BIOBLITZ

Four hours, twelve scientists in public seaside park and nearly 400 species identified.
First Marine versus Terrestrial competition in identifying organisms - BIOBLITZ in Sopot, Poland, 30 th May 2008.

Hosted by Institute of Oceanology PAS, supported by MARBEF NoE botanists and entomologists from Institute of Biology University of Gdańsk, competed with marine biologists from Sea Fisheries Institute, Institute of Oceanography and Institute of OCeanology in identifying maximal number of taxa during half a day exercise in Sopot. Testing ground was a dune with adjacent park forest for terrestrial and municipal beach with shallow bathing waters for the marine domain. Event was a part of Baltic Science Festival and attracted number of visitors from neighbouring schools and by-passers. Eleven scientists - identfyiers volunteered, and checked samples collected for micro, meio and macroorganisms. Competition was won by Terrestrial party, that found and identified nearly 200 taxa of plants and insects in four hours. Marine party have got 140 taxa in the same time. Event was covered by local TV, short documentary will be available in internet soon, in the meantime look for picture gallery and check lists of taxa found in the testing site.

photo gallery