Name: MSL Bioblitz - Ephemeral Escapade
Start: 2026-03-22T13:30:00-04:00
End: 2026-03-22T16:30:00-04:00
Location: 600 Morven Dr

The Morven Sustainability Lab invites you to assist in cataloging the ephemeral species within Morven's forests.
About this Event

Join UVA's Morven Sustainability Lab (MSL) for a spring bioblitz on Sunday, March 22, 2026 from 1:30PM - 4:30PM.

A bioblitz is an intensive, time-limited biological survey that brings together scientists, students, and community members to document all identifiable species within a defined area. Using the iNaturalist app, participants contribute geotagged plant, animal, bird and insect species observations. These photos, whose IDs are verified by scientists, will not only document the biodiversity at Morven Sustainability Lab (MSL) but also a larger biodiversity database used globally by researchers and land managers (eg. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/28/science/citizen-science-ecology-inaturalist.html?smid=nytcore-android-share). The event provides a snapshot of local ecological conditions and over time with repeat events, helps track changes in species presence, abundance, and distribution. It’s a valuable tool for monitoring biodiversity, especially in areas undergoing environmental restoration or management changes. In order to participate in this event, we ask that guests bring their own smart devices to download and utilize the iNaturalist app.

At the start of the Bioblitz, representatives from MSL and the Department of Environmental Sciences will lead an orientation session covering the usage of the iNaturalist app along with providing basic safety instructions for the site. Due to app needs, Morven staff will advise participants to bring a smart device. Participants are expected to dress appropriately for walking in woodlands, tall grasses, and potentially wet soil. We recommend that guests wear clothes that are appropriate for being outside including sturdy walking shoes, socks, long pants, and a long shirt.

Spring ephemerals are fleeting flowers! These plants, aptly named, appear in the springtime and are typically some of the first plants to bloom. Though early flowering, these species typically only flower for one to two weeks and then go dormant for the rest of the year. Due to their early flowering, they are essential for early pollinator health. Ephemerals are also typically pollinated and seed-dispersed by specialist insects, like different ants, flies, and bees. Ephemerals don’t really travel far, so it’s likely that wherever populations exist, they have been at Morven for a long time.

Common spring ephemerals that we’ll be on the lookout for: