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.