Citizen scientists uncover the secrets of Casuarina Coastal Reserve
More than 200 citizen scientists, volunteers, rangers, and scientists have joined 21 surveys to uncover the biodiversity of the NT’s newest and most visited National Park, the Casuarina Coastal Reserve.
Northern Territory
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More than 200 citizen scientists, volunteers, rangers, and scientists have joined 21 surveys to uncover the biodiversity of the NT’s newest and most visited National Park, the Casuarina Coastal Reserve.
With the help of citizen scientists aged from five to 82, more than 126 species of plants and animals have been discovered and documented.
The biggest animal was an agile wallaby, caught by a camera trap, and the smallest were tree and ground-dwelling ants, which participants were able to study closer under microscopes.
A highlight for many were the microbats, weighing just around eight grams.
Dr Nicola Hanrahan, a bat researcher at Charles Darwin University and one of the survey leaders, said participants also observed fishing bats, and large-footed myotis over the mangrove pools.
“These bats have not been recorded in the reserve before, and we expect to discover more new species once we have analysed all the data,” she said.
“This data was collected with the help of acoustic detectors in the dark of night.
“Other finds included possums, snakes, skinks, frogs, and 66 species of birds.
“The vegetation surveys didn’t disappoint either, with two new plant records of weeds that were valuable finds and can help to better manage the Reserve’s rich biodiversity.”
Experts from Charles Darwin University, the Museum and Art Gallery, the Flora and Fauna
Branch of the NT Government, the Herbarium and retired specialists volunteered to share
their knowledge with nature-loving locals.
Around 50 young children between 5 and 15 years old, joined by their parents, saw the bush through fresh eyes and learnt about what lives there.
Max Bowden, a other of two, said it was amazing how fascinating ants become when experts reveal their secrets.
“It was so good to search for different types of reptiles with my kids under the guidance of these experts,” she said.
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Originally published as Citizen scientists uncover the secrets of Casuarina Coastal Reserve
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