Using Community Science to Document Biodiversity at Edson Fichter Nature Area in Pocatello, Idaho
Additional Funding Sources
This project was funded by the Idaho Museum of Natural History at Idaho State University.
Abstract
The goal of the Edson Fichter Nature Area iNaturalist Project is document the biodiversity of this natural area. In this report, we summarize what species have been observed and when and where they have been documented. This natural area is located in southwestern Pocatello, Idaho and is managed by the Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG). iNaturalist is a mobile application and website that allows members of the community to share their observations of plants or animals while enjoying nature. Observations are uploaded to a database housed at the California Academy of Sciences. In February of 2019, we collaborated with Maria Pacioretty (IDFG) to create a specific iNaturalist project to document biodiversity at the EFNA. Thirty-five people contributed a total of 313 observations of 123 species and 106 people helped with identifications. Contributors included students, teachers, Idaho Master Naturalists, and the public. We downloaded all iNaturalist observations made before 2020 at EFNA into a spreadsheet and sorted by major taxon. We then reviewed each observation for location and identification accuracy. Inaccurately identified observations were labeled with the correct species and cultivated or unidentifiable observations were removed from the project. The total number of verified observations was 234: 74% plants, 15% birds, 6% insects, 3% mollusks, 1% or less of mammals, annelids and reptiles. A total of 22 invasive plant species (55 individuals) were recorded. The first observation recorded at EFNA was in 2015. The most recorded observations occurred in 2019 and October. Many species and times of the year remain to be documented and we encourage the community to contribute further observations.
Using Community Science to Document Biodiversity at Edson Fichter Nature Area in Pocatello, Idaho
The goal of the Edson Fichter Nature Area iNaturalist Project is document the biodiversity of this natural area. In this report, we summarize what species have been observed and when and where they have been documented. This natural area is located in southwestern Pocatello, Idaho and is managed by the Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG). iNaturalist is a mobile application and website that allows members of the community to share their observations of plants or animals while enjoying nature. Observations are uploaded to a database housed at the California Academy of Sciences. In February of 2019, we collaborated with Maria Pacioretty (IDFG) to create a specific iNaturalist project to document biodiversity at the EFNA. Thirty-five people contributed a total of 313 observations of 123 species and 106 people helped with identifications. Contributors included students, teachers, Idaho Master Naturalists, and the public. We downloaded all iNaturalist observations made before 2020 at EFNA into a spreadsheet and sorted by major taxon. We then reviewed each observation for location and identification accuracy. Inaccurately identified observations were labeled with the correct species and cultivated or unidentifiable observations were removed from the project. The total number of verified observations was 234: 74% plants, 15% birds, 6% insects, 3% mollusks, 1% or less of mammals, annelids and reptiles. A total of 22 invasive plant species (55 individuals) were recorded. The first observation recorded at EFNA was in 2015. The most recorded observations occurred in 2019 and October. Many species and times of the year remain to be documented and we encourage the community to contribute further observations.