BioBlitzes: Linking ecosystem services and citizen science into 24 hours

A BioBlitz is a 24-hour species identification event, where citizens and scientists come together to learn about the biodiversity of an area. In celebration of the Park Service Centennial, over 250 BioBlitzes occurred. BioBlitzes connect local students and citizens to the intricacies of ecosystems and the researchers who study them. Students from the Rocky Mountain Sustainability and Science Network (RMSSN) worked in conjunction with the BioBlitzes as taxonomy leaders, who helped with the identification of species across the parks. We will discuss the purpose, successes, and failures of these BioBlitz events and the legacy that they leave on the communities.