The Deep Achieves Key Milestone in Native Species Recordings with iNaturalist

The Deep, one of the UK's most celebrated aquariums in Hull, has reached a new milestone by recording over 1,000 native species observations on the popular citizen science platform, iNaturalist. This achievement comes as a result of collaboration between The Deep’s team and the public, demonstrating the power of collective efforts in contributing to biodiversity research.

By tracking local species around The Deep’s urban site, including the surrounding car park, the project has been a significant contributor to national conservation efforts through the British and Irish Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA)'s Spotted on Site campaign.

A collaborative effort for conservation

The data collected at The Deep is part of the broader BIAZA Spotted on Site campaign, which encourages participants from zoos and aquariums across the UK and Ireland to document the biodiversity present on and around their grounds. Partnering with iNaturalist UK and the National Biodiversity Network (NBN), the campaign leverages technology to gather valuable information about the presence of native species in varied environments. This data informs a wide range of conservation projects throughout Europe and beyond.

Notably, The Deep was the first aquarium to join this initiative. With over 260 different species documented, and only 21 participants contributing to these efforts, the results reveal the richness of local wildlife even in small, highly urbanised spaces. The observations have included rarities like the Convolvulus Hawk-moth (Agrius convolvuli) and the Hairy dragonfly (Brachytron pratense)—the latter being a first for the region on iNaturalist.

Leading the way with local observations

Among The Deep’s team, Senior Aquarist Phill Robinson stands out as a top contributor, having recorded more species than anyone else in the Spotted on Site campaign. Reflecting on the milestone, Phill emphasised the significance of such an achievement given the aquarium's location.

“Hitting 1,000 observations is a huge milestone for the Spotted on Site campaign, especially when considering the size of our boundary and the fact that this is largely buildings and car park,” Phill remarked. "It highlights that wildlife can even be found in heavily urbanised areas if they are managed in a way to help promote biodiversity. This figure also places us in the top third of the participating BIAZA collections' leaderboard, which is quite an achievement for an indoor attraction with a comparatively small footprint."

Nurturing biodiversity in an urban setting

The Deep’s ongoing commitment to fostering biodiversity has been highlighted by recent projects, such as the creation of a biodiversity bog garden and the installation of bug hotels. These efforts have provided essential habitats for local wildlife, reinforcing the site's capacity to support various species. In addition, the aquarium’s participation in the Weeds for Wildlife campaign has been another initiative aimed at encouraging the growth of native plants and promoting natural ecosystems.

Katy Duke, Chief Executive Officer at The Deep, expressed her pride in these accomplishments:

"We are delighted that these projects have been successful in providing habitats for a variety of native species, and that the Spotted on Site observations reflect this."

Her statement underlines the growing recognition that even small urban spaces can play a critical role in supporting wildlife, as long as they are thoughtfully managed.

Upcoming Bioblitz event: Encouraging further involvement

Looking ahead, BIAZA is preparing for its annual Bioblitz event, which will take place from 14th to 20th October 2024. The event invites BIAZA members to compete for the most wildlife observations recorded during this period. The Deep encourages visitors and volunteers alike to get involved, further enhancing its species count by downloading the iNaturalist app and logging any native species they observe around the aquarium site.

For those interested in taking part in the upcoming Autumn Bioblitz, further details can be found on The Deep's website: BIAZA Spotted on Site Campaign.

Promoting awareness of urban biodiversity

The success of The Deep's involvement in Spotted on Site speaks volumes about the potential for nature to thrive even in urban environments. As public awareness grows, initiatives like these are vital for demonstrating how conservation can take place not only in vast rural areas but also within cities and towns. By continuing to record and share findings through platforms like iNaturalist, The Deep and its partners help to expand the collective understanding of local ecosystems, contributing to biodiversity preservation on a larger scale.

Through active participation and community engagement, The Deep continues to show that biodiversity conservation is something that everyone can contribute to, one observation at a time. Whether it’s spotting a moth or capturing the beauty of a rare dragonfly, each discovery adds to a growing body of knowledge, providing insight into the richness of life that can be found in even the most unexpected places.