BioBlitz

Professional and citizen scientists counted 413 species during a recent BioBlitz at Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge in Montana – including land snails, dragonflies and other small animals that had never been surveyed.

About 400 people joined the count – more people than any other event in the last five years at Lee Metcalf Refuge, says Refuge Manager Erin Holmes. Volunteers signed up to survey for bees, search for bats and count everything from grasshoppers and fungi to mammals, mosses and moths. "The aquatic invertebrates were a very new thing for us," said Holmes. "Another surprise was the number of land snail species. We have very good bird data and invasive species data, but dragonflies, bees, moths . . . we have information for the first time on these species." Holmes says she was also surprised to learn that the refuge does not have many herptiles (lizards).

Whenever anyone wanted a break from counting, there were presentations on small mammals, the Bitterroot Valley watershed, a porcupine walk and visits with live raptors. Scientist teams from area universities, agencies and nonprofit organizations led teams of volunteer counters, including at least one family from Nevada who stayed for the entire 24-hour BioBlitz. "One 12-year old girl was up early for the small mammal hunt," recalled Holmes, "and at the end she announced she wanted to be a biologist."

The BioBlitz results will be added to a database to assist with management decisions about habitat and ecosystem conservation. The database provides answers to very specific questions, such as identifying where all the owls were during the BioBlitz or all the species found in a particular type of habitat.

A BioBlitz is an effort to identify as many species as possible in a selected area within a 24-hour period. Many national wildlife refuges seek volunteers when they plan a BioBlitz.

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