Sharper 2023 Pre-events - Bioblitz Sardinia

As part of the SHARPER-Notte Europea dei Ricercatori and COST ALIEN CSI projects, the University of Sassari (Terza Missione e Territorio Office and Department of Agriculture) is organizing, on May 26, 27 and 28, 2023, some citizen science activities with the collaborative involvement of high school students and all interested citizens.

These are Bioblitzes during which participants, with the help of the iNaturalist smartphone app and instructed by University researchers, contribute to the identification and geo-referenced reporting of alien plant (and animal) species, with a focus on invasive species. Indeed, biological invasions are a serious threat to biodiversity conservation and ecosystem functioning. Having the information collected and updated is essential to be able to develop appropriate strategies for the prevention and management of invasive species. The goal is to spread knowledge about biodiversity in Sardinia and the potential risks to biodiversity from invasive alien species, inspiring citizens to participate in such engaging, fun, and at the same time environmentally relevant events.

Already last year's activities involved about 100 people including high school students and teachers, university students and ordinary citizens, in collaborative bioblitz activities in the areas of the Platamona pond and juniper grove (Sorso) and the Porto Conte Regional Park in Alghero, in northwestern Sardinia (photo shows a moment of the Platamona Bioblitz with a class from Ist. Paglietti in Porto Torres).

Several activities are planned for this year's edition, in the territories of Sassari, Alghero and Oristano, in collaboration with School Institutes, the Association of Agricultural Students, Oristano Students and other Associations active in the local and regional territory.

On the days of May 26, 27 and 28, 2023, anyone interested can participate individually in the citizen science initiative, in any territory of Sardinia, by searching in the field and reporting online the 'alien' species being researched.

Bioblitz Sardinia is a SHARPER pre-event - European Researchers' Night 2023 funded by the European Commission (GA 101061553 ) - www.sharper-night.it

Complete list and cards (from Dryades – portale della flora italiana) of all alien species to be identified and reported during bioblitzes:

1. Acacia saligna Golden Wreath Wattle 
2. Acacia pycnantha Benth.
3. Acer negundo L.
4. Agave americana L.
5. Ailanthus altissima Tree-of-Heaven
6. Amaranthus emarginatus Salzm. ex Uline & W.L.Bray
7. Amaranthus retroflexus L.
8. Anredera cordifolia (Ten.) Steenis
9. Arctotheca calendula (L.) Levyns
10. Artemisia annua L.
11. Arundo donax L.
12. Asclepias fruticosa L.
13. Austrocylindropuntia subulata (Muehlenpf.) Backeb.
14. Bidens vulgata Greene
15. Carpobrotus acinaciformis Sally-My-Handsome
16. Cenchrus longisetus M.C.Johnst.
17. Centaurea diluta Aiton
18. Chasmanthe floribunda (Salisb.) NEBr.
19. Cortaderia selloana Pampas Grass
20. Cyperus alternifolius L. subsp. flabelliformis Kük.
21. Cyperus eragrostis Lam.
22. Dactyloctenium aegyptium (L.) Willd.
23. Erigeron canadensis L.
24. Lemna minuta Kunth
25. Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit subsp. glabrata (Rose) Zárate
26. Melia azedarach L.
27. Mirabilis jalapa L.
28. Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill.
29. Oxalis pes-caprae Bermuda Buttercup
30. Oxalis articulata Pink-Sorrel
31. Paraserianthes lophantha (Willd.) I.C.Nielsen subsp. lophantha
32. Parkinsonia aculeata L.
33. Phoenix canariensis H.Wildpret
34. Phytolacca americana L.
35. Pontederia crassipes Mart.
36. Robinia pseudoacacia L.
37. Senecio angulatus L. f.
38. Sorghum halepense (L.) Pers.
39. Vachellia karroo (Hayne) Banfi & Galasso
40. Washingtonia filifera (Linden ex André) H.Wendl. ex de Bary
41. Yucca gloriosa L.
42. Zantedeschia aethiopica (L.) Spreng.

The search for alien insects will focus in particular on three species, whose records in iNaturalist are respected here:

1. Halyomorpha halys
2. Nagusta goedelii
3. Zelus renardii