your LABridge for this week.
