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Biodiversity Discovery Has Revealed Amazing Things, and It Hasn’T Been Just Scientists Who Make These Discoveries

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Biodiversity Discovery Has Revealed Amazing Things, and It Hasn’T Been Just Scientists Who Make These Discoveries National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Notable Discoveries Natural Resource Program Center Biological Resource Management Division Biodiversity Discovery has revealed amazing things, and it hasn’t been just scientists who make these discoveries. Kids and volunteers also have collected plants and animals that turn out to be rare, new to a park, or some- times even new to science. These discoveries improve our Biodiversity Discovery understanding of species requirements, ecosystem func- tioning, and related stewardship activities. A Foundation for Resource Protection and Stewardship • Rare species in common places: At Yosemite National common, represented in about 70% of the world’s taxa. Park, scientists are just beginning to explore a vast system Parasitic worms can teach us about host animal diversity, The National Park Service is charged from emerging threats—such as tific study by engaging the next gener- of caves under their more-well-known towering walls of abundance, and food web interactions. with protecting the diversity of living climate change, invasive plants and ation of scientists, educators, and granite. While they expected discoveries in less disturbed organisms (i.e., biodiversity) found animals, disease, and human popula- park supporters. caves, a new species of pseudoscorpion (Parabosum • Some discoveries take time: After years of biodiversity within its lands. Yet, as the National tion pressures—or to keep ecosystems yosemite) was found in a cave that thousands of people activities at Great Smoky Mountains National Park, a new Park Service nears its second century, intact. Investing in Biodiversity Discovery visit every year. pattern of life emerged there. Unlike the park’s plants, it has been estimated that as many as activities at multiple scales will be diversity of some of the most numerous and species-rich 80–90 percent of species in parks are To help address this gap, the National invaluable to the future of our parks. • Silent invasions: During Yellowstone National Park’s first groups of life (insects and spiders) appears to level off or undiscovered. Park Service is undertaking a new By combining solid science and public BioBlitz in 2009, five species of earthworm were discov- increase above mid-elevations. This means a much greater effort, Biodiversity Discovery, to both passion and interest, we can help ered in undisturbed, backcountry areas. Every one was a percentage of the park’s natural biodiversity may be at risk This gap in knowledge makes it document the diversity of life in parks ensure preservation of our living European invasive species. Non-native earthworms can to being displaced upwards and “squeezed off” mountain impossible to protect living resources and ensure the future of park scien- resources. cause significant damage to soil ecosystems, and no one peaks by temperature increases than park staff originally knows how badly invaded national park lands may be. surmised. Before the BioBlitz, the merits of earthworms were pri- marily debated by anglers rather than resource managers. • Park surveys contribute to national efforts: Congaree National Park has hosted annual Butterfly Counts over the • Most common but least studied: As part of Big Thicket last 14 years. More than 170 citizen scientists have docu- National Preserve’s “Thicket of Discovery” ATBI, two new mented almost 3,800 specimens, representing 138 species of trematodes were discovered, Lissorchis amnicu- Lepidoptera species. Data are entered and reported lensi and Caecincola autumnae, which are both fish para- though the North American Butterfly Association national sites. Parasitism is probably the least understood way of database. Consistent data from across North America are life on the planet, but ironically it is also the most necessary to reveal climate-related trends and patterns. All insect and plant scans are courtesy of Discover Life in America. National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Natural Resource Program Center Biological Resource Management Division 1201 Oakridge Dr., Suite 200 Fort Collins, CO 80525 Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area Science, Stewardship, Solutions Intertidal BioBlitz, 2008. Researchers and Santa Fe College students inspect the contents of their aspirator used to collect http://www.nature.nps.gov/biology volunteers explore Peddocks Island on a quest small invertebrates during an ATBI event in 2008 at Death Valley National Park. http://www.nature.nps.gov/biodiversity to discover all life in the intertidal zone. EXPERIENCE YOUR AMERICA™ Building a Scientific Foundation for Fostering Public