가입일: 2013 12월 21 마지막 활동일: 2023 11월 24 iNaturalist
I am a lifelong naturalist in pursuit of contributing as much as possible to our understanding of the natural world, documenting everything that flowers, slithers, walks, swims and flies.
My enthusiasm for nature began at about age eight with a keen interest in arthropods, especially scarab beetles and other insects. Starting at age 13, I spent the next few summers assisting with the complete resort of the Pennsylvania State University collection and leading public tours at the Frost Entomological Museum.
As an undergraduate at Penn State in the late 90s, I was employed with the Department of Agronomy and participated in various turfgrass research initiatives dealing with soil amendments, bentgrass morphogenesis, and fungal resistance among others (see selected pubs below).
Over time I also took a serious interest in ornithology, eventually setting various Big Day/Month/Year records, starting a new CBC and leading dozens of public walks. These days I pursue almost any organism and document them here, especially focusing on the tiny or cryptic organisms that tend to receive less attention.
You can view videos of some of the observations submitted here on My YouTube Channel.
Publications
First Record of Hydrophilus ensifer Brullé in the Continental United States
https://matthewpintar.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Pintar-and-Keller_2020_First-record-of-Hydrophilus-ensifer-in-the-continental-United-States.pdf
Creeping Bentgrass Morphogenesis and Competition
http://plantscience.psu.edu/research/centers/turf/research/annual-reports/1999ARR.pdf
Valuation of an athletic field root-zone amended with DuPont shredded carpet
http://plantscience.psu.edu/research/centers/turf/research/annual-reports/1999ARR.pdf
Volunteerism
San Diego Audubon Birding Festival Leader, 2013-2016
https://bvaudubon.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/1-Janurary-Digital-Edition-2014.pdf
Conservation of Virginia's Merrimac Farm:
http://www.pwconserve.org/issues/conservation/merrimacfarm/
Protecting the Quantico Creek Watershed:
http://www.pwconserve.org/wildlife/birds/lists/possumpoint.htm
Bird Walk Volunteer for Friends of Dyke Marsh, 2003-2006
https://www.fxva.com/event/dyke-marsh-sunday-morning-bird-walks/17970/
Press
2018 San Diego Union Tribune: San Diego places third in international biodiversity competition
http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/communities/north-county/sd-me-nature-challenge-20180504-story.html
1992 Daily Collegian: Museums attract not only pests
http://www.collegian.psu.edu/arts_and_entertainment/article_dd3cf442-216a-56f0-81d5-b509f427f54e.html
Outreach
24 April, 2018 - Collaborated with Kari McWest to Lecture on "Scorpions of the Southwestern US and their Venom Toxicity" to the US Navy Environmental and Preventive Medicine Unit Five (NEPMU-5) as part of their Seminar on Vector-borne Diseases
http://www.med.navy.mil/sites/nmcphc/nepmu-5/Pages/default.aspx
17 April, 2018 - Participated as a guest iNaturalist "super-user" at the San Diego Natural History Museum Nat Talk on Citizen Science with Dr. Jon Rebman and Dr. Brad Hollingsworth
http://www.sdnhm.org/calendar/public-programs/nattalks-and-films/
A Note About Community ID
Over the number of years I have contributed to iNaturalist, I have made the decision that opting out of "Community ID" is the most reasonable and optimal method of managing my participation for the reasons outlined below. I greatly value the contributions of those who take the time to ID others' content here so this choice should not be viewed negatively as I have occasionally encountered. Please keep an open mind!
1) Sometimes after significant and time-consuming analysis of an organism's identity, which often includes reviewing research papers, following detailed keys, etc, and arriving at a thoughtful identification, user may select a more general ID on it without expertise or effort. This can be correct or maybe it isn't, but having opted out of Community ID gives me the chance to review it for my own knowledge.
2) Occasionally there are spammers or others will ill intent that become active on the site, and this allow some control over that.
3) This setting helps me take others' identifications more seriously and forces me to review each disagreement.
4) Finally, If I don't respond to an ID or comment right away, understand I have MANY life pursuits away from iNat and I am generally always stretched for time, so it may take me a little while. I have nearly 50,000 observations on the site which means a fairly high volume of input from others occurs. If you feel I have overlooked something, you can politely nudge me. Be respectful and put a brief note on it to help me understand your choice. I assure you that will go a long way.