New Species?
Organizers of Bioblitz are not certain how many different living species will be cataloged during the event, but they are braced for surprise.
The discovery of a new centipede species previously unknown to science was announced in July 2002 by the Center for Biodiversity and Conservation. It was the first new species discovered in the park in over 100 years.
"People were intrigued that there could be discoveries like this made right in the center of the park," said Johnson. "So we all decided, 'Let's go in and do a Bioblitz and see what else we can find.'"
Event organizers say they would not be surprised if other new species to science were found or, at the very least, species that were not previously known to reside in the park.
"We're not saying we're going to discover the missing link, but there will be some surprises," said Stolzer. "Even if there aren't surprises, then let's at least have an idea of what's there."
What's There?
Individual surveys of trees, plants, birds, fish in the park's ponds, and even the insects in leaf litter have been conducted over the 150-year history of the park, but never before a tally of all species.
"One of the challenges is how to survey the smaller invertebrates that are harder to see and hard to identify," said Johnson. "We need taxonomic experts to tell these things apart."
To help do this, the event organizers have recruited naturalists and scientists with expertise in various animal and plant groups to lead teams of volunteers through the park and identify what is there.
Volunteers include a group of birders from the Wildlife Conservation Society—which managers New York's zoos and aquariums including the Bronx Zoo and the Central Park Zoo—who will survey The Reservoir region of the park with global positioning system (GPS) receivers and a map specialist from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
"This is a way for us to get involved in an event that we think will be historic," said John Delaney, a spokesperson with the Wildlife Conservation Society.
Among the specialists recruited for the event is National Geographic Society Explorer-in-Residence Sylvia Earle, who will help cataloge the species that thrive in the park's 150 acres (60 hectares) of ponds.
The organizers say that the 24-hour time limit and season constrain the range of species, particularly migratory birds, that will be found.
"The average person going to explore the park may or may not know the term biodiversity or its official definition, but they value biodiversity because they value the park for what it brings to them: a place of shade and greenness where they can be out and enjoy nature," said Johnson.
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