COMMUNITY SCIENCE
Grassroots Ecology collects ecosystem data in order to better understand human impacts, both positive and negative, on our local watersheds and open spaces. We practice community science, which means that our researchers are not only staff scientists but also community members, interns, and students. This participatory approach allows people of diverse ages and backgrounds to get hands-on experience in science, while also inspiring stewardship and excitement about nature.
WATER QUALITY MONITORING
Our volunteer community scientists collect water quality data and monitor the ecological health of creeks in the Southern Bay Area. Community engagement at our local creeks increases awareness of human and environmental caused impacts on our urban streams and how we can address them, while inspiring continued stewardship of the watersheds we live in.
VEGETATION MONITORING
We measure the impact of our native plantings and invasive plant management efforts by monitoring native and invasive plant cover and the number and types of plants and insects present. We then compare this data to data from areas that have not been restored to understand how our work is progressing. Volunteers, students, and interns assist us in these efforts, gaining knowledge and hands-on experience in plant and insect identification and developing a connection to their local open spaces.
BIOBLITZES
Our bioblitzes bring volunteers together to observe, identify, and record as many plant and animal species as possible in a given time and place. Observations are recorded in the iNaturalist app, a crowdsourced identification tool and one of the leading sources for biodiversity data used in scientific research. Once identifications are confirmed by multiple community members and scientists through the app, they are deemed to be research grade. Results from past Bioblitzes are available to the public on iNaturalist.