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EXPERIENCE > YOUTH ACTIVITIES > CITIZEN SCIENCE
Reported by Konoha Tomono-Duval and Biwa Tomono-Duval, Youth Correspondents
Ian Throckmorton is looking for a few good citizen scientists.
Ian, an employee with the Education Department at the Oregon Coast Aquarium, has been working for months to organize a series of “bioblitzes” taking place in July 2018.
“A bioblitz is an intensive period of biological surveying within a given area in order to determine which species are living there,” Ian explains. “You can think of it like a snapshot of biodiversity. The data our citizen scientists gather during just a few hours will help scientists catalogue and monitor local species.”
The bioblitzes will be conducted in the intertidal area adjacent to three of Oregon’s marine reserves, offshore areas which are protected for conservation purposes and scientific study.
Reported by Konoha Tomono-Duval and Biwa Tomono-Duval, Youth Correspondents
Ian Throckmorton is looking for a few good citizen scientists.
Ian, an employee with the Education Department at the Oregon Coast Aquarium, has been working for months to organize a series of “bioblitzes” taking place in July 2018.
“A bioblitz is an intensive period of biological surveying within a given area in order to determine which species are living there,” Ian explains. “You can think of it like a snapshot of biodiversity. The data our citizen scientists gather during just a few hours will help scientists catalogue and monitor local species.”
The bioblitzes will be conducted in the intertidal area adjacent to three of Oregon’s marine reserves, offshore areas which are protected for conservation purposes and scientific study.
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Oregon Coast Aquarium: Fall 2018 Bioblitzes: Ian Throckmorten with the Aquarium's education department explains how a bioblitz works and how people from all backgrounds can join in the fun.
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The bioblitzes for 2018 have concluded but watch the Oceanscape Network for additional opportunities. To see how the July 2018 bioblitz at Cape Perpetua worked, watch the video below.
All the state reserves are located within three nautical miles (3.45 miles or 5.5 km) of shore and have associated parks, beaches and natural areas. While the reserves are open to recreational activities like SCUBA diving and surfing, fishing and other extractive activities are all prohibited. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife are conducting research to determine impacts of the reserves as a wildlife management tool.
To help with the survey, Ian is looking for volunteers from the public.
“The bioblitzes are free and open to anyone who wants to participate, although those under 18 years of age should be accompanied by an adult,” he said.
Related Features: Marine Reserves: Sanctuaries for Science
To help with the survey, Ian is looking for volunteers from the public.
“The bioblitzes are free and open to anyone who wants to participate, although those under 18 years of age should be accompanied by an adult,” he said.
Related Features: Marine Reserves: Sanctuaries for Science
