Tracing creepy-crawlies in our midst

By SIMON COLLINS science reporter

More than 50 of New Zealand's leading scientists plan a night out in Auckland bush tonight to share their knowledge with the public.

They are inviting people to the Dingle Dell Reserve in Fern Glen Rd, St Heliers, and to a bush gully at Meadowbank Primary School, to count how many species of plants, animals, fish, bugs and other life forms they can find in a 24-hour "BioBlitz" from 3pm today.

Organiser Peter Buchanan, a mycologist (fungus specialist) at Landcare Research, predicts there will be hundreds of species in the two small areas.

"We want to show to the public just what the diversity of life is in the city," he said.

"We want to take science out of the lab and into the eyes of the public so they can see how it's done. The other aim is to tell people that the science we do is exciting and that we are really passionate about it."

Dr Buchanan has persuaded more than 50 other eminent scientists from Auckland War Memorial Museum, Auckland University, Unitec, Conservation Department and the Auckland Regional Council to help.

Landcare arachnologist (spider expert) Grace Hall, who provided 374 giant Avondale spiders for Steven Spielberg's movie Arachnophobia in 1990, will be on hand to identify spiders.

Entomologist (insect scientist) Ruud Kleinpaste, television's "bugman", will be there to check on insects.

"As well as entomologists and mycologists, our team includes ornithologists, ichthyologists, limnologists, herpetologists, lichenologists, bacteriologists, parasitologists and many other -ologists," Dr Buchanan said.

"Not all of them are going to be there all 24 hours, but a core of us will be. I'm getting no sleep.

"I have one- and three-year-old children and they have prepared me quite well."

Moths, geckoes, rats, mice and other nocturnal animals are expected to come out in the early hours of the morning.

An East Tamaki pest control company, Connovation, will set up black tunnels, using scents to lure small animals into them and then record their footprints as they run over ink pads and white paper.

All species will be recorded on computers at the BioBlitz base camp at Vellenoweth Green on Tamaki Drive, St Heliers Bay. Conservation Minister Chris Carter will announce how many species were found when the event ends at 3pm tomorrow.

Dr Buchanan said the exercise would help the managers of Auckland's parks to identify pests that should be monitored or controlled, and native species that need looking after.

"BioBlitz will help us understand how much urban parks are contributing to Auckland's biodiversity."

Ologists on hand

Arachnologists study spiders

Bacteriologists study bacteria

Bryologists study mosses

Entomologists study insects

Herpetologists study reptiles

Ichthyologists study fish

Lichenologists study lichens

Limnologists study lakes and freshwater

Malacologists study snails

Mycologists study fungus

Myxomycetologists study slime moulds

Ornithologists study birds

Parasitologists study parasites

Pteridologists study ferns

'BioBlitz'.... Finding Nature in the City