Scientists, amateur naturalists, and other volunteers are invited to participate in the Second BioBlitz of Sandy Hook, to take place in Sandy Hook, N.J., 3 p.m. Friday, Sept. 18, through 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19. Part contest, festival, educational event and scientific endeavor, the BioBlitz engages teams of “citizen scientists” in identifying as many different species as possible within a 24-hour period.
The “bioblitz” concept was developed by renowned entomologist and biodiversity pioneer Edward O. Wilson. This year′s event follows the inaugural Sandy Hook BioBlitz in 2011 and is modeled on previous BioBlitz events in Jamaica Bay. It is now structured into four four-hour shifts, pausing at 11 p.m. Friday night and picking up again at 7 a.m. the next morning.
The resulting data, collected at regular intervals, provide a critical snapshot of impacts on biodiversity from climate change, sea-level rise and other human stresses on the unique ecosystem that comprises the popular coastal area, a landform extension of a barrier peninsula along the coast of New Jersey.
Sandy Hook is managed by the U.S. National Park Service as the Sandy Hook Unit of Gateway National Recreation Area. The BioBlitz is sponsored by the American Littoral Society, in partnership with the park service.
The Center for International Earth Science Information Network created the event website and is assisting with registration.
