New citizen science projects will focus on how California biodiversity has changed based on historic knowledge and the Academy's specimen collections. We will be looking for evidence of changing distribution patterns of terrestrial plants or marine animals and their possible correlation to climate change, introduced species and habitat loss. For more information or to volunteer, contact CitizenScience@calacademy.org.

Citizen scientists can help determine the spread of the invasive Argentine ant while documenting the overall diversity of ants in the Bay Area. To participate, see California Bay Area Ants.

Arachnologists at the Academy documented the distribution and spread of Zoropsis spinimana spiders. Native to the Mediterranean coastal countries and northern Africa, this spider migrated to Northern California. Although harmless to humans, it could be considered invasive if it competed with locals species. This spider was found in 33 cities in 7 different counties.

Citizen scientist volunteers assisted in monitoring the many plants, birds and arthropods that inhabit and utilize the unique ecosystem on the Academy's Living Roof. Collected data has been shared with researchers here at the Academy as well as at San Francisco State University. Identified were: 20 arthropod orders, 39 arthropod families, 45 bird species and more than 52 plant species.