1. BioBlitz at CBEC
4th Grade QACPS Program

2. GOALS
CBEC offers students a glimpse into the past of Queen Anne’s County, with pristine examples of several ecosystems that once dominated the landscape – from salt marsh and tidal pools, to meadows and forest.
Students will participate as citizen scientists in an ongoing BioBlitz project on CBEC’s property by using tools of a scientist to identify flora and fauna in three distinct ecosystems, as well as explore the relationship and interdependence between living and non-living factors.
Through witnessing biodiversity firsthand and discussing its importance to the health of an ecosystem, students will be equipped to formulate plans to improve biodiversity in their schoolyard and around their own home.
BioBlitz data collected as part of this ongoing project will be used by CBEC’s Restoration Coordinator to inform future restoration projects and evaluate effectiveness of ongoing projects.

3. Logistics
hour trip
40 students a day – broken into 4 groups of 10
1-2 CBEC leaders/assistants in each group
1-2 chaperones with each group
Schedule:
Define biodiversity and discuss purpose of BioBlitz (15 min)
Ecosystem studies – Bay, Forest, Meadow (3 hours)
Lunch (30 min)
Identification and Upload Data (15 min)
Tally Rally (10 min)
Conclusion – why is this project important? (5 min)

4. Materials 1 CBEC device with each group
Volunteers bring own devices willing to use with students
Teachers and chaperones asked to bring devices with iNaturalist preloaded.
Collection equipment at each ecosystem (nets, buckets, containers, etc)
Field identification guides, Common Species at CBEC guide
Camera lens for devices

5. Identification and Upload Data
Identification Tables setup throughout the day
Identification guides, artifacts
Birds, Mammals, Reptiles and amphibians, Invertebrates, Fish, Plants, Fungi
At end of the day, students in groups of 3-5 attempt to ID at least 1 organism they found during the day. Must have 1 device per subgroup.
Upload to iNaturalist project – BioBlitz at CBEC – will demonstrate later today!

6. Tally Rally BioBlitz – Announce: Health Impact
# observations added for the day
# observations reached research grade
# species all QACPS students have helped ID (total project)
Health Impact
Groups report and record # of steps
Check and record how much water consumed per person

7. Conclusion Why is biodiversity important?
Indicator of health of ecosystem
Species interdependent – complex ecosystem (resulting in complex food web) can better withstand changes
Humans depend on biodiversity – food, flood control, clean water, clean air, medicines, shelter, etc.
Recreational value
How does this data help CBEC?
Inform future restoration projects and evaluate effectiveness of ongoing projects
Encourage Future Projects
Schoolyard – plan and evaluate improvement plans
Community – share with legislators, community planners

8. BioBlitz Practice DO NOT login to iNaturalist out in the field
Take photos on devices
If time, attempt to ID using guides
Back at Pavilion
Login to iNaturalist
Usernames: cbecbb1, cbecbb2, cbecbb3, cbecbb4
Password: wetlands
Click “Observe”
Upload photo from device
Automatically added: date, time, location (if not, ADD!)
Must add to Project!

10. Role of Volunteers and other Adults
Slow down students
Focus on a small area
No observation too small
If you can’t find “anything”… look for non or slow-moving:
plants, fungus, invertebrates
Focus on witnessing biodiversity – not identification, while in the field
This is a collaborative effort – not just your team today – all QACPS 4th grade this year, past, and future years. We don’t have to “catch ‘em all!”

11. Ecosystem Introductions
Walk around defined area – slowly and quietly
Ask students what type of ecosystem is this
Brainstorm benefits of this ecosystem
Read statement of benefits
Meadow
Forest
Bay