2005 Final Report Summaries
Discover Life in America ATBI Grant Program

Grant money supplied to Discover Life in America by the Great Smoky Mountains Association and Friends of Great Smoky Mountains National Park supported All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory research in the Park for the 2005 season. Dr. John Morse, Discover Life in America Board member and Science Committee Co-Chair, administered the grant program, in its sixth year. The review panel included eight DLIA scientists. Requests totaled $155,888.80 for the $52,500 budgeted for the year.

Eighteen proposals were funded out of a total of 38 submitted. The research delved into a variety of life forms in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, including diatoms, ants, aphids, beetles, moths and butterflies, thrips, lichens, tephritid flies, diptera, pollinators, water mites, and tardigrades. One of this year’s projects involved teachers and students designing and conducting scientific research in the Park. Bio-quests for fungi and beetles were funded. Some of the proposals were continuations of previous and on-going work. All were coordinated with the Discover Life in America Science Plan.

All grants are run from April 1st though March 1st.

I. Promised Products

In my 2005 DLIA proposal I indicated that the following activities would be carried out during the 2004-2005 grant cycle:

• Continue collections in unusual habitats and process these for microscopic study
• Continue identifying our backlog of specimens
• Continue work on describing our new species
• Complete the on-line key in time for the 10 International Symposium on Tardigrades
• Continue the work on the photo-catalogue and range maps  

II. Completed Products

Our current species list (see below) now stands at 69 species, 66 new records, and 13 new to science. In my presentation at the annual ATBI meeting in December, I reported that species richness estimates based on 7000 specimens, indicated that 96 species may occur in the park. (I also evaluated the efficacy of the various species richness estimates by comparing their predictions based on half our data to the numbers present in the total database.)  

To put this into perspective, 96 species represents 10% of the world’s known tardigrades, whereas the park is home to only 6% of the world’s salamanders. We have also compared our species list to the other two large-scale tardigrade inventories, one in Italy and one in Poland, and our diversity is higher than either of these European studies.  

Two WWC undergraduates have collected additional samples. These include deep soils (10 cm) of the Snakeden Ridge ATBI plot, and mosses on Anakeesta rock formations at Chimney Tops. They are now being processed and will be identified and analyzed by May 2006.

Continue identifying our backlog of specimens

All 19 ATBI plots have been sampled (~600 samples) and all but 30 samples have undergone initial processing. Approximately 100 samples await microscope slide preparation and identification. Our database now stands at 8500 entries, and this has been submitted to Michael Kunze and Chuck Cooper. This is the second largest tardigrade database ever created, and the only computer/georeferenced database.

Continue work on describing our new species

Tardigrade specimens are flying all over the world for analysis by various experts. A paper of our first species description for a new species of Milnesium is now in draft form.

Complete the on-line key in time for the 10 International Symposium on Tardigrades

The key itself is complete. This includes drawings of all character states, and species accounts of all species, and a matrix linking these, all using the Lucid software program.

Continue the work on the photo-catalogue and range maps

All species have now been photographed and all but one have been entered into the Lucid software. Additional photos illustrating various characters are still needed. Range maps are being developed by GIS faculty and students at WWC using a web-based applet called Mapserver. These should be ready by June 2006.    

III. In-Kind Budget  

Considering the personnel time spent on this project beyond that funded by the grant, the following are reasonable estimates for in-kind contributions from partner organizations.  

IV. Publications/Presentations  

Bartels, P.J. & Nelson, D.R. (2001). Tardigrade inventory status report. Annual ATBI Conference, Gatlinburg , TN.

Bartels, P.J. & Nelson, D.R. (2002). Tardigrade inventory status report. Annual ATBI Conference, Gatlinburg , TN.

Bartels, P.J. & Nelson, D.R. (2003). Tardigrade inventory status report. Annual ATBI Conference, Gatlinburg , TN.

Bartels, P.J. & Nelson, D.R. (2004). Tardigrade inventory status report. Annual ATBI Conference, Gatlinburg , TN.

Bartels, P.J. & Nelson, D.R. (2005). Tardigrade inventory status report. Annual ATBI Conference, Gatlinburg , TN.

Bartels, P.J. (2003). The ATBI and the Phylum Tardigrada. Natural Science Seminar, Warren Wilson College , Asheville , NC .

Bartels, P.J. & Nelson, D.R. (2006). A large-scale, multi-habitat inventory of the Phylum Tardigrada in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park . 9 th International Tardigrade Symposium, St. Petersburg , FL. J. Hydrobiologia 558:111-118.

Multiple student presentations, classroom presentations, and educational presentations to teacher groups, and high school groups have also been made. Presentations are also scheduled for the ASB meeting in March, 2006, Western Carolina University in February 2006, and the 10 th International Symposium on Tardigrades in Sicily , June 2006.

Inventory of the diatom flora as part of the Algal TWIG in the All Taxon Biodiversity Inventory (ATBI) in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP) is not yet complete, and preliminary research has identified an algal group (the diatom Eunotia Ehr.) that is taxonomically rich and likely contains species that are endemic to the GSMNP, restricted in range, or new to science. An intensive sampling effort was conducted from May to August 2005 to collect algae from streams and drip walls throughout the GSMNP, focusing on habitats types rich in this acid-loving diatom. Over 370 samples were collected, over 75 of which were from sites where the National Park Service currently collects water quality data. These algal samples are being processed for both light microscope and scanning electron microscope analysis, including photo-documentation. This image-rich collection of Eunotia diversity and their distribution patterns will be combined with ecological information collected during previous and recent sampling efforts, in order to provide a more complete picture of Eunotia ecology, including their potential role as environmental indicators used to assess and monitor natural and human-influenced acid pollution of aquatic habitats, such as those prevalent in the GSMNP.

DATA SUBMITTED to database manager Michael Kunze < michael_kunze@nps.gov> on 24 Feb. 2006 in Excel [DLIA DataSpreadsheet].

PRODUCTS PROMISED in Original Proposal and Their Current Status

1. Product: Targeted sampling of Eunotia rich habitats throughout GSMNP (including geo-referenced sampling locations)
Current Status: Field collections are completed (350+ samples). Samples are continually being processed for microscope analysis. Geo-referenced data is being added to the overall Algal TWIG collection for addition to the DLIA database.

2. Product: Light microscope and scanning electron microscope photo-documentation of Eunotia taxa
Current Status: In progress. Beautiful Eunotia species are photo documented weekly!

3. Product: Species web pages on the ATBI/DLIA web pages
Current Status: In progress

4. Product: Description of the ecology and distribution patterns of Eunotia taxa in relation to characteristics such as pH, geology, and water chemistry.
Current Status: In progress: Water chemistry samples have been analyzed from collections this summer, and additional data will be obtained from the National Park Service in the spring of 2006 from their water quality sites.

5. Product: Spatially explicit GIS model based on the ecological and distribution data.
Current Status: not completed.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES garnered to support this research

Total leveraged funds: from other grants and scholarships: $3100 (sources: Phycological Society of America, North American Benthological Society, Bowling Green State University, Sigma-Xi)

Total value of in-kind resources donated: NSF $1,700

Volunteers
ATBI volunteers ca. 120 hours
Field assistants’ volunteer hours (graduate students, summer field assistant): