2009 BioBlitz Summary Report
Introduction
The 2009 Chelsea BioBlitz was held on June 6 – 7, 2009. Forty-four scientists surveyed four parcels of land in the Municipality of Chelsea, Quebec (Figure 1). A total of 1080 records for 640 species were collected during the 24 hours of the BioBlitz. This represents a phenomenal amount of effort on the part of the taxonomic experts, and it illustrates the richness of biodiversity in Chelsea. Nature Chelsea is very pleased with the results of the BioBlitz, which will help us to better understand the importance of protecting examples of rich habitats in the Municipality of Chelsea. Species occurrence records from the BioBlitz will be used in the Nature Chelsea conservation lands model to identify lands of high biodiversity richness.
Figure 1. Areas surveyed during the 2009 BioBlitz in Chelsea, Quebec.
Partnership
The 2009 BioBlitz was held in partnership with the ACRE, the Municipality of Chelsea, the National Capital Commission (Gatineau Park), and Friends of Gatineau Park. ACRE provided volunteers for planning and executing the BioBlitz, the Municipality provided logistical support, and the National Capital Commission provided expertise in event planning and media relations, as well as a venue for the BioBlitz headquarters, and logistical support. The BioBlitz would not have been a success without our partners, and we extend our gratitude to all of the individuals who offered their time and expertise to us.
Results
Forty-four experts in various taxonomic groups participated in the BioBlitz (Table 1). A total of 1080 records of 640 species were recorded, including 85 species of birds, 9 species of herptiles (reptiles and amphibians), 13 species of mammals, 198 species of insects, 79 species of lichen, and 256 species of plants (Figure 2). Five species of lichen not previously recorded in Gatineau Park were found during the BioBlitz. The weather conditions during the 2009 BioBlitz were excellent.
Figure 2. Number of species surveyed by taxa group in the 2009 Chelsea BioBlitz, june 6-7, 2009.
Acknowledgements
We are grateful to the following volunteers and partners who contributed to the success of the 2009 Chelsea BioBlitz:
Nature Chelsea Steering Committee
- Stephen Woodley – BioBlitz co-lead
- Christie Spence
- Alison Woodley
- Rachel Deslaurier
- Ewen Eberhardt
- Scott Findlay
National Capital Commission
- Michel Viens - Biology
- Sandra Cook – Biology
- Isabeklle Beaudoin-Roy - Biology
- Martine Lavergne – Event Planning
- André Robert (Demsis) – Event Logistics
- Marilyne Guèvremont – Media relations
Municipality of Chelsea
- Rachel Deslaurier
- Isabelle Pitre
- Marie-Eve Charlbois
- Jean Perras
- Jonathan Régnière
- Luce Gilbert
BioBlitz Headquarters and Public Event Volunteers
- Alison Woodley – coordinator
- Stephen Woodley
- Christie Spence
- Noha Fuad
- Louise Ganz
- Bryan Grimwold
- Natalie Andrews
- Jessica Hervé
- Sarah Cebulsk
- Kanak Bala
- Jennifer Reuger
- Alexander MacDonald
- Peter Tsen
- Danielle Pronovost
- Frederique St. Laurent
- Sylvie Guerin
- Robert Chaffers
- John Hennessy
- Andrew Henry
- Suzanee Gilbeault
- Marc Alain
- Catherine Dumouchel
- Jean-Francois Dubois
- Erin Woodley
- Amanda Woodley
Mapping
- John Middlemiss
Logo Creation, Graphic Design and French Translation
- Melina Patry
Photography
- Suzanne Gibeault
- Geof Burbidge
Table 1. Taxonomic experts participating in the 2009 Chelsea BioBlitz
| Name | Expertise | Affiliation |
|---|---|---|
| Robert Alvo | Herptiles | Independent |
| Alain Baril | Birds | CWS |
| Vincent Barrette | Plants | MRC des Collines |
| Frederic Beaulieu | Insects | AAFC |
| Dan Bert | Insects | GLEL Carleton U |
| Julie Bourque | Birds | CWS |
| Fenja Brodo | Insects | CMN |
| Irwin Brodo | Lichen | CMN |
| Geoff Burbidge | Birds | Independent |
| Emma Burbidge | Birds | Independent |
| Carolyn Callaghan | Mammals | NatureChelsea |
| Bruce Cawdron | Plants | Independent |
| Hume Douglas | Insects | AAFC |
| Ronnie Drever | Plants | The Nature Conservancy |
| Colin Freebury | Lichen | Independent |
| Francois Genier | Insects | Association des entomologistes amateurs du Québec |
| Jean-Francois Gobeil | Birds | CWS |
| Briar Howes | Herptiles | Parks Canada |
| Raymond Hutchinson | Insects | Independent |
| Cheryl Johnson | Mammals | EC |
| Elena Kreuzberg | Birds | GLEL |
| Alex Kreuzberg | Insects | SSC/IUCN |
| Diane Lepage | Insects | Independent |
| Helene Levesque | Birds | CWS |
| Marilyn Light | Plants-Orchids | Orchid Specialist Group/North America (OSG/SSC/IUCN). |
| Michael Macconaill | Plants-Orchids | Independent |
| Ashley Mclaren | Mammals | GLEL Carleton U |
| Donald McLennan | Plants | Parks Canada |
| Benoit Ménard | Insects | Independent |
| Marie-Pierre Mignault | Insects | Independent |
| Keith Munro | Mammals | GLEL Carleton U |
| Simon Nadeau | Mammals | Fisheries and Oceans |
| Richard Pither | Mammals | Parks Canada |
| Sergei Ponamarenko | Plants | Parks Canada |
| Simon Rainville | Insects | AAFC_CFIA, Association des entomologistes amateurs du Québec |
| Trina Rytwinski | Mammals | GLEL Carleton U |
| Carl Savignac | Birds | Dendroica |
| Chris Schmidt | Insects | AAFC |
| Tamaini Snaith | Herptiles | Parks Canada |
| Adam Smith | Birds | GLEL Carleton U |
| Patricia Summers | Birds | GLEL |
| Valerie Torontow | Plants | Carleton U |
| Kara Vlasman | Herptiles | Parks Canada |
| Stephen Woodley | Mammals | Parks Canada |