Contact:  Katy Klymus

 BioBlitz Coordinator

kektgb@mizzou.edu

MU-Sponsored BioBlitz is Fun Opportunity to Learn about Biodiversity

WHAT:              BioBlitz, a 24-hour race to identify as many species of plants, fungi and animals as possible within a defined area. The program's goal is to increase public awareness and knowledge of Columbia's wildlife through hands-on experience. Naturalists will lead walks and assist the public in locating and identifying different species.

WHO:                 BioBlitz is a community event sponsored by the University of Missouri-Columbia's conservation biology program in the College of Arts and Science and graduate students in other divisions.

WHEN:            The race starts at 5 p.m., Friday, Sept. 19, and ends at 5 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 20. There will be a closing ceremonies ice cream social at 5:30 p.m., Sept. 20.

WHERE:            The base camp will be Twin Lakes Recreation Area on Chapel Hill Road. Participants will sign in and meet their walk leaders at the Twin Lakes Shelter. Walks will leave from Twin Lakes and take place in the adjoining Forum Nature Area. At Twin Lakes, there will also be informative displays, activities for kids and a tent where scientists will identify smaller species (e.g. insects). The closing ceremonies and ice cream social will also be there.

                              The area to be surveyed will be Forum Nature Area. Roughly, this is the area enclosed by the MKT trail, Forum Blvd and Hinkson Creek.

NOTE:                        BioBlitz is free, but participants must register at the Web site http://bioblitz.missouri.edu.

                                    This is Columbia's fifth BioBlitz. At Columbia's first BioBlitz in fall 2005, more than 150 participants identified 841 species, and at the second BioBlitz, a rainy day in spring 2006, approximately 75 participants identified 304 species. The first BioBlitz, sponsored by the National Park Service and National Biological Service, was in Washington, D.C., in 1996. Since then, BioBlitz events have been held across the U.S.