Passion for Science in Parks 10 Quick Facts Management Decisions Because Biodiversity Discovery events traditional research projects, with park 1. First comprehensive park-wide often require excited minds and willing staff, or with researchers working alone Biodiversity Discovery refers to a variety enables parks to proactively manage effort: ATBI in Great Smoky Mountains hands, but not a degree in science, they over many years. of efforts to discover and document our threats such as invasive species and National Park, ongoing since 1998 appeal to kids and non-scientists of all natural heritage. These range from overuse. ages as much as they do to PhDs. Many volunteers return every year and 2. Parks involved in Biodiversity multi-decadal All Taxa Biodiversity Discovery activities: 40+ have become park enthusiasts. This Inventories (ATBIs) that aim to docu- As pressures on parks increase, knowl- Also, because these events allow a passion for parks and biodiversity helps 3. New species to science: 1,059 species ment all species in a geographic area to edge gained from Biodiversity Discovery person to jump right into the exciting support the NPS mission to understand newly scientifically described BioBlitzes that search for species within efforts provide a foundation upon part of science (i.e., the wiggling or and protect park resources. a given time frame. which parks can build sound, long-term 4. New species for parks: 18,723 slimy or beautifully blooming part), plans for preservation. described species discovered in parks Biodiversity Discovery is an ideal way Needs: where they were not known to exist Biodiversity Discovery often focuses on Trapping moths at Santa Monica Mountains National to introduce youth to hands-on Recreation Area's 2008 BioBlitz. Photo courtesy smaller life forms, such as insects, fungi, Needs: National Geographic Society. 5. Volunteers: 17,000+ science. • Volunteer management and bacteria, and other little-studied groups constituencies for scientific studies in logistical support that we are beginning to understand as • Data management and curatorial 6. Largest event: Santa Monica Many gateway communities, especially parks. Mountains National Recreation Area key to ecosystem integrity and resil- support, including assistance with near urban parks, have little knowledge • A common evaluative framework to and National Geographic Society ience. database coordination (NGS) BioBlitz in 2008 had 6,000+ of or access to the amazing biodiversity The human-power in volunteer assess benefits to volunteers and participants, including professors, that exists literally on their doorsteps. Biodiversity Discovery activities can be citizen scientists students, National Park Service (NPS) These activities complement NPS • Access to taxonomic expertise, sam- Biodiversity Discovery participants enough to accomplish surveys and scientists, and public volunteers. inventory and monitoring by expanding pling protocols, and other technical BioBlitzes with National Geographic will experience park resources with expert collections in just a few days. This • Continued Service-wide support our knowledge about park reference support happen annually until 2016, the 100th scientists, building appreciation and would not be possible through anniversary of the National Park System. conditions. • Coordination with the broader sci- 7. Largest multi-park effort: Colorado This information serves as crucial base- entific community, via Taxonomic Plateau All-Taxa Biodiversity Inventory, Advancing Science and Stewardship line data to compare the variety and dis- Working Groups (TWiGs), Today, we face challenges of historical involving 17 parks significance in global climate change, biodi- tribution of living things as tempera- Biodiversity Information Facilities Biodiversity Discovery helps us confirm the presence of plants and animals and dis- versity loss, and habitat fragmentation due 8. Partners: Discover Life in America, tures, precipitation, pollution, and other (BIFs), and other partnerships cover new species. As we move into the second century of protection of parks, this to human activities. The National Geographic Society, The large-scale patterns change. It also knowledge will: Nature Conservancy, non-profit park Biodiversity Discovery utilizes the expertise associations, and many, many others of the scientific community and the enthusi- • Serve as a scientific baseline: Understanding what we have before ecosystem- asm of tomorrow’s scientists to identify and 9. Biggest challenges to Biodiversity altering events, whether natural or human-caused, helps us prepare for, adapt maintain the species and genetic diversity Discovery: Securing ongoing funding, to, and mitigate the effects of drastic habitat change on species assemblages and that are the foundation of ecosystem resil- coordinating data management and ience in parks and surrounding communities. specimen collections,
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