Environment Matters Autumn/Winter 2023

LLRI Bioblitz bryophyte search

Big finds in the Bioblitz For the first time one of our city’s most important biodiversity areas was part of an international snapshot of species.

The Little Liverpool Range borders Ipswich, Lockyer Valley, Somerset and Scenic Rim local government areas. Landholders, councils, research and conservation organisations and others are working collaboratively to coordinate environmental efforts at a regional scale. Using the iNaturalist app, members have been recording the variety of native species found on the range. Many species are of local, state and national significance. Those efforts had a massive boost during a two-day event as part of the international Great Southern Bioblitz, which includes countries across the southern hemisphere.

Members were joined by flora and fauna experts as they hiked through different ecosystems on two properties and camped overnight. There were 473 observations of 251 species recorded on iNaturalist, plus another 78 bird species recorded separately. Following the event, Queensland Herbarium confirmed that a species of liverwort found during the Bioblitz was the most northern record ever found of the species. This shows the importance of private landholders engaging in conservation activities. Surveys and species identification events such as this are valuable data gathering tools.

Crimson footed semi-slug

LLRI Bioblitz plant species ID walk

Stony creek frog

Rostellularia adscendens

Hornwort

Tongue orchid

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