Great Southern BioBlitz 2025 – Part 2: Taxonomic Patterns and Biodiversity Insights

The Great Southern BioBlitz 2025 generated an extensive and taxonomically rich dataset, capturing observations across multiple biological kingdoms and a wide range of taxonomic scales, from kingdoms and classes to orders. This summary presents an overview of how observations, unique taxa, and observer participation were distributed among major taxonomic groups, providing insight into both underlying biodiversity patterns and the influence of citizen-science dynamics. Variation in recording effort reflects differences in organism visibility, detectability, seasonal activity, habitat accessibility, and the availability of taxonomic expertise among participants. Together, these results highlight the strengths of large-scale community engagement in documenting biodiversity, while also identifying taxonomic groups that remain underrepresented and may benefit from targeted sampling or specialist involvement in future BioBlitz events.

Overall Great Southern BioBlitz 2025 Kingdom Statistics

The Great Southern BioBlitz 2025 recorded a large and taxonomically diverse body of observations spanning multiple biological kingdoms. As expected for a citizen-science, driven initiative, the distribution of observations and unique taxa was uneven across kingdoms, reflecting both underlying biodiversity patterns and differences in observer effort, detectability, and taxonomic expertise.

Observations per Kingdom in the Great Southern BioBlitz 2025

Plantae overwhelmingly dominated the dataset, contributing the highest number of observations overall (Figure 1). This dominance reflects the high visibility, accessibility, and seasonal prominence of flowering and non-flowering plants during the BioBlitz period, as well as the relative ease with which plants can be photographed and identified. As in many large-scale BioBlitz events, plants formed the backbone of the dataset, providing a strong foundation for biodiversity documentation across landscapes.

Animalia represented the second-largest kingdom in terms of observations and encompassed a broad range of taxa, including vertebrates and invertebrates such as birds, insects, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and aquatic fauna. While fewer in total observations than plants, animals constituted a major component of the BioBlitz, reflecting strong participant interest in wildlife and the effectiveness of community engagement across multiple animal groups.

Fungi were recorded at substantially lower levels than plants and animals. This pattern is consistent with previous BioBlitz events, where fungal diversity is often underrepresented due to seasonal constraints, cryptic growth forms, and the specialist knowledge required for accurate identification.

Chromista, Bacteria, and Protozoa contributed relatively small numbers of observations. These kingdoms are typically underrepresented in community science datasets due to their microscopic nature, specialised sampling requirements, and challenges in field identification, despite their significant ecological importance.

Figure 1. Number of observations observed in each kingdom observed in the GSB2025

Figure 2. Number of unique taxa observed in each kingdom observed in the GSB2025

Vertebrate

Vertebrate observations during the Great Southern BioBlitz 2025 were strongly dominated by birds. Aves contributed by far the highest number of records, with 26,365 observations, the greatest taxonomic richness (2,342 unique taxa), and the largest observer participation (3,055 observers). This highlights both the accessibility of birdwatching and the strong global birding community supporting the BioBlitz.

Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) formed the second most taxonomically rich vertebrate group, with 924 unique taxa recorded from 3,781 observations. This high diversity, achieved with a more specialised observer base, underscores the value of targeted aquatic sampling. Mammalia and Reptilia recorded moderate observation totals (3,608 and 2,898 respectively) and were supported by large numbers of observers, though with comparatively low taxa-per-observer ratios, suggesting broad participation focused on common or readily detectable species.

Amphibia yielded fewer observations (1,619) despite substantial observer involvement, likely reflecting seasonal activity patterns and detectability constraints. Cartilaginous fishes (Chondrichthyes) and tunicates (Ascidiacea and Thaliacea) contributed relatively few records but added important representation of less frequently documented vertebrate and chordate groups. Overall, vertebrate results demonstrate strong public engagement, particularly with birds and terrestrial fauna, while also highlighting the importance of targeted expertise in documenting aquatic and less conspicuous vertebrates.

