Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in BioBlitz

Lead: Government of Yukon

Timeframe: July 15-19th, 2021 *annual event

In the summer of 2021, the bioblitz was hosted in and around the Dawson City area on the traditional territory of the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in First Nation. The area was chosen for its significance as the gateway for the Yukon South Beringia Priority Place Initiative. The event allowed us to better understand the unique ecosystem that exists in the area and will help us to make better decisions on how to preserve it.

Partners: Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in First Nation

Photos (below) property of Yukon Conservation Society

Ants on willow leaves with an infection

Ants on willow leaves with an infection

Beetle

Beetle

Sebastian jones catching Caddis Fly larvae

Sebastian jones catching Caddis Fly larvae

Caddis Fly

Caddis Fly

Juvenile Arctic Lamprey held by Sebastian Jones

Juvenile Arctic Lamprey held by Sebastian Jones

Micah Taggert Cox and Hannah Shier of Y2C2 Green team wildlife viewing

Micah Taggert Cox and Hannah Shier of Y2C2 Green team wildlife viewing

Bruce Bennett - exotic species talk (delphinium)

Bruce Bennett - exotic species talk (delphinium)

Benoit Godin (local beetle expert) showing beetle to Misha Donohoe

Benoit Godin (local beetle expert) showing beetle to Misha Donohoe

Brett Pagacz (YG Habitat tech) and Nadele Flynn viewing moss

Brett Pagacz (YG Habitat tech) and Nadele Flynn viewing moss

Gerry Blagoev (Spider expert - UGuelph) using an entomological sheet, Sylvie Binette (Whitehorse local)

Gerry Blagoev (Spider expert - UGuelph) using an entomological sheet, Sylvie Binette (Whitehorse local)

A small rodent skull

A small rodent skull

Gerry Blagoev (Spider expert from UGuelph) and his findings

Gerry Blagoev (Spider expert from UGuelph) and his findings

Glaucous Gentian

Glaucous Gentian

Maria Leung (independent naturalist)

Maria Leung (independent naturalist)

Mikko Pentinasaari (Beetle expert from UGuelph) sifting through dirt to find beetles

Mikko Pentinasaari (Beetle expert from UGuelph) sifting through dirt to find beetles

Nadele Flynn looking a splash cups on moss

Nadele Flynn looking a splash cups on moss

Rhonda Kostelko (local lichen expert)

Rhonda Kostelko (local lichen expert)

Syd Cannings and Terry McIntosh (moss expert)

Syd Cannings and Terry McIntosh (moss expert)

Terry McIntosh collecting a moss sample

Terry McIntosh collecting a moss sample

The final group

The final group

Golden Sax in flower

Golden Sax in flower

Grasshopper

Grasshopper

Grayling, Whitefish and Sculpin

Grayling, Whitefish and Sculpin

Minnow traps

Minnow traps

Sebastian Jones at Klondike River fish sonar

Sebastian Jones at Klondike River fish sonar

Wetlands

Wetlands

Goldenrod

Goldenrod

Syd Cannings using iNaturalist

Syd Cannings using iNaturalist

Overlooking Dawson City

Overlooking Dawson City

Syd Cannings using iNaturalist and Sylvie Binette (Whitehorse resident)

Syd Cannings using iNaturalist and Sylvie Binette (Whitehorse resident)

Resources

  • THE TR’ONDËK HWËCH’IN BIOBLITZ

    Article by Toshibaa Govindaraj in What’s Up Yukon Magazine (Sep 22, 2021)

    Read it

  • INaturalist Observations and Statistics

    The iNaturalist application is used to identify species and share information with other naturalists.

    View observations, statistics and a map of the region explored during the 2021 bio blitz.

    View it

  • Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in BioBlitz 2021

    About the event

    Read it

FUnders:

This project would not be possible without the generous support of the Government of Yukon and Environment and Climate Change Canada. We thank you!