Possible new species found during BioBlitz!
One of the 1,009 species recorded during the annual 24-hour biological inventory may be a new species of ant, believed to be in the genus Monomorium. David Donoso, zoology graduate student at OU, collected the ant which as been sent to experts for verification. Ken Hobson, Entomologist and Assistant Professor of Zoology at OU said, "[this] is one example of how many species new to science are waiting discovery in Oklahoma." Dr. Hobson continued, "[a]t a time when we are beginning to acknowledge the value of the rich biodiversity we inherited in North America and when this diversity is slipping away, we have a great opportunity to document and preserve the richness that is still here."
Over 140 biologists representing over 20 organizations and schools had such an opportunity to document the biological diversity of Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge on September 14 and 15, 2007. Volunteers, ranging from professional biologists to school children, climbed mountains, slogged through wetlands, turned over rocks, and peered through microscopes to document at least 1,009 species.
Local schools were invited to participate in an education program on Friday before the inventory began. Environmental educators from a variety of organizations, including the Oklahoma City Zoo, Three Forks Nature Center, and Quartz Mountain Nature Park set up outdoor learning stations through which students traveled and learned about many topics including natural history, species diversity, and edible and medicinal plants.

Go to the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge website.

We thank the many volunteers who made our 7th BioBlitz a success. Special thanks to the staff of Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge for their efforts.

Organizations Represented
University of Oklahoma
Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation
Oklahoma City Zoo
United States Fish and Wildlife Services
Oklahoma State University
University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma
University of Central Oklahoma
Oklahoma City Community College
Southwestern Oklahoma State University
Cameron University
Three Forks Nature Center
Lake Thunderbird State Park
McLoud High School
Oklahoma Native Plants Society
Botanical Society of America
Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality
Tulsa Community College
Sutton Avian Research Center
Oklahoma Natural Areas Registry
Friends of the Wichita's
Saint Gregory's University