Bioblitz

Join us for the first UVA Morven Sustainability Lab (MSL) Bioblitz, Saturday September 13, 2025.

A bioblitz is an intensive, time-limited biological survey that brings together scientists, students, and community members to document all identifiable species within a defined area. Using the iNaturalist app, participants contribute geotagged plant, animal, bird and insect species observations. These photos, whose IDs are verified by scientists, will not only document the biodiversity at Morven Sustainability Lab (MSL) but also a larger biodiversity database used globally by researchers and land managers (eg. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/28/science/citizen-science-ecology-inaturalist.html?smid=nytcore-android-share). The event provides a snapshot of local ecological conditions and over time with repeat events, helps track changes in species presence, abundance, and distribution. It’s a valuable tool for monitoring biodiversity, especially in areas undergoing environmental restoration or management changes. In order to participate in this event, we ask that guests bring their own smart devices in order to download and utilize the iNaturalist app.

As the Morven Sustainability Lab enacts its first ten-year strategic action plan, many land use and management changes will take place that need to be documented. This bioblitz, organized by UVA Department of Environmental Sciences professors and graduate students, will be the first in a series aimed at creating a baseline inventory of what is living at the MSL, and where they were observed. Over time, we’ll be able to document what species, communities and assemblages return to the site as land use practices, such as soil regeneration, conservation mowing, test plots, rotational grazing and experimental forest plots, become more regenerative over time.

This event is open to the UVA Community. We will run two sessions, each led by a team of scientists from UVA. At the start of each session, participants will partake in an orientation session covering use of the iNaturalist app and basic safety instructions for the site. Due to app needs, Morven staff will advise participants to bring a smart device. Participants should dress appropriately for walking in tall grasses and woodland conditions—long pants, socks and good walking shoes.

This first event will concentrate on the area east of the Morven Kitchen Garden. This site, a former cow pasture, is a pastoral and woodland mosaic, characterized by numerous landscape features including rolling topography, a stream fed pond, a mixed hardwood and pine forest, with remnants of Piedmont plant communities. We recommend that guests wear clothes that are appropriate for being outside including sturdy shoes, long pants, and a long shirt.

Session Times:

9AM - 12PM: Session 1

9:00AM – 9:30AM: Orientation

1PM - 4PM: Session 2

1:00PM – 1:30PM: Orientation

MSL will provide a free, first come-first serve shuttle service at 8:30AM and 12:30PM.