Outreach

Cabrillo National Monument Biodiversity Internship 

San Diego County has been historically known for its rich biodiversity with more than 600 species of native bees and a large amount of endemic flora fauna. Although these native bees have been documented by scientists before in the county, these bees have not been surveyed for species richness and abundance before in Cabrillo National Monument. Surveying the native bee populations in Cabrillo National Monument over the course of several years will help us better understand their biodiversity, natural history, and abundance. 

This project with the National Park Service (NPS) and San Diego Natural History Museum (SDNHM) serves to validate photographic records obtained by partnering community scientists and thus serve as a case study of how to optimize synergy between formal surveys by professional biologists and community science efforts by the general public.

Ashley Kim is the Principal Investigator of this project and recruited 20 student interns over the 2021-2024 survey seasons. Underrepresented, minority, and POC groups were highly encouraged to apply.  Student interns from local community colleges and state universities participated in this opportunity to survey native bees twice a month from April to the end of September for each field season. This study will be done over the course of a few years to understand changes in species richness and abundance. A list of floral species associated with the bees will also be recorded within the park. 

To read more about this work: The Great Bee Quest Storymap