Keats Island Biodiversity reaches 5000 observations!

The Biodiversity of Keats Island project just reached a major milestone: 5000 observations! Number 5000 was a Douglas Maple (Acer glabrum var. douglasii) growing on the edge of a cliff overlooking the ocean, a new species for the project.

Thanks so much to everyone who has contributed observations or helped with identifications. The first 5000 observations have made some broad patterns clear, such as the concentration of unique flora on the bluffs on the southwest coast of the island, with species that are more characteristic of the gulf islands than the nearby mainland. The observations help document the distribution of threatened species, such as the Red-legged Frog and Rosy Aemilia moth, as well as the distribution of invasive species such as knotweed and ivy. At 745 species, we are starting to reach saturation of easily-observed species, but there is still a wealth of biodiversity left to be documented in harder-to-identify taxa such as arthropods and fungi. Looking forward to the next 5000 observationds!

Posted on July 8, 2023 05:39 PM by elsemikkelsen