iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

calalive.bsky.social @calalive.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Amazing work from the volunteers with the California State Parks Foundation for California Coastal Cleanup Day this weekend! Want to keep the momentum going? Volunteer workdays happen all year; no experience needed. Sign up at calparks.org/volunteer

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calalive.bsky.social @calalive.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

A new biological library of California’s tide pools is documenting algae, tiny invertebrates & their DNA to help researchers track changes linked to climate change, warming waters & rising sea levels. Read more: calalive.net/4i42nQV

laist.com

Tide pool science

New 'biolibrary' will help monitor climate change

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calalive.bsky.social @calalive.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

California Biodiversity Week starts Sept 5th! Celebrate our state's incredible nature and learn how you can help conserve it. Find a bioblitz, walk, or event near you: www.californianature.ca.gov/pages/biodiv...

californianature.ca.gov

Biodiversity Day

Celebrating California's biodiversity on Biodiversity Day. Save the date! September 6-14th, 2025.

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calalive.bsky.social @calalive.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

On this day in 2018, fire devastated the National Museum of Brazil, destroying 20 million artifacts of irreplaceable heritage. A reminder that "our shared global heritage is precious and fragile" — and why safeguarding collections matters.

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calalive.bsky.social @calalive.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

The Southern California Coastal Water Research Project (SCCWRP) just completed the first large-scale sampling event for CA's Intertidal Biodiversity DNA Barcode Library: 45+ taxonomists, 7,000+ specimens, ~1,600 species across 23 sites. www.sccwrp.org/intertidal-b...

sccwrp.org

Intertidal bioblitz completed to expand DNA libraries - Southern California Coastal Water Research Project

SCCWRP and its partners have completed the first large-scale field sampling event supporting an ongoing effort to build a comprehensive library of genetic identifying information for thousands of…

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calalive.bsky.social @calalive.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

We're over halfway to 1,000 soil samples for Summer of Soil! Help us document California's soil biodiversity before Labor Day. Request a free sampling kit and get the kids involved. Follow us on Instagram @ cainstituteforbiodiversity for more ways to get involved. www.instagram.com/reel/Db_YtYa...

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calalive.bsky.social @calalive.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

A 10,000-hectare patch of Amazon rainforest may hold ~40,000 insect species — most new to science. Hundreds of researchers in Brazil are running the largest ground-to-canopy insect survey ever, using vertical trap arrays + DNA barcoding. www.nature.com/articles/d41...

nature.com

Tiny patch of Amazon probably holds 40,000 insect species — many new to science

Megaproject involving hundreds of sites is cataloguing rainforest insects from the ground to the canopy.

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calalive.bsky.social @calalive.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

Most of what lives in soil has never been identified. A new paper in Scientific Reports introduces optical "fingerprinting" that ID's soil organisms in seconds — and finds 6x more species diversity with the same sampling effort. 🌱 calalive.net/3S6yhSj

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calalive.bsky.social @calalive.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

A new bill would send scientists to sequence genomes from Earth's rarest, most extreme-surviving species — then use AI to mine that data for new medicines. Read more: calalive.net/4xdJa3x

rounds.senate.gov

Rounds Introduces Legislation to Expedite Scientific Research on Diseases | U.S. Senator Mike Rounds of South Dakota

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) today introduced...

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calalive.bsky.social @calalive.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

Repost from the Power In Nature coalition: Protecting public lands means protecting the communities that depend on them. From outdoor recreation to tourism and local businesses, conserved lands fuel local economies while preserving the biodiversity that makes California unique...

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Reposted by @calalive.bsky.social

🍁 Alex Smith 🍁 @alexsmithants.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

🧪🧵 🪰 🐜🪲🐞🦗🐛🦋🪳🦟 How many species of insect are there? A seemingly simple question, but one that has been 'bugging' scientists for years. Our work out today suggests that there are millions more than we had previously expected. doi.org/10.1073/pnas... @gdfcf.bsky.social

This photo was taken in Area de Conservacion Guanacaste

This microgastrine wasp was named by co-author Jose Fernandez-Triana in honour of Costa Rican parataxonomist Roberto Espinoza in recognition of his contribution to understanding the plant biology of ACG. The species is Snellenius robertoespinozai. The image is Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0) so can reused provided the original author (Jose Fernandez-Triana) and the source are properly cited. The source is: Fernandez-Triana JL, Whitfield JB, Smith MA, Kula RR, Hallwachs W, Janzen DH (2015) Revision of the genera Microplitis and Snellenius (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Microgastrinae) from Area de Conservacion Guanacaste, Costa Rica, with a key to all species previously described from Mesoamerica. Deutsche Entomologische Zeitschrift 62(2): 137-201. https://doi.org/10.3897/dez.62.5276

image of a Malaise trap in Area de Conservacion Guanacaste

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calalive.bsky.social @calalive.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

