Citizen Science in action as UL hosts intervarsity biodiversity ‘blitz’

University of Limerick students became 'Citizen Scientists' for a day by participating in a BioBlitz to establish the level of biodiversity on campus.

An event that records all the biodiversity in a given area over a short period of time, the BioBlitz was organised by UL's student-led Environmental Society, with support from UL's Environmental Committee, UL, Limerick's Irish Wildlife Trust members and the Ballyhoura Development Company.

As well as students from UL, students from Trinity College Dublin and the Technological University of Dublin participated in the Blitz.

During the event the students were asked to document what they saw using a digital mapping app on their phone, creating a geolocation and allowing for better identification of species of plants, insects and wildlife.

Seven experienced ecologists came on campus to support the students in recording and identifying what they saw during the day.

The day featured several events, including a bird walk along the Shannon Riverbank public with Limerick-based ornithologists Tom Tarpey and Maura Turner.

Later in the day, Yvonne Ryan, Associate Professor in Environmental Science in the Department of Chemical Sciences and UL Environmental Committee member led a nature walk along the riverbank pointing out various species, environmental management of the Shannon, and highlighting the impact of invasive alien species on native biodiversity.

Speaking ahead of the Blitz she said: "Rachel Beck and Frank Fitzgerald of UL's Environmental Society initiated this year's BioBlitz, with the unique idea of connecting with other campuses and facilitating a visit to UL, recorder education, and a fun event to strengthen the links between campus environmental societies across Ireland.

"UL Environmental Committee staff led UL's entry into the National Intervarsity BioBlitz in 2015 and were delighted to help the students to reignite BioBlitz on campus. The Buildings and Estates team plays a major role in facilitating and supporting BioBlitz and are eagerly awaiting the results.

"BioBlitz is important as an engagement and monitoring tool; it helps the campus community engage in biodiversity protection through identification and mapping.

"Green space is important for wellbeing, more biodiverse green spaces deliver greater benefits for wellbeing. Therefore, the quality of the green space matters a great deal and a key measure of this is biodiversity," Associate Professor Ryan added.

The assessment conducted during the BioBlitz will aid UL's Building and Estates team in evaluating the impact of pollinator patches established across the campus as part of the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan.

Elizabeth Gabbett, Geography Teaching Assistant and Laboratory Manager for UL's Geography division, who helped to coordinate the event said: "This event is a perfect example of citizen science in action. Citizen science is a data collection by members of the public to help answer research questions. By enabling people to be recorders, use technology and by providing support from experienced ecologists, you are giving people confidence that what they are recording is accurate. It's a fun way of getting people to understand about habitats and wildlife and practising species identification."

The event promoted the UN's Sustainable Development Goal 15 which is to protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation and help biodiversity loss.

UL is committed to implementing all 17 goals across the University and is already ranked within the top 100 institutions worldwide for its work in this area.