It's science! Quick Point Nature Preserve unveils interactive 'Biodiversity Survey Sign'

Special to the Herald-Tribune
A new sign at Quick Point Nature Preserve in Longboat Key invites visitors to participate in a biodiversity survey using the iNaturalist app. The team that developed the project included David Glosser, right, and Rob Cybulski.
A new sign at Quick Point Nature Preserve in Longboat Key invites visitors to participate in a biodiversity survey using the iNaturalist app. The team that developed the project included David Glosser, right, and Rob Cybulski.

LONGBOAT KEY — Quick Point Nature Preserve has an innovative new sign that invites visitors to participate in a community science biodiversity survey using the iNaturalist app.

The sign is the result of a group project conducted in the spring at the Florida Master Naturalist Program at Mote Marine Laboratory and approved by Longboat Key officials. Visitors are invited via a QR code on the sign to go to the free iNaturalist app and "Become a Community Scientist.” The app can record observations of plants, animals, and other living organisms in their natural habitats. Users can also browse observations by others.

“This project will augment the existing signs and help park visitors become more knowledgeable about the flora and fauna in the park, which will increase their interest and their respect for the plants and animals the park is protecting,” said Martin Main, a University of Florida professor and program leader for the Florida Master Naturalist Program (MasterNaturalist.org).

An ongoing biodiversity survey at Quick Point Nature Preserve in Longboat Key was the result of a group project at the Florida Master Naturalist Program at Mote Marine Laboratory. "Their group was particularly motivated and ambitious, establishing a community science survey project using the iNaturalist app,” said Michael Crosby, president and CEO of Mote.

The group project team members responsible for the sign included David Glosser, Ingrid Deckman, Mark Briefman, Danny Enriquez, and Rob Cybulski. The instructor was Jason Robertshaw.

“David Glosser and his group were so inspired by their trip [to Quick Point Nature Preserve] that they made it the focus of their final student project," said Michael Crosby, president and CEO of Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium. "Their group was particularly motivated and ambitious, establishing a community science survey project using the iNaturalist app.”

Visitors can contribute valuable scientific data by participating in the new biodiversity survey at Quick Point Nature Preserve.
Visitors can contribute valuable scientific data by participating in the new biodiversity survey at Quick Point Nature Preserve.

By participating in the biodiversity survey, visitors contribute to valuable scientific data and also gain a firsthand understanding of the intricate web of life within Quick Point Nature Preserve, located on the southeast end of Longboat Key (100 Gulf of Mexico Drive).

“The universal takeaway is we all experienced the benefit of the iNaturalist app and the amazing learning experience when using it for our own enrichment," Glosser said. "The project morphed into opening it up to the public. The app is also a learning tool for schools and municipalities who can use it in beneficial ways, such as our project can do for the Town of Longboat and all the visitors to Quick Point Nature Preserve.”

Submitted by David Glosser

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Quick Point Nature Preserve invites visitors to be citizen scientists

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