Bio Blitz finds new species in DuPage
More than 800 plant, animal, lichen and fungi species - including some new to DuPage - were identified by scientists and citizen scientists in a 24-hour period during the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County's first Bio Blitz.
During the event, which was part of the agency's yearlong centennial celebration, district ecologists, 86 local and regional scientists and 52 citizen scientists, including college students and volunteers, scoured four forest preserves to find and identify as many species as possible Friday and Saturday, June 26 and 27.
The event culminated in the Centennial Nature Fest, which attracted nearly 2,000 visitors June 27 to St. James Farm Forest Preserve in Warrenville. The district and 20 outside organizations offered more than 40 nature-related activities and a chance to meet live native wildlife and interact with Bio Blitz scientists as they brought in their findings, which included:
• Two newly recognized moss species (Bryum argentium mutucum and Ptychostomum bimum) with an unknown North American distribution that are probably new to Illinois.
• Two species of lichens (Arthothelium hallii and A. taediosum) that have not been recorded in northeastern Illinois in more than 120 years.
• Several species of beetle and fungi that were not previously known to be in DuPage forest preserves.
"I have been to many bio blitzes, but this Bio Blitz was the one all others will be measured against," said Bill Murphy, a research collaborator with expertise in entomology.
"We are thrilled by the discoveries these scientists made in our forest preserves during our first-ever Bio Blitz," said Joe Cantore, president of the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County. "Combined with our Centennial Nature Fest, the events connected people to the county's plants and animals in a very hands-on way."
Forest Preserve District Commissioner Marsha Murphy, District 1, agreed.
"How wonderful that so many people joined us in exploring the rich biodiversity of DuPage County at this once-in-a-lifetime event," she said.
The Bio Blitz and Centennial Nature Fest are two of many events and programs celebrating the Forest Preserve District's centennial in 2015. For a complete listing, visit dupageforest.org/100years.