Monday, July 18, 2022
Written by: Office of Strategic Communication
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Members of the Iowa City community took part in the second annual BioBlitz on July 9 at the Ashton Prairie Living Laboratory.

During the event, participants helped document plants, insects, and fungal life found in the prairie. Some insects were also collected from the prairie to help inform a research project being conducted by Andrew Forbes, associate professor in the Department of Biology.

Records collected by participants contributed to the second data point in a planned multi-year documentation of how diversity changes as the landscape is transformed into native prairie. Species sampled during the BioBlitz event can be viewed here.

Facilitators included faculty, staff, and graduate students from the Department of Biology; Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences; Office of Sustainability and the Environment; UI WILD; the Museum of Natural History; Department of Geographical and Sustainability Sciences; Department of Athletics; and the Center for Global and Regional Environmental Research.

Check out these photos from the event.

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The BioBlitz takes place at the Ashton Prairie Living Laboratory next to the Hawkeye Commuter Lot and near the UI Ashton Cross Country Course.
Participants had the opportunity to use the iNaturalist app to examine and identify a variety of species.
A student holds out a Praying Mantis at the Ashton Prairie Living Laboratory.
Attendees of the 2nd Annual BioBlitz learned from the leaders of the Ashton Prairie Living Laboratory about the vision for the prairie moving forward.
A couple young researchers discuss their findings at the Ashton Prairie Living Laboratory.
Using a microscope, researchers at the Ashton Prairie Living Laboratory get an up-close look at what they have found.
Attendees of the 2nd Annual BioBlitz take a look inside the net to observe findings.
Findings from the BioBlitz will inform a major research project and will contribute to the second data point in a multi-year documentation of how diversity changes at the site over time.
Two students at the 2nd annual BioBlitz observe biodiversity at the Ashton Prairie Living Laboratory.
While examining microscopic life, researchers were joined by the Iowa Raptor Project and a Hawk.
A student attending the event carefully holds an owl at the Ashton Prairie Living Laboratory.