Table 1 Overall statistics of the vertebrates’ classes observed during the GSB2025, number of observations, unique taxa and observers

Class	Observations	Unique taxa	Observers	Taxa per observer
Actinopterygii	3, 781	924	392	2.36
Amphibia	1, 619	272	734	0.37
Ascidiacea	143	45	47	0.96
Aves	26, 365	2, 342	3, 055	0.77
Chondrichthyes	136	58	76	0.76
Mammalia	3, 608	487	1, 242	0.39
Reptilia	2, 898	531	1, 360	0.39
Thaliacea	1	1	1	1

Figure 3. Number of observations in each vertebrate class in the GSB2025

Figure 4. Number of unique taxa in each vertebrate class in the GSB2025

Invertebrates

Invertebrates comprised the largest and most taxonomically diverse component of the Great Southern BioBlitz 2025, reflecting both their immense biodiversity and strong participant engagement. Insecta overwhelmingly dominated invertebrate records, with 56,907 observations and 11,071 unique taxa documented by nearly 5,000 observers. This highlights insects as both highly diverse and widely observed across regions.

Arachnida formed the second most prominent invertebrate group, contributing almost 8,000 observations and 1,298 unique taxa, demonstrating substantial diversity and sustained interest beyond insects. Aquatic and semi-aquatic groups such as Malacostraca, Hexanauplia, and Branchiopoda added important freshwater and marine records, although at lower observation levels reflecting more specialised sampling effort.

Soil- and litter-dwelling groups, including Diplopoda, Chilopoda, Symphyla, and Entognatha, were less frequently recorded but expanded the ecological breadth of the BioBlitz. Smaller and cryptic groups such as Ostracoda and Pycnogonida were represented by very few observations, underscoring ongoing challenges in detecting and documenting niche invertebrate taxa. Collectively, the invertebrate results emphasise the central role of insects and arachnids in biodiversity documentation, while also highlighting the value of specialist knowledge for capturing less conspicuous groups.

Table 2. Overall statistics of the Invertebrates classes observed during the Great Southern BioBlitz 2025, number of observations, unique taxa and observers

Class	Observations	Unique taxa	Observers	Taxa per observer
Arachnida	7, 872	1, 298	1, 992	0.65
Branchiopoda	5	3	5	0.60
Chilopoda	125	38	94	0.40
Diplopoda	855	93	487	0.19
Entognatha	110	34	38	0.89
Hexanauplia	143	38	79	0.48
Insecta	56, 907	11, 071	4, 971	2.23
Malacostraca	2, 123	391	562	0.70
Ostracoda	3	2	3	0.67
Pycnogonida	8	4	5	0.80
Symphyla	5	1	4	0.25

Figure 5. Number of observations in each invertebrate class in the GSB2025

Figure 6. Number of unique taxa in each invertebrate class in the GSB2025

Insects

Insects represented the single most significant taxonomic component of the Great Southern BioBlitz 2025, both in terms of observations and biodiversity recorded. Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths) dominated insect records, contributing more than 20,000 observations and over 4,100 unique taxa, reflecting their high diversity, visual appeal, and strong engagement from observers.

Coleoptera, Hymenoptera, Diptera, and Hemiptera also made major contributions, each recording thousands of observations and over a thousand unique taxa, underscoring their ecological importance and widespread occurrence across habitats. Orders such as Odonata, Orthoptera, and Blattodea showed moderate observation totals, indicating consistent interest and accessibility to participants.

Less frequently observed groups, including Mecoptera, Embioptera, Megaloptera, Plecoptera, and Zygentoma, were represented by relatively few records but added important depth to the overall taxonomic coverage. Overall, the insect results highlight the central role of insects in driving biodiversity documentation during the BioBlitz, while also illustrating how both highly visible and cryptic groups contribute to a more complete picture of ecosystem diversity when broad participation is combined with specialist input.

Table 3. Number of Insects observations, unique taxa and observers during the GSB2025

Order	Observations	Unique taxa	Observers	Taxa per observer
Archaeognatha	9	3	8	0.38
Blattodea	1095	147	560	0.26
Coleoptera	9101	2117	2128	0.99
Dermaptera	119	37	73	0.51
Diptera	6304	1038	1456	0.71
Embioptera	3	1	3	0.33
Ephemeroptera	75	20	47	0.43
Hemiptera	5797	1339	1550	0.86
Hymenoptera	6634	1023	1849	0.55
Lepidoptera	20692	4185	2773	1.51
Mantodea	544	100	335	0.30
Mecoptera	23	4	18	0.22
Megaloptera	25	13	20	0.65
Neuroptera	523	97	268	0.36
Odonata	2111	283	615	0.46
Orthoptera	2674	498	1045	0.48
Phasmida	193	62	129	0.48
Plecoptera	33	9	21	0.43
Psocodea	73	23	47	0.49
Thysanoptera	42	14	31	0.45
Trichoptera	209	50	103	0.49
Zygentoma	24	6	17	0.35

