BioBlitz is Here!

View if the coast redwood canopy. Photo by Stephen Sillett
View of the coast redwood canopy. Photo by Stephen Sillett

The time we have been preparing for during the past few months, BioBlitz 2014, is finally here! For the next two days you will find us at Muir Woods National Monument and the Crissy Field Center as we explore, learn, teach, and celebrate the extraordinary biodiversity of the National Parks in the Bay Area.

Please join us as we discover what lives in the redwood canopy at Muir Woods, as we explore the diversity of plants and animals in a redwood forest, and as we calculate the age of ancient redwood trees.

You can learn about the BioBlitz online, and make sure to visit us at the Biodiversity Festival in San Francisco, where there will be entertainment for the whole family!

Follow the latest BioBlitz information on our Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter pages. Instagram your BioBlitz pictures by using #RedwoodBioBlitz and see the gallery on Facebook!

I’ll see you in the redwoods!

About the author

Deborah joined the League's staff in 2013 as the Education & Interpretation Manager. She brings with her extensive experience teaching science, developing curriculum and connecting kids to the natural world.

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2 Responses to “BioBlitz is Here!”

  1. Ray Cinti

    Why does Biodiversity Matter?

    One basic reason is that many of the species in an ecosystem are interconnected. Species depend on community interactions for food, shelter, and other needs. If a key species disappears like the redwood, other species—and the health of the whole ecosystem—may be affected. Simply stated if your log the Redwoods all the animals and plants that live there is be compromised.

    The number of species in an ecosystem is one aspect of biodiversity. Another aspect of biodiversity in the biosphere is the genetic variety among individuals within a species.
    Students at Convent of the Sacred Heart HS are extracting DNA from Redwoods and amplify a gene for the protein GAPDH found in cellular respiration. This kind of DNA work, will likely better-establish relatedness among trees and genetic variability among individuals.

    Ray Cinti
    Conservation Biology Instructor

    Reply
    • Deborah Zierten

      Hello Ray,
      Thank you for your true and insightful comment. You are correct there is so little known about the genetic diversity of redwood trees and we are so excited your students are doing this important research. We hope your work continues and you are able to share your results with the education and scientific community.
      Thanks!

      Reply

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