Citizen Science with RMBL

Learn about plant identification in the Gunnison Valley:

Visitors to the Gunnison Valley can turn any outdoor adventure into a learning experience by using the free iNaturalist app to identify plants and wildlife. In partnership with the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory (RMBL) in Gothic, uploaded observations contribute to real scientific research and long-term ecological studies. It’s an easy way for hikers, bikers and families to participate in citizen science while exploring one of Colorado’s most biodiverse landscapes.

• iNaturalist allows users to photograph and upload species for expert identification, even without cell service.
• Observations can be added to RMBL’s “Rocky Mountain Biological Lab Biota” project to support ongoing research.
• RMBL, based in Gothic since 1928, hosts one of the world’s largest seasonal gatherings of field biologists.
• Participants help track biodiversity, species distribution and seasonal wildflower blooms across the Gunnison Valley.

______________________________________________________________________________________

Have you ever been hiking, biking, skiing, etc., and run into a plant, animal, insect, or flower that you couldn’t identify? Ever wished that you had a biologist along with you to answer your questions?

Well, folks, there’s an app for that! You bring your smartphone along on your adventures anyway, right? Just download the free iNaturalist app (for iPhone and Android). It’s like having a naturalist in your pocket. You simply upload a picture of the species you’re curious about, and an expert will identify it for you. The app can be used anywhere on the planet, and it even works when you have no cell signal.

Not only does this app help amateur naturalists, but it is also exceptionally helpful to scientists around the world. That brings us to why this blog post found its way onto the visitor information site for Gunnison and Crested Butte.

Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory

North of Crested Butte, Gothic, Colorado, started out as a silver mining town. However, it has been home to the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory (RMBL) since 1928. Every summer, the world’s largest migration of field biologists brings researchers and students from around the world to Gothic to research the ecosystem. In fact, some of the country’s longest-running ecology studies are based right here.

In addition to conducting scientific research in and around Gothic, the scientists and staff at RMBL put on a bunch of great events and tours throughout the summer to share their science with visitors. Check our event calendar for some of the highlights.

RMBL and iNaturalist

The Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory (RMBL) has created a project on iNaturalist entitled The Rocky Mountain Biological Lab Biota. When you upload your photos to this project, your geolocated photos (tagged with latitudes and longitudes) will be displayed on a map. These observations help scientists understand the distribution of species and the degree of biodiversity along with how each may change through time. It can also be used to find out which plants are blooming and where to find them.

Here’s how to Participate:

Sign up, learn, and contribute! Just follow the steps below:

1. Download the iNaturalist app
2. Create a login and password
3. Click on “More” at the bottom of the screen
4. Click “Projects” and in the “Nearby” search (when you’re here in the Gunnison Valley), look for Rocky Mountain Biological Lab Biota
5. Join the project
6. Upload your photos of plants and animals, identify them if you know what they are, or wait for experts to identify them for you!