Big news for endangered species: Colossal Biosciences & U.S. Fish and Wildlife are partnering to preserve cells, tissue, and DNA from every plant and animal under the Endangered Species Act — 2,300+ species worldwide. Read more here:

nytimes.com

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calalive.bsky.social @calalive.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

Your backyard observations matter! Every species you log on iNaturalist adds to a growing record of California's biodiversity — supporting researchers and land managers statewide. No find is too small! 🪲 Image courtesy of iNaturalist: www.instagram.com/p/DZaROvwCQR...

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calalive.bsky.social @calalive.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

We’re racing to collect as many species as we can, so we can protect them. Join us! Just scoop, label, and send. We’ll send you back information about what we find in your soil. Visit CalATBI.org for more info. Request a sampling kit here: cal-atbi-kit-fulfillment.Vercel.App

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calalive.bsky.social @calalive.bsky.social · 17/06/2026

What's living in your backyard soil? 🌱 We're 310/1,000 samples into #SummerOfSoil — help us find out. Could be a species no one's discovered yet. Scoop. Label. Send. CalATBI.org

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calalive.bsky.social @calalive.bsky.social · 11/06/2026

It's the fifth annual California State Parks Week! From June 10–14, free events at state parks across California are open to all — horseback riding, nature journaling, historical tours, and much more. RSVP for free events at castateparksweek.org

castateparksweek.org

California State Parks Week – This is where you live.

June 10-14, 2026

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calalive.bsky.social @calalive.bsky.social · 22/04/2026

Happy Earth Day! Today, we celebrate the incredible diversity of life that makes our planet so vibrant, from the smallest organisms to the largest ecosystems. At the California Institute for Biodiversity, we’re continually inspired by the beauty, resilience, and interconnectedness of the

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calalive.bsky.social @calalive.bsky.social · 05/03/2026

California All-Taxa Biodiversity Inventory partners are collecting samples from all over California to discover and preserve California's biodiversity. Join us! www.calatbi.org/collect-samples

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calalive.bsky.social @calalive.bsky.social · 16/02/2026

We've been funding innovative research projects through Experiment.com, and here's one we're excited to spotlight: "Macrofungi of the California Archipelago" by Christian Schwarz and Dean Lyons. The Channel Islands are a biodiversity hotspot, but we know almost nothing about an entire kingdom of

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calalive.bsky.social @calalive.bsky.social · 08/01/2026

Five incredible new species were described in 2025, and we're proud that CIB helped support the discovery of Siskiyu armilla—a new spider species found in Northern California! Through DNA analysis supported by our research project, scientists confirmed this brown spider as not just a new species,

npr.org

Meet five new species discovered in 2025

A bumpy snailfish, Andean mouse opossum and ancient sea cow were just some of the many species described in 2025.

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calalive.bsky.social @calalive.bsky.social · 04/12/2025

You are invited to the California All-Taxa Biodiversity Inventory (CalATBI) Quarterly Webinar on Dec. 10 at 2:00 pm! CalATBI is a voucher-based, DNA-powered effort to discover and catalog California's unexplored biodiversity. Registrater for free here: bit.ly/4iEwZXr

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calalive.bsky.social @calalive.bsky.social · 24/11/2025

More great work from our biodiversity champion, Assemblymember Ash Kalra! In his latest newsletter, he celebrated the signing of the California Migratory Bird Act, legislation we proudly supported to help safeguard our ecosystems. As Kalra shared: "As a passionate advocate for our environment,...

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calalive.bsky.social @calalive.bsky.social · 23/10/2025

Thank you to all the dedicated legislators who stood up for California’s biodiversity! Together, your support secured critical funding for native plant seed banking — ensuring healthier ecosystems, stronger wildfire recovery, and the protection of rare plants for generations to come.

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calalive.bsky.social @calalive.bsky.social · 16/10/2025

A round of applause for our incredible champions of biodiversity, Matt Haney, Steve Padilla, Lori Wilson, Isaac Bryan, Jesse Arreguín! Because of their dedication, California is investing in native plant seed banking — protecting rare species, supporting restoration, and ensuring our state is ...

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calalive.bsky.social @calalive.bsky.social · 08/10/2025

A huge thank you to Assemblymember Steve Bennett for championing California’s biodiversity and helping secure critical funding for native plant seed in the state budget! Because of your leadership, California is taking bold steps to protect our ecosystems, restore wildfire-impacted lands, and ...

