The App State Department of Biology commenced its fifth annual BioBlitz campaign Monday, embarking on a week-long effort to catalogue the diverse array of flora and fauna present on university-owned land. Utilizing the iNaturalist mobile app, the initiative encourages participants to document wildlife encounters, contributing vital data that supports App State's sustainability goals and fosters community engagement. The campaign is set to conclude on September 27.
Coordinated by Annkatrin Rose, an associate professor of plant molecular biology and an ambassador for iNaturalist, alongside PJ Coleman, a student advisor within the biology department, this year’s BioBlitz continues a tradition that began for App State in 2022. While BioBlitz campaigns, designed to involve the public in cataloguing local species over a short period in accessible areas, have existed since the 1990s, App State joined the movement when UNC-Greensboro sought competition to "reinvigorate it," as Rose explained.
The project is more than a local endeavor; it forms a competition with UNC-Asheville and UNC-Wilmington. The three institutions are evaluated based on the number of observations made, the variety of species observed, and the total number of observers participating. While the immediate prize is bragging rights for the winning school, the data collected serves several critical purposes beyond the competitive aspect.
Crucially, the observations gathered through the BioBlitz help App State demonstrate a specific level of biodiversity on its land, a requirement for receiving sustainability certifications from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE). This data also plays a significant role in academic and research settings. Rose incorporates the findings into her classes, using documented examples of flowering and fruiting plants in natural environments. Furthermore, members of the Association of Southeastern Biologists have utilized BioBlitz data on multiple occasions to study the presence of invasive species in the region. PJ Coleman emphasized the fundamental importance of such a project, stating, "It’s hard to study and protect what you don’t know you have."
Beyond its academic and certification benefits, the BioBlitz actively engages the wider community. Participation is open to anyone—students, visitors, or professors—provided observations are made on App State-owned land during the specified timeframe. Community members can contribute by documenting new sightings or by helping to confirm identifications within the iNaturalist app. Coleman highlighted this aspect, noting it is an opportunity for people to learn about local critters and plants and "get an up close appreciation for them." The project also encourages biology students to work individually or in groups to document findings, uniting them under a shared scientific goal. To further motivate student involvement, Rose and Coleman have planned surprises for the student who logs the most observations and identifications of different species.
This annual citizen science campaign underscores the university's commitment to understanding and preserving its natural surroundings, while also educating and involving the public in critical environmental stewardship.