Figure 7. Number of observations of each insect order in the GSB2025

Figure 8. Number of observations of unique taxon in each insect Order in the GSB2025

Flowering Plants (Magnoliopsida)

Flowering plants recorded during the Great Southern BioBlitz 2025 showed exceptionally high diversity and broad observer engagement, reflecting both their ecological prominence and ease of observation across landscapes. Asterales clearly dominated plant records, contributing more than 20,000 observations and 1,828 unique taxa supported by over 2,600 observers, underscoring their widespread distribution and recognisability.

Other highly represented orders included Fabales, Lamiales, Caryophyllales, Gentianales, Ericales, Myrtales, and Malpighiales, each recording thousands of observations and hundreds of unique taxa, together forming the backbone of flowering plant diversity documented during the BioBlitz. Moderate contributions from orders such as Rosales, Sapindales, Proteales, Solanales, and Apiales further highlighted the taxonomic breadth captured across habitats. In contrast, early-diverging or highly specialised orders, such as Amborellales, Austrobaileyales, Ceratophyllales, and Crossosomatales, were represented by very few observations but added important phylogenetic depth to the dataset. Overall, the Magnoliopsida results demonstrate strong public participation in plant recording, with large observer numbers spread across many orders, while also revealing opportunities for increased focus on less conspicuous or taxonomically challenging flowering plant groups in future BioBlitz events.

Table 4. Overall statistics of the Magnoliopsida classes (Flowering Plants) observed during the GSB2025, number of observations, unique taxa and observers

Order	Observations	Unique taxa	Observers	Taxa per observer
Amborellales	1	1	1	1.00
Apiales	2832	301	906	0.33
Aquifoliales	54	11	38	0.29
Asterales	20139	1828	2640	0.69
Austrobaileyales	4	1	2	0.50
Berberidopsidales	4	2	4	0.50
Boraginales	878	128	512	0.25
Brassicales	1568	189	654	0.29
Bruniales	720	34	135	0.25
Buxales	3	2	3	0.67
Canellales	54	15	41	0.37
Caryophyllales	6969	895	1645	0.54
Celastrales	963	77	343	0.22
Ceratophyllales	1	1	1	1.00
Chloranthales	5	1	5	0.20
Cornales	151	28	93	0.30
Crossosomatales	2	2	2	1.00
Cucurbitales	449	103	281	0.37
Dilleniales	517	47	247	0.19
Dipsacales	564	45	346	0.13
Ericales	5715	559	1104	0.51
Escalloniales	19	10	17	0.59
Fabales	13227	1390	2319	0.60
Fagales	543	71	306	0.23
Garryales	3	2	3	0.67
Gentianales	5852	689	1316	0.52
Geraniales	1857	162	630	0.26
Gunnerales	50	5	37	0.14
Huerteales	3	1	3	0.33
Icacinales	5	4	5	0.80
Lamiales	9202	1164	1986	0.59
Laurales	611	89	297	0.30
Magnoliales	147	36	98	0.37
Malpighiales	5042	659	1354	0.49
Malvales	4200	447	1297	0.34
Metteniusales	43	4	27	0.15
Myrtales	5371	663	1520	0.44
Nymphaeales	163	12	123	0.10
Oxalidales	1300	139	615	0.23
Paracryphiales	8	4	6	0.67
Piperales	332	50	149	0.34
Proteales	4776	406	773	0.53
Ranunculales	1298	137	671	0.20
Rosales	3893	445	1228	0.36
Santalales	1036	138	463	0.30
Sapindales	4579	512	1136	0.45
Saxifragales	1979	230	646	0.36
Solanales	3298	340	1212	0.28
Vahliales	6	1	4	0.25
Vitales	461	53	205	0.26
Zygophyllales	204	36	100	0.36

Figure 9. Number of observations in each Magnoliopsida order in the GSB2025

Figure 10. Number of unique taxa in each Magnoliopsida order in the GSB2025

The Great Southern BioBlitz 2026 dates have been announce and the Umbrella project set up, this year the evet rolls into November 27-30.