Today@Sam Article

Annual BioBlitz Aims To Preserve Local Wildlife

April 8, 2019
SHSU Media Contact: Wes Hamilton

The Department of Biological Sciences at Sam Houston State University will host its second BioBlitz community event on April 13 from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the Center for Biological Field Studies. This free event is open to the public and will feature unique outdoor activities for all ages.

A BioBlitz is a gathering of expert biologists who identify as many organisms as possible during a short period of time. The focus of the SHSU BioBlitz is to document and preserve wildlife, in addition to exploring and collecting a variety of biological life found in the region’s ecosystem within the East Texas piney woods of Huntsville. 

“I am really excited to welcome guests from the community and show them the biodiversity we have at the field station and to teach and inspire up-and-coming generations of scientists,” said Sibyl Bucheli, associate professor of Entomology at SHSU.  “I have a pretty good idea of what we will find and I am looking forward to all of the discoveries we uncover.”

The event is sponsored by the College of Science and Engineering and the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs and takes place at SHSU’s Center for Biological Field Studies, located at 1866 Fish Hatchery Road in Huntsville, Texas.

The day will include guided tours from SHSU’s own biology experts and tent activities where the public can enjoy interacting with organisms while learning and discussing how to protect the ecosystem.

Activities also include live specimen collection and preservation, build-a-birds nest, BioBlitz hoopla, worm wrangling, sweep-netting and more.

“Part of our mission is to reach out to the community and connect people with nature,” said Alan Byboth, Center for Biological Field Studies station manager. “This event fits right in with our goals and we hope it continues to grow.”

Guests are advised to wear field appropriate clothes (light-weight long pants, long sleeve shirts) and closed-toed shoes as well as applying sun screen and wearing a hat.

For more information, contact Sibyl Bucheli at srb009@shsu.edu or Diane Neudorf at bio_dln@shsu.edu. 

*Weather update*

This Saturday severe weather is in the forecast. Unfortunately we do not have the infastructure at the biology field station to accommodate guests if the weather turns bad. Therefore, if storms are in the forecast, the public portion of the event will be cancelled. Sorry for any inconvenience.

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