Diario del proyecto Biota of Marrowstone Island

sábado, 04 de septiembre de 2021

Western Redcedar Dieback Project

This interesting project could be one our Biota of Marrowstone Island membership might like to contribute. The link for the project is: https://foresthealth.org/ The iNat link is: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/western-redcedar-dieback-map It is being managed by @jmhulbert Joey manages quite a few projects. You can see those projects by going to his profile.

Western Redcedars seem so ubiquitous, there doesn't seem to be of much interest in posting observations of it. To date, the most observed species for the island is the Bald Eagle with 97 observations. For comparison, we have a total of 9 Western Redcedars observed. I think we have a few more cedars than eagles, so let us adjust our focus to that of being a value to citizen science instead of going for the glam critters. Let's help Joey out with his project. It is a "traditional project", so it might be best to join the project in order to facilitate adding your data.

Please note when submitting the field information about your observation, we see a normal shedding of cedar foliage this time of year. This is a normal and not a sign of disease. Go to the above links to learn what a diseased tree exhibits.

Thanks for reading,
Kurt

Publicado el sábado, 04 de septiembre de 2021 a las 06:25 PM por kurtsteinbach kurtsteinbach | 0 comentarios | Deja un comentario

lunes, 26 de abril de 2021

Good Advice

Another iNat member commented on blank ID's. I really liked how she gently urged people to identify an organism to the highest level they are confident. Here is her comment:

"Hi, welcome to iNaturalist! Even if you don't know the exact species, you can select a higher level identification such as “fungi”, ”plant", or "insect".
Many of the volunteers helping identify observations on iNaturalist filter the observations by the group of species they know how to ID (like plants or insects), so observations with a blank ID like this one will be excluded from those filtered searches. There are many more people posting unidentified observations than there are fellow users volunteering to help identify them. Putting in a general ID such as “Fungi”, “Plant”, or “Insect”, helps funnel your observation to someone who might know what they're looking at so that it can get identified more quickly. Here is a video tutorial for the mobile app: https://vimeo.com/162581545.
If you want to learn more about how identifications progress on iNaturalist, you can read more here: https://www.inaturalist.org/pages/getting+started#identify" - kathleendobson

Publicado el lunes, 26 de abril de 2021 a las 04:13 PM por kurtsteinbach kurtsteinbach | 0 comentarios | Deja un comentario

domingo, 25 de abril de 2021

Learning the Basics: Phone App

Introducing iNaturalist

Exploring the basic functions of the iNaturalist phone app and an invitation to use the web based iNaturalist.

A device almost everyone carries around with them these days can be a significant tool to scientists the world over. It can also be your personal comprehensive field guide with image recognition capabilities. By loading the iNaturalist app on your phones, you can both add to your own knowledge of the natural world, and contribute to valuable databases beneficial to scientific research.

How it works

Using the phone app is simple, and should be considered a field record you can later visit on the web based version of iNaturalist. The app offers three ways to submit an observation. You have the choice of immediately taking a photo by allowing iNaturalist to use your camera. Or you can submit a file you already have on your camera. This can be a photo file, or it can be an audio file. Once iNaturalist receives your photo, you will be prompted to provide further data. The location will be automatically included with the file you submit if you have allowed your phone/camera to geolocate. You may want to supply a brief description or anything you think notable and helpful. Just scroll down the page and fill in what you want. Then hit submit and you’re done.

iNaturalist has a social networking component you won’t be able to access through the app. You will have to go to the web version, but don’t hesitate using it for a deeper dive into your observation. Naturalists from all over the globe voluntarily share their knowledge and expertise by helping with identification. To reach out, you might look to see who are the leading identifiers, and tag one of them in a comment on your observation.

