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The amazing spider guys

Focus of 2013 BioBlitz is arachnids; this may be the last BioBlitz science event in Whistler
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BIG ON BIOLOGY The annual BioBlitz event in Whistler is set for Saturday, July 27. PHOTO SUBMITTED

The seventh annual Whistler BioBlitz is all about eights this year, with three of B.C.'s foremost arachnologists — eight-legged spider experts — joining the team.

At least 70 scientists will scour Whistler high and low in search of species of plants, fungi, mammals, insects, amphibians, reptiles and other living things for 24 hours straight, starting at noon on July 27 and finishing at noon the next day.

The public is welcome to come out and learn from the experts, join expeditions and get an up close look at the creatures they bring back with them.

The goal every year is to top the previous years' tally, while filling in the gaps in the Whistler Biodiversity Project — an official record of every species that can be found in the municipality.

Over the past six years, Whistler BioBlitz participants have found at least 500 species a year, including 1,000 species that had never been recorded before by the Whistler Biodiversity Project. The success of the Whistler event has also inspired BioBlitz events across the Lower Mainland and B.C., and as far away as Halifax.

Bob Brett a local biologist and founder of the Whistler Naturalists, came up with the idea after hearing of similar events in Washington State. For him, the event always turns up something unexpected.

"We're especially excited about this year's BioBlitz," he said. "It's a great welcome back for most of the core group of scientists who've made BioBlitz such a success. Plus we're delighted to welcome for the first time some star scientists who've never been able to make it before."

Brett says there's a chance that the event will not return to Whistler next year, depending on the schedule.

"The summers here are getting busier and with events like Crankworx and Ironman in town we can't find rooms for our scientists, and it's harder to find space to do the event," he said.

Brett said that BioBlitz has always happened in the middle of the summer because the snow is clear from the alpine, and alpine meadows are filled with flowers, insects and birds. There's a possibility he could move the event earlier or later, or even move the event elsewhere in Sea to Sky where's there's opportunity to create a database from scratch.

"In Whistler, our list of species is over 3,000 records of different plants and animals, and I'd be surprised if there were any kind of printed report in Pemberton with more than a few hundred species, and I think Squamish would be similar because this kind of data has never been compiled before. Any time they do go into an area they have to do a new study and look for species of concern, but that data never gets collated into any kind of central information bank that lets the knowledge build over time."

The ongoing value in Whistler, says Brett, is public education and adding to the inventory of found species, "while at the same time it performs a really important scientific function where you can learn a lot more about an area," he said.

The 2013 Whistler BioBlitz will be based in Alpha Lake Park once again. Crews will head out to every type of ecosystem in Whistler to do a survey of species and collect specimens, returning to the park to talk to members of the public and show off their finds. As well, there are a number of scheduled events:

• There will be a pre-blitz of Nicklaus North Golf Course from 6:30 a.m. to 8 a.m. on Saturday. To participate, email bob@snowlineresearch.ca.

• Visiting scientists will be hosting family-friendly presentations from noon to 5 p.m. at the main tent.

• The annual Wild Things Scavenger Hunt takes place from 3:30 to 5 p.m. on Saturday, encouraging families and up-and-coming scientists to take part in the fun.

• The annual Night Critters search gets underway at 8:30 p.m., with members of the public invited to join scientists as they search for nocturnal creatures like bats, owls and insects, and do a little stargazing as well. In case of rain, there will be presentations by scientists in the conference room at Legends in Creekside.

• The Whistler Golf Course Blitz is from 6:30 a.m. to 8 a.m. As well, there will be a morning blitz along the River of Golden Dreams that's open to scientists only.

• Swamp Monsters returns from 10 a.m. to noon on Sunday, with biologists showing off some of the live creatures they've collected from local lakes, rivers and wetlands.

• The BioBlitz ends at noon on Sunday, to be followed by a few hours of data collection. A lot of the species will continue to be on display until they can be returned to their natural habitats.

The list of participating experts includes:

• Three spider experts. So far 100 different species have already been added to the Whistler Biodiversity Project inventory, but it's a safe bet that number will increase.

• A mammal tracking team from Washington State (www.cascadetracking.org), which will bring plaster casts of animal tracks.

• A large group of fungus experts looking for snowbank mushrooms, fungi that can be found at the edge of melting snow.

• Stickleback fish experts from the University of BC, who are studying how these small, spiny fish demonstrate evolutionary adaptations.

• BioBlitz regular Andy MacKinnon, who will be on hand to sign his new book on alpine plants.

• Experts on snails and amphibians, including two field guide authors.

There is no charge for any of the events. Funding for BioBlitz has been provided by the Community Foundation of Whistler and the Resort Municipality of Whistler, with support from Whistler Blackcomb, Whistler Golf Course, Nicklaus North Golf Course, Dusty's Pub, Creekside Market, Nesters Market, the Association of Whistler Area Residents for the Environment, Blackcomb Sign Shop, The Adventure Group, Whistler Museum, the Whistler Biodiversity Project, Sea to Sky Invasive Species Council and the Legends hotel located at Whistler's Creekside near the gondola base.

For more information, visit the event website at www.whistlerbioblitz.ca.