Events Recap

BioBlitz at Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge

My oh My oh, what a Bioblitz!

Beginning at 5 p.m. on Friday, June 10, MMS joined other scientists and volunteers in “a race against time” to count as many species of plants, animals, and---of course---fungi as possible in a 24-hour period. The second annual Minnesota Bioblitz was held this year at the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge, also co-sponsored by the Bell Museum of Natural History, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Nongame Wildlife Program, and Friends of Minnesota Valley.

Along with professional and amateur botanists, naturalists, herpetologists, ornithologists, entomologists, and, this year, arachnidologists, our determined band of mycologists strove to exceed last year’s record. This was handily achieved. As always, plants (329) and insects led the pack, but the “mushroom people,” as some referred to us, supplied the third largest number of species, surprising visitors unaware of the large variety of mushrooms that Minnesota has to offer.

MMS President. Ron Spinosa and others examine the fungal find

A rainy spring, more MMS participation, and an increased number of mushroom walks netted (basketed?) a total of 106 different species of fungi, compared with 66 found at Ramsey County’s Tamarack Nature Center in White Bear Township at last year’s Bioblitz. These numbers were only made possible by the collecting and accurate identification provided by Dr. Dave McLaughlin, MMS scientific advisor, Anna Gerenday, Maj Padamsee, and Bryn Dentinger.

Visitors and other participants in the Bioblitz enjoyed the club’s striking display, staged by Maxine Bethke. Ron Spinosa, Lee Moellerman, Glenn Creuziger, and Adele Mehta staffed the display, led local forays, and helped with identification. The species identification area brought back memories to long-time club members, since many years ago it had served as the MMS meeting room. As Lee, Glen, and Maxine exhibited the prize they had bagged, the rest of our group breathed an amazed “Ooooh!” Others gathered around to admire an example of the beauty and uniqueness that excite us mushroom enthusiasts---this time, in the form of a delicately veined, vibrant red Rhodotus palmatus.

The totals as of June 30th 2005:

Mammals - 15
Birds - 92
Fish - 7
Reptiles - 5
Amphibians - 7
Mollusks - 9
Misc. Invertebrates - 6
Spiders - 25+
Fungi - 102 (identities still pending)
Plants - 329
Insects - 324 (121 beetles) (identities still pending)
Total - 921

BioBlitz Highlights

Birds – Possible I.D. of Henslow’s Sparrow (endangered species) from its song. This will need a second confirmation. Prothonotary Warblers. 92 of 120 known species were seen.

Reptiles and Amphibians - Northern Water Snake, although common along the southern Minnesota and Mississippi Rivers in Minnesota this large snake is not well known to the general public. Possible bullfrog.

Insects – An unusual carabid beetle that specializes in eating snails. The beetle has long
jaws that it can insert into a snails shell.

Plants –. 329 plant species in 24 hours! This included a new species of special concern for the refuge, Orobanche fasciculata, and 244 species not known from herbarium records. Including herbarium records, this brings the total number of plant species known from the Refuge to 420 species! The Orobanche species we found is a rare, parasitic flowering plant listed as a species of special concern. And it was first discovered in the Refuge during the Bioblitz!

Fungi - There may be 4 or 5 new state records but these are yet to be confirmed. Hennepin Co. is one of the better documented counties for fungi with 377 spp. so it is surprising that we have this many new county records.

Fungi - Summary Statistics
Total no. species = 102
Total no. collections = 119 (58 from Hennepin Co., 61 from Scott Co.)
Total no. new county records = 80 (29 from Hennepin Co., 51 from Scott Co.)

Submitted by Adele Mehta

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