Tips for Making an Identifiable Observation:

• Trees: Get a close-up of the foliage, both top and bottom. Try to find a cone, flower or fruit to photograph. Get a close-up of the bark. Finally, get a photo of the whole tree to show its growth habit.
• Plants: A close-up of the leaves, stems, flower and fruit are all helpful. A shot to show habitat and growth habit is useful. Sometimes placing a sheet of paper or cloth behind the plant to isolate it will make for a cleaner, more identifiable image.
• Fungus, including lichens: Photograph the caps of mushrooms from above, and below to show gills or spore producing structure. A side view should show the ring and stipe. Removing the fruiting body (mushroom) doesn’t harm the fungus. Take the cap home, get a spore print, and submit a photo of it. Lichens fruiting bodies are also very helpful. Document the host species and habitat.
• Insects and arachnids: Here might be a test of your phone’s macro capability. Try to get a top, bottom, and side view. Most helpful is getting a photo of the mouth parts. Document the host species.
• Birds, reptiles, amphibians, mammals and fish: Get any shot you can. They don’t sit still for their portraits. Multiple photos are often useful for getting different aspects of the animal.
• Mollusks: If in salt water, document if intertidal (high, mid, low). If there is a shell, photograph all three axes. Snails are shy. Wait for them to emerge for a photo. Get photos of both sides of a bivalve’s hinge.

Publicado el domingo, 25 de abril de 2021 a las 11:26 PM por kurtsteinbach kurtsteinbach | 0 comentarios | Deja un comentario

miércoles, 07 de abril de 2021

Ian Swift sez

I had a beetle ID confirmed by Ian today. I so appreciate the contributions highly qualified people like Ian make to help make the data more accurate and reliable. I often will view the profiles of someone helping me with an ID. Ian's last profile paragraph was of particular significance for what I love most about iNatualist. This is why I am sharing it with my fellow project members.

Ian Swift @ianswift

Joined: Nov 30, 2017 Last Active: Apr 07, 2021 iNaturalist

I am a biologist specializing in the systematics and ecology of beetles, primarily the families Cerambycidae and Pleocomidae.

Soy biólogo especializado en sistemática y ecología de escarabajos, principalmente las familias Cerambycidae y Pleocomidae.

I would like to point out a few things to observers:

-As a taxonomist, I deal primarily with specimens; having a specimen in hand allows one to make a positive identification. A photo of a specimen is less ideal and more difficult to identify, but frequently an ID is possible. All my IDs are tentative since they're based on iNat photos; if you want a 100% ID, then a specimen is necessary.

-Given the tens of thousands of cerambycid pix on iNat (not to mention other sites), my ID strategy is basically triage. I go through them quickly in order to assist the iNat community and further contribute to biodiversity data banking. As a result, I have to spend my time on iNat wisely. If you make a comment on an ID asking "how are you distinguishing species X from species Y?", frequently (not always) you probably won't get a response. There simply isn't enough time to get through the thousands of observations and answer everyone's questions, my apologies up front. There are several helpful guides for 'bycid ID online and books via Amazon, etc. If you really have a question you'd like me to clear up, please message me. Also, I make mistakes in IDs all the time, so please also message me if you think I have.

-Lastly, iNat is becoming a powerful tool for scientists and many casual users don't realize this. As such, I take observations that are designated "Research Grade" very seriously (they are uploaded to many biodiversity data portals which scientists use for their research). Please observe carefully. Make sure the data behind the observation are as accurate as possible; this includes location, date, and any other data you indicate. More data are helpful: host plants, habitat type, etc. are all crucial to know about the species you observe.

Enjoy nature and happy observing

Publicado el miércoles, 07 de abril de 2021 a las 04:56 PM por kurtsteinbach kurtsteinbach | 0 comentarios | Deja un comentario

domingo, 26 de abril de 2020

New Projects

I created two new projects today. The first is a standard Collection Project for Indian Island. The second is called Craven Peninsula. It is an Umbrella Project that includes all the observations from both Indian and Marrowstone Island. See the new projects here: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/craven-peninsula

Publicado el domingo, 26 de abril de 2020 a las 08:13 PM por kurtsteinbach kurtsteinbach | 0 comentarios | Deja un comentario

sábado, 07 de marzo de 2020

Frog and Toad Songs

Since it is the season, I've begun recording frog songs. A search of iNaturalist didn't reveal any projects in this area, so I created one. https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/frog-and-toad-songs Your recordings would be very welcome. And of course if you'd like to join the project, you would also be very welcome.

