January EcoQuest: Make the Grade

iNaturalist has unwrapped the Year in Review, showcasing highlights and scientific triumphs from the year. Let’s take a moment to celebrate our local community!

For the Denver-Boulder Metro EcoFlora project, in 2023 we contributed over 80,000 total observations—10,000 more observations than last year! We spotted 1250 plant species and 255 fungi and lichen species, for 1505 total species observed in the area. Kudos to the 5,500+ observers and nearly 1500 identifiers who made this possible! Shout out to the Research & Conservation department at Denver Botanic Gardens who contributed over 500 observations in 2023.

Despite this achievement, over 52,000 observations are eagerly awaiting their research-grade gold star! In fact, of the 323,560 observations included in the Denver EcoFlora project, 51% have not made research grade status. This month let’s work together to practice our identification skills by reviewing these observations so they can make the grade!

To achieve research grade, two or more reviewers must agree on the same species name. Once they’ve made the grade, these observations are uploaded to the Global Biodiversity Information Facility database of over 1 billion biodiversity records. Your observations can then be used by researchers worldwide to answer questions such as: the past and potential spread of invasive species, the influence of climate change on biodiversity, the role of rare species in protecting critical ecosystem functions, and the identification of priority areas for plant conservation.

You can also use this opportunity to hone your plant identification skills. Pick a few species – maybe your favorite wildflowers, or a group that’s piqued your curiosity. Learn the characteristics of these, and then apply this knowledge to the Denver EcoFlora observations. From the project page on iNaturalist , simply click on “Observations” and then “Identify.” You can narrow this list down by entering a specific species in the search box. We can’t wait to see how many observations make the grade!

Comment below the number species you observed or how many iNaturalist observations you contributed in 2023. Which species won your heart this year? Any thrilling discoveries you’re hoping for in 2024?

Here are some Denver EcoFlora specimens observed in 2023

Greater Sea-Spurry (Spergularia media) | @erniem