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calalive.bsky.social @calalive.bsky.social · 08/10/2025

California’s future is greener and more resilient thanks to the leadership of State Senator Monique Limón. With your support, funding for native plant seed banking is now a reality — advancing restoration of damaged lands, supporting pollinators, and ensuring our state has the seeds we need to meet

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calalive.bsky.social @calalive.bsky.social · 08/10/2025

Thank you, Ash Kalra, for being a true leader in protecting California’s biodiversity! Your vision and dedication helped secure vital funding for native plant seed, a win that will strengthen restoration efforts, safeguard rare species, and build a more resilient future for our state.

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calalive.bsky.social @calalive.bsky.social · 28/08/2025

Calling all California field researchers! From students to seasoned naturalists, you can now apply for fast, flexible micro-grants to help collect, voucher, and archive specimens that fuel tomorrow’s biodiversity science. DUE Sept. 12th! Learn more & apply here: experiment.com/programs/cal...

experiment.com

California Species Collection | Experiment

For Science!

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calalive.bsky.social @calalive.bsky.social · 06/08/2025

Volunteer with Adventure Scientists! • Big Laguna Lake – August 15: bit.ly/455qh80 • Santa Lucia Conservancy – August 15: bit.ly/3J0GbI9 • Santa Rita Ranch – August 16: bit.ly/3J10LrJ • Camp Pollock – August 24: bit.ly/47g05Zx

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calalive.bsky.social @calalive.bsky.social · 06/08/2025

Don’t miss Adventure Scientists’ upcoming webinar on August 6 at 12:00 pm PST to hear about recent progress on the California Biodiversity Project! Register here: us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

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calalive.bsky.social @calalive.bsky.social · 15/07/2025

Join Dr. Kazue Fujiwara at King Middle School in Berkeley, CA, on July 24th-25th to learn about the power of the Miyawaki Method, a cutting-edge approach to urban forestry and landscaping. Register here: bit.ly/4nNmQtV

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calalive.bsky.social @calalive.bsky.social · 27/05/2025

California’s future is one of abundant flowers—we just need the seeds. This New York Times piece shows how ecological landscaping is reshaping our spaces. Let’s get CA the native seed supply it needs! calalive.net/4jjlvaz @inclusiveabundance.bsky.social @scottwiener.bsky.social

calalive.net

The Next ‘Big Idea’ in Ecological Landscapes: Abundance

Learn to embrace both the visual and functional aspects of your garden to support diversity in your plantings.

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calalive.bsky.social @calalive.bsky.social · 23/05/2025

Big congrats to Assemblymember @ashkalra.bsky.social on his appointment by Speaker Robert Rivas as Chair of the new Assembly Select Committee on Alternative Protein Innovation! Thank you, @caspeakerrivas.bsky.social peakerRivas, for recognizing this growing field and naming the perfect chair!

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calalive.bsky.social @calalive.bsky.social · 22/05/2025

California is home to some of the world’s richest biodiversity. On #BiodiversityDay, we reaffirm our mission to protect it through education, research, and action. #CaliforniaBiodiversity

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calalive.bsky.social @calalive.bsky.social · 25/04/2025

California is facing an urgent and growing need for native seeds. Right now, the demand for these seeds far exceeds the available supply. Heritage Growers is working tirelessly on the front lines, collecting native seeds vital for habitat restoration.

theguardian.com

Meet the seed collector restoring California’s landscapes - one tiny plant at a time

Native seed demand far outpaces supply for the state’s ambitious conservation plan. This group combs the landscape to address the deficit

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calalive.bsky.social @calalive.bsky.social · 23/04/2025

Aggressive layoffs at science agencies are putting irreplaceable scientific collections, samples, and data at risk. The time to safeguard scientific collections is now. Please share this with your colleagues or tell us how we can help here: bit.ly/3D3s41Z

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calalive.bsky.social @calalive.bsky.social · 15/04/2025

Want to make a real impact on climate change? Join the #ClimateActionCounts campaign by CA Volunteers. Take the pledge to be one of ONE MILLION Californians taking everyday climate actions. Learn more and get started: ClimateActionCounts.com

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calalive.bsky.social @calalive.bsky.social · 31/03/2025

This spring, the California Institute for Biodiversity (CIB) and Stillwater Sciences are hosting a BioBlitz to document the biodiversity of one of the least sampled regions of the state - Modoc County. To learn more or sign up, visit bit.ly/4kXgtme.

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calalive.bsky.social @calalive.bsky.social · 20/03/2025

Save the date! Join Dr. Kazue Fujiwara at King Middle School in Berkeley, CA, on July 24th-25th to learn about the power of the Miyawaki Method, a cutting-edge approach to urban forestry and landscaping.