Flora of Rutgers Project
- Student curiosity about the project
- Questions:
- Interesting discoveries?
- Time taken to catalog species?
- Is the cataloging process ongoing?
Invasive Orchids
- Discussed the invasive orchid species in the Northeastern United States
- Terrestrial orchid species in New Jersey with 355 observations recorded
- Example species:
- Broadly Teleborine:
- 2nd most observed orchid on iNaturalist
- Total of 44 orchid species identified in New Jersey
Project Transition
- Originally started before the use of iNaturalist
- Now has shifted to include observations on iNaturalist
- Overview of Rutgers specific project on iNaturalist
- Significance of urban Newark campus:
- Higher number of observations than other areas (Cook Douglas, Rutgers Gardens) due to regular bioblitzes
- Observations include birds, squirrels, plants, etc.
Observation Insights
- Newark campus has comparatively fewer reported species than Cook Douglas, but more observations
- Total of over 4,500 observers in this iNaturalist project
- Data compiled into a global database for broader ecological studies
Most Reported Species at Rutgers
- Participants guessed which species had the most observations
- Revealed discoveries:
- Eastern Gray Squirrel: most reported
- Other high counts: House Sparrows, Begonia, Spotted Lanternfly, Ivy
Upcoming BioBlitz Event
- Newark BioBlitz scheduled during Earth Week
- Expectations: Students photographing diverse species around campus
- More info will be shared regarding the event
Community Science
- Highlighted the role of community science in compiling large databases of observations
- Emphasis on rebranding from "citizen science" to "community science"
- Participation encouraged from all backgrounds
- Community science is vital for practical scientific research
Conclusion
- Project exemplifies engagement in scientific discovery by general public
- Highlights potential for community participation to lead to significant scientific outputs.