Calling All Citizen Scientists (Southern Tasmania)

UTAS CARES seeks to develop sustainable collaborative arrangements between UTAS (staff and students) and a broad range of grassroots ecological community volunteer groups (CARE groups) in Southern Tasmania.

We are looking for CARE groups interested in engaging in the following activities in 2016. If you are interested in any of the below, please contact e.shannon@utas.edu.au

REDMAP: working with Assoc Professor Gretta Pecl (Principal Research Fellow, Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies)

WHAT IS IT: Climate driven changes in the distribution of marine species are being reported from around the globe. Redmap (Range Extension Database and Mapping project, www.redmap.org.au ) is an online database and mapping resource allowing members of the public to submit observational data (including photographs) of marine species occurring outside their known distribution.

WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO: Gretta would provide an overview of the initiative to your group which would commit to report data ‘opportunistically’: that is, when such events/sightings occurred.

BirdLife Tasmania: working with Dr Eric Woehler (Adjunct Researcher, IMAS, Faculty of Science, Engineering & Technology)

WHAT IS IT: There are more than 30 species of Tasmanian birds recognised as threatened by either State or Federal legislation. BirdLife Tasmania (http://www.birdlife.org.au/locations/birdlife-tasmania) works with communities to survey birds and their habitats throughout the state, and supports communities undertaking coastal weeding or marine debris removal. BirdLife Tasmania also supports engagement with dog owners in coastal communities to promote responsible dog ownership. The survey data gathered are shared with Councils, PWS etc to inform management strategies and plans.

WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO: Eric would provide an information/training session to your group, with a focus on potential contributions to surveys and/or your group’s interests.

SALTMARSH Monitoring: working with Vishnu Prahalad (Associate Lecturer, School of Land and Food)

WHAT IS IT: In 2013, coastal saltmarsh was recognised as a nationally-threatened vegetation community under the federal Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (1999). Saltmarsh mapping has occurred in Southern Tasmania (http://8726-presscdn-0-66.pagely.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Mapping-Coastal-Saltmarshes-in-Southern-Tasmania.pdf ) but monitoring is ongoing.

WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO: Vishnu would provide a training session on identification and monitoring to your group which would commit to a minimum of two follow-up sessions each summer.