Let’s use your smartphone to investigate the creatures that live in Kobe! Summer Vacation

A citizen-participatory biological survey using the smartphone app Biome, “Summer Vacation Creatures Quest 2024: Summer Creatures Search in Kobe,” has begun and will run until August 31.

The survey will be conducted on 15 species of organisms, including indicator organisms of satoyama, a rich environment, alien species identified in Kobe City, and seagrasses, whose outbreak in large numbers has become a hot topic.

The organisms to be surveyed are: “indicator organisms of satoyama” beetles, stinkbugs, Japanese beetles, dragonflies, damselflies, minmin zemi, southern killifish, Japanese tree frogs, Japanese lizards, “invasive alien species found in Kobe City” glossy-legged mantis, spiny-legged mantis, and giant stink bugs, and “stink bugs commonly found in Kobe City” stink bugs, which are found in large numbers in Kobe City. Common stinkbugs found in Kobe City”: Pine green stinkbug, red-bellied green stinkbug, crenate stinkbug, and yellow-bellied stinkbug.

The “Biome” is a list of living creatures that are “Biome”.

Biome” is a software application that allows users to take pictures of living creatures, and its unique AI determines the species, making it easy for even those who are not familiar with living creatures to study them. It also has an illustrated book function, allowing users to look up information about the creatures they have photographed on the spot.

The person in charge said, “In 2021, we confirmed the damage caused by the invasive alien species Tsuyahada sesame woodpecker on Rokko Island, but it was necessary to investigate whether the damage was spreading within the city, so we launched a citizen-participatory biological survey (Quest). We hope that the results of the survey will be accumulated, and that it will also lead to citizens becoming more interested in living organisms and biodiversity.

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Some organisms are difficult to distinguish from each other, so it is important to take photos of them from the back to capture their entire body.

Details

Period

Saturday, June 1, 2024 – Saturday, August 31, 2024

Participation Method

(1) Download the smartphone application “Biome” (free of charge). (You can continue to use “Biome” even after the Quest period ends.)
(2) Open “Biome” and view the quest “Summer Vacation Creature Quest 2024: Summer Creature Hunting in Kobe” conducted by Kobe City.
(3) When you find the target creature, take a picture of it using “Biome” and post it.

Click here for the “Biome” smartphone app .

• Kobe City Official Website https://www.city.kobe.lg.jp/a66324/biomequest2024.html
• Smartphone application “Biome” Official site https://biome.co.jp/app-biome/