OHOP BIO-BLITZ 2014

OHOP BIO-BLITZ 2014

WHAT IS A BIO-BLITZ?

WHY WAS IT DONE AT OHOP CREEK?

HOW WAS IT ACCOMPLISHED?

WHAT WAS DISCOVERED?

WHAT IS A BIO-BLITZ?

•  An intensive biological survey to develop a baseline inventory. •  Much like Nature Mapping, but with more intense searching for taxa groups (botany, mammals, birds, reptiles/amphibians, inverts) and cataloguing them as they are discovered. •  This survey lasted 6-hours. •  Accomplished in two 3-hour phases.

HOW WAS IT ACCOMPLISHED?

•  ORGANIZATION PARTNERS, Nisqually Stream Stewards, Nisqually Land Trust, Northwest Trek, Tacoma Nature Center.

•  FUNDING (USF&WS Connecting People With Nature.

•  TAXA-TEAM LEADERS (Jake Pool, NWT Botany; Mary Sue Gee, Botany; Chris Hoff, birds; Les Mead, amphibs/reptiles; Mallory Clark, mammals)

•  VOLUNTEER HELP (30+ volunteers)

•  CONVENIENT SCIENCE-CENTRAL FACILITY FOR PLANNING AND PROCESSING OF INFORMATION.

•  FOCUS ZONES CREATED TO CONCENTRATE ON (INVASIVE PLANTS, WILDLIFE) •  TAXA TEAMS WERE ASSIGNED SEARCH AREAS

Reed canary grass & Himalaya blackberry areas were delineated using GPS

SCIENCE CENTRAL

WHY WAS IT DONE AT OHOP CREEK?

•  ESTABLISH DATABASE PRIOR TO RE-MEANDER CONSTRUCTION OF OHOP CREEK.

•  NO PRIOR TAXA DATABASE ESTABLISHED AT LOWER OHOP VALLEY

•  NEED TO BEGIN CATALOGING PRESENCE OF TAXA IN LOWER OHOP VALLEY.

WHY WAS IT DONE AT OHOP CREEK?

OHOP BIO-BLITZ 2014

VIEW TOWARD UPPER VALLLEY

OHOP BIO-BLITZ 2014

VIEW TOWARD LOWER VALLEY

Dense foliage, lower valley forest area

WHAT WAS DISCOVERED?

POOP (scat)

TRACKS

???

Northwestern salamander

Northwestern salamander

Northwestern salamander

Pacific tree frog

Egg masses (Pacific tree frog, Northwestern salamander)

Beaver activity

BEAVER SKULL

VERATRUM CALIFORNICUM (false hellebore)

Carex obnupta (slough sedge)

Angled bittercress (Cardamine angulate) Unexpected density observed

VERATRUM VIRIDE (green false hellebore)

Trillium ovatum

Trillium parviflorum

Trillium parviflorum

Designation S2/S3 Endangered/Threatened with possible extinction in local areas due to development.

Possibly only area in Ohop Valley known to exist, and extends its known existing range.

“In the Puget Sound lowlands, the first Western Trillium flowers coincide with the Robins’ first songs. Also known as the Wake Robin, it may be that the flower wakes the bird, or perhaps the other way around. Research shows that bird song may impact and even be necessary for the opening of blossoms. According to accounts, flower buds remained unopened in some orchards where heavy pesticide use had eradicated birds. After broadcasting recordings of bird songs in these orchards, the buds opened.”

Quote from: Medicine of Place, by Olympia residents Julia Brayshaw and Karen Lohmann.

300 different taxa present (plants, mammals, amphibians, birds).

Over 1,000 taxa encountered (heard, observed or evidence of).

?? QUESTIONS ??