Field-to-collections Bioblitz at ESA 2017

Calling all ecologists! Portland’s Forest Park is the largest urban forest in the United States and home to the unique flora and fauna of the Pacific Northwest, yet our understanding of its biodiversity, especially in disturbed areas, is incomplete. Join iDigBio (Integrated Digitized Biocollections) as we seek to fill this knowledge gap. To do this, we'll be collecting voucher specimens and their data along with observational records and getting your input, as ecologists, on what information is critical to capture to make this data fruitful for your research.

Starry false Solomon's seal, a native Pacific Northwest plant

Dame's rocket, an introduced species to the Pacific Northwest

Native skipper from Oregon

Red admiral, a native pollinator in the Pacific Northwest

As we hike through Forest Park, we will discuss best practices for collecting plant and insect specimen data. We will make biodiversity observations along the locally famous “Wildwood Trail” and the “BPA road” in Forest Park, both popular trails likely to host many native and exotic species. After a morning of observing and documenting biodiversity, we will enjoy lunch outdoors overlooking the beautiful Willamette River. We will then travel to the Hoyt Arboretum Herbarium, where local staff will introduce us to specimen preparation, curation, and digitization—the creation of digital metadata and images of specimens—and how natural history collections and ecology can mutually benefit each other. There should be time to explore the Hoyt Arboretum as well.

View of Mt. Hood and Portland from park adjoining Hoyt Arboretum

This event is a field trip at the Ecological Society of America 2017 Annual Meeting in Portland, Oregon, USA. Register for this event when you register to attend the meeting. The deadline is July 20, 2017!

Transportation, lunch, and tours of the Hoyt Arboretum and Herbarium are included in the registration cost!

Schedule

Date: Saturday August 5th 8am - 430pm.
NOTE: All times other than beginning and ending times are approximate and will be adjusted according to weather and participant interest

8:00 Meet at Convention Center
8:15 Leave for BPA road trailhead. During the drive, field trip leaders further explain purpose of trip and how we will collect data/specimens in the field.
8:45 Arrive at BPA road trailhead (9235 Northwest Skyline Boulevard, Portland, OR 97231, 45.592577 N, 122.814995 W)
9:00 Begin hiking (first along part of Wildwood Trail, making a loop toward the BPA road). Locally experienced naturalists point out notable Pacific Northwest wildlife.
10:00 Botanist demonstrates how to collect plant specimens and data
10:15 Entomologist demonstrates how to collect insect specimens and data
10:30 Participants split into teams and begin documenting and collecting plant and insect species
12:00 Lunch at the top of the BPA road
1:00 Begin hiking back to BPA road trailhead (along shorter route)
1:30 Get on bus to Hoyt Arboretum
2:00 Arrive at Hoyt Arboretum
2:10 Hoyt taxonomist explains specimen preparation, curation, and digitization
2:45 Participants free to ask questions, try out techniques, explore the collection, or briefly tour Hoyt Arboretum
4:00 Participants get on bus to return to convention center
4:30 Participants return to convention center