Publicado el sábado, 07 de marzo de 2020 a las 10:56 PM por kurtsteinbach kurtsteinbach | 3 comentarios | Deja un comentario

domingo, 09 de febrero de 2020

Which Willow

For the last month or so, quite a number of trees have been busy. It's a veritable orgy of tree sex going on right now. I'm almost embarrassed to mention Hooker's willow (for obvious reasons). But they have been blooming, and are almost done for the year. I'm sure many have noticed the pussy willows, and perhaps collected them as table ornaments.

Not so flamboyant are two willows I've been trying to separately identify for years. Scoulers and Sitka willows are very difficult to tell apart unless one can count the stamen. Trouble is, I've never seen either in bloom!

So fellow naturalists, should you notice a tree you think might be either of these species, please document the flower structure. Or better yet, alert me to its location.

Thank you,
Kurt

Publicado el domingo, 09 de febrero de 2020 a las 12:46 AM por kurtsteinbach kurtsteinbach | 3 comentarios | Deja un comentario

jueves, 19 de diciembre de 2019

Remembering John Comstock

John died in October. He should be recognized for his lifelong curiosity for the natural world. Brilliant in his professional life as a biomedical engineer and researcher, his work on avian genetics advanced the science in that field prior to DNA sequencing. He loved nothing more than immersing himself in nature, both intellectually and physically. From rock climbing, to long distance bicycling, to building and paddling kayaks, John's energy was seemingly boundless. We who loved him miss him terribly.

John introduced our Marrowstone community to iNaturalist, which was recommended to him when he looked to Cornell Labs for advice on doing a systematic biota list for our island. He is the founder of this project. I have taken over his position as the administrator. I do so with significant sense of responsibility to do right by John's ambitions for the project. Thanks to all contributors past and future. Should anyone wish to assist in the management of the project, please let me know. Keeping this project alive and vital will be a fitting way to honor John Comstock's legacy.

Kurt Steinbach

Publicado el jueves, 19 de diciembre de 2019 a las 05:45 PM por kurtsteinbach kurtsteinbach | 2 comentarios | Deja un comentario

martes, 19 de noviembre de 2019

Save those little cadavers

My cat brings in a variety of small rodents from the woods. In a recent chat with a taxidermist who does work for the Burke Museum and others, he told me the Burke may be interested in any dead animal for study, even in poor condition. They had a hard time getting crows and mallards, people think they are too common to save!

Marrowstone is an untapped resource. If you find something, photograph and measure it, wrap in paper then plastic and put it in your freezer. Post on iNat to document size, date, place and time. Contact the Burke:

https://www.burkemuseum.org/contact-us and ask if they are interested in the specimen, or submit an ID form.

Of course if it's a marine mammal, dead or alive, you should also contact the Marine Mammal Stranding Network via PTMSC.

https://ptmsc.org/programs/investigate/citizen-science/marine-mammal-stranding-network-and-necropsy-program

Giselle9 on iNat

Publicado el martes, 19 de noviembre de 2019 a las 04:34 AM por kurtsteinbach kurtsteinbach | 0 comentarios | Deja un comentario

jueves, 04 de julio de 2019

Insects

It is the buggy time of year. I'm having a ball documenting as many insects as I can manage. Every day seems to offer a new species or three.

Where to find insects: Look for insect damage on leaves, and trace down the culprit. Bury plastic drink cups up to their rim to catch ground beetles and other. I just got a black light to attract moths overnight. Last night was the first deployment, and I got three new species of moth to document. Anywhere there's water will be rich with insect life, both above the water, on and under. Turn over rocks and logs too.

How to document: Cell phones are amazing. If you have a means of adjusting the zoom, try different settings. I sometimes am able to get shots that rival my DSLR macro setup. For dragonflies and other more skittish subjects, there is nothing I've found to replace what a good long lens will achieve.

Don't forget to indicate scale. I often will use a grid background and mention the scale in the description. If you bring your subjects indoors for a controlled photo, some insects will slow down nicely by a visit to the refrigerator. Spiders are the exception. They tend to curl up and not present well from cooling. I try mostly to shoot spiders in situ.

Any tips that you find work well, please share them with the rest of us.

Kurt Steinbach

Publicado el jueves, 04 de julio de 2019 a las 06:58 PM por kurtsteinbach kurtsteinbach | 0 comentarios | Deja un comentario