Bioblitz pairs scientists, citizens in discovery event

Do you know what a dimorphic gray and a gazelle scarab have in common?

The former is a moth and the latter is a beetle – and both can be found on the TWU’s Denton campus.

More than 60 people can attest to that. That’s the number of participants who took part April 9 in a unique science-based event called a bioblitz. The activity essentially is a biological survey in which an inventory of organisms is logged in a specific natural space.

TWU’s School of the Sciences, led by assistant professor of Environmental Science Dr. Kelly Albus, held the six-hour citizen science effort that blends scientists and community members in an engaging exercise that explores the biological diversity of an area.

The activity helps participants gain a stronger connection to the environment and aims to promote the protection of biodiversity.

Participants contributed over 1,100 observations and identified 346 unique taxa (organisms) using the iNaturalist platform. A full report of the findings is available at the iNaturalist website.

The event featured Sam Kieschnick, an urban wildlife biologist for Texas Parks and Wildlife in the Dallas–Fort Worth area, as the presenter and guide. The evening also marked the launch of the new TWU Environmental Science student chapter.

Participants included TWU and UNT students, master naturalists, and community members, who worked collaboratively to produce the inventory.

Page last updated 10:56 AM, April 28, 2026