Bioblitz T&T

The yellow oriole (Icterus nigrogularis) is a common bird species in T&T gardens — and maybe one for your Bioblitz checklist

Trinidad and Tobago’s rich biodiversity is a nature-lover’s dream, and the annual Bioblitz — running this year from 21 to 22 November — is a chance for naturalists both professional and amateur to learn more. UK-born Amy Deacon, a zoologist at the University of the West Indies, explains how we can develop a new appreciation for the biodiversity in our very own backyards

The ninth annual T&T Bioblitz will be a backyard edition. What types of species are likely to be seen?

Representatives of almost all the taxa we usually find at a regular Bioblitz are in backyards. The main exception might be marine species, unless any of our bioblitzers live on a boat! Hopefully some of our participants will have ponds, ditches, or even streams running through their gardens. Mammals will also be a challenge, as we usually detect these using camera traps and bat nets.

Everyone has birds in their backyard. Look up and spot more unusual birds, such as hawks, flying overhead. Most people will also have their resident geckos. Iguanas and crapauds [cane toads] are common garden reptiles and amphibians, but keep a look out for other frogs, lizards, and snakes. We expect most of our species to come from plants and insects, and both are abundant in gardens. Paying more attention to the small creatures is also how to have the best chance of making new or unusual discoveries.

How can families participate?

This year, all you need is a phone with a camera and the internet to upload to iNaturalist — a free app and website that can identify species from photos. Once you upload your photo, the app gives you a “best guess” as to the species shown. Then, experts from around the world confirm or correct the suggestion. For Bioblitz weekend, we will have both local and international experts on standby to help identify all uploaded photos as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Which past Bioblitz location had the most recorded species?

Charlotteville in Tobago, in 2015, had the highest species total of all Bioblitzes — 1,044 species! This was helped by the fact that the five-kilometre radius for this location included coral reefs and other marine habitats that were well-surveyed by teams of scuba divers and snorkellers, in addition to the usual forest, urban, and coastal habitats.

Have you discovered any new species over the years?

In Charlotteville, the herpetology team discovered a lizard that had never been recorded in T&T. It is known as a twig anole, Anolis tigrinus, and was previously known only from the South American mainland.

How many species do you personally intend to observe for Bioblitz 2020?

I am setting a personal target of one hundred species. Some people might think that sounds ambitious, but I think we tend to hugely underestimate the number of species around us, even in our backyards. I know several of my neighbours will be participating, so there is likely to be some friendly competition, too!

What is a Bioblitz?

First held in the United States in 1996, and now organised in countries around the world, a Bioblitz is a biological survey done over a twenty-four-hour period, intended to record all the living species in a designated locale. Since 2012, T&T has hosted annual Bioblitzes, each in a different part of the country, involving university faculty and students, members of the T&T Field Naturalists’ Club, and nature-lovers of all ages. Anyone can join in — no special qualifications required. For T&T Bioblitz 2020, given the ongoing COVID-19 restrictions, participants are invited to do species surveys in their own gardens and backyards, with the help of a special species identification app.