BioBlitz 2015

Schlitz Audubon Nature Center

August 21-22, 2015

Property Description

Schlitz Audubon Nature Center is 185 acres of woodlands, prairies, various types of wetlands, and lake beach natural communities. Surface waters include ponds, Mystery Lake, and Lake Michigan. The diversity of ecosystems creates many ecotones that can attract a number of organisms.

Interesting Discoveries

  • Blue-stemmed Goldenrod (Solidago caesia) -- this is a state endangered plant.
  • Asian Jumping Worms (Amynthus agrestis) -- these invasive worms can reduce the leaf litter to nothing.
  • Northern Long-eared Bat (Myotis septentrionalis) -- a federally threatened species of bat.
  • Blanding’s Turtle (Emydoidea blandingii) -- state species of special concern.
  • Pirate Spiders (Mimitidae) –- they kill and feed on other spiders, a spider-eat-spider world.
  • Cicada-killer Wasp -- large, ground-dwelling wasps that paralyze cicadas and provision their nest with them.
  • Native Ladybugs -- we found more species of native ladybugs than invasive; this is an uncommon occurrence.
  • Lots and lots of slugs!

General Results

Count Taxon Change from Reported
853 species found (820 reported on-site)
7 Fish  
9 Amphibians and Reptiles  
17 Mammals  
31 Non-insect, non-spider invertebrates  
41 Spiders  
73 Birds (+1)
273 Insects (-16)
402 Plants (+48)

Click the button below to download a spreadsheet of the full results from this BioBlitz:

2015 BioBlitz Results

 

Participants

Number of Participants Taxon
3 Fishes
3 Mammals
6 Plants
10 Birds
11 Amphibians and Reptiles
15 Invertebrates
9+ Educators & volunteers

 

48 surveyors from 10 universities and 5 organizations

Event Photos