Trail Distribution Surveys for Selected Species
- Safety - before heading out on the trail please see "For Your Safety".
- Everyone collecting specimens in the Park is required to obtain a collecting permit. This can be applied for online on the National Park Service Research Permit and Reporting System.
| The Smokies are an “ark” of a tremendous number of species, but we
don't know how many. Sadly, although legally protected, there are many threats to species
in this refuge. Finding out more about what species live in the Park is a high priority of
the Park.
Thus the inception of the All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory (ATBI) . We are interested in:
A few species' distributions can be mapped using remote sensing data from aircraft or other means, but discovering the distributions of most species will involve field work. Distributions of plants, lichens, snails, fish, butterflies and some other organisms can be inferred by projecting known species distributions points to standard habitats mapped over the entire Park. |
New Vegetation Map
The Park has a new detailed map covering all 810 square miles of the Park. This data is digitized in a computer mapping program, so individual habitat types (or points from the field that we add) can be readily manipulated. The map:
- classifies approximately 80 different habitats, based mostly on vegetation.
- divides habitats into areas as small as about 0.5 hectare, or about 1 acre.
By conducting searches over large areas of the Park, much of it along trails, we can track where we find – and just as important – where we do not find selected species.
- An initial map is produced by using correlations to calculate the probability of finding a species in each of the Park's habitats.
- The map is then “ground truthed”, or tested, by visiting places where the species is predicted to exist.
- Using the test results, a second and more accurate distribution map is produced.
- The final map is often the first map ever produced for that species in the Park.
How We Use Maps
Once final maps are produced, they will posted to the corresponding species web pages. This will give, park managers, researchers and the public access to the information. Unfortunately, if the Park believes the species could be illegally collected from the Park (poached), access to the map will be restricted to conservation and research purposes. We will learn new things about species as we overlay the new digital maps with other important Park maps, such as:
- topography
- geochemistry
- soils
- other species occurrences
- deposition of air pollutants
- invasive non-native species
Field Mapping
The success of field mapping is critical to the whole project. Various methods have been developed to collect data depending on whether the species can found along the trail or whether it must be searched for off the trail:- If the species is easily detected along the trails, then:
- they are identified when encountered by using simple guides and field ID manuals, or
- they are collected and returned for eventual identification.
- If the species is not easily detected along the trails, then to ensure equal sampling
at all point, one of the following methods are used:
- Timed searches (e.g. search for 5 minutes).
- Plot constrained searches (e.g. search out 7 meters for 2 minutes).
Volunteering
One of the reasons scientists become scientists is that they love discovering new things that no one has ever known before….pushing the boundaries of science. If you are you interested in hiking, discovering new things, and sharing that experience with others - then volunteering to become a Citizen Scientist in a Trail Distribution Survey may be just the thing for you!
Volunteers who have registered and completed training sessions may:
- “Adopt” a species.
- Survey trails where the species is likely to be found.
- Divide up a species' trails in order to complete them faster.
- Train other volunteers.
We encourage volunteers to:
- Start by working on an easily identified species first.
- Progress to more challenging species or several species at once.
- Use simple field sheets to record:
- GPS coordinates or plot points on a map (see Guidelines for Collecting GPS Data).
- Number of individuals seen.
- Site conditions.
- Other data as necessary, depending on species/group.
We always suggest that there be at least 2 people per team for efficiency and general safety. Credit will be given to those involved with the project on each species web page.
Further Information
By coordinating the interest of volunteers, staff, researchers, and other resources we will be much more efficient at solving these species distribution mysteries. Help us push the boundaries of science by becoming a Citizen Scientist and joining DLIA and the National Park Service in the All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory.
If you would like further information, please contact DLIA at 865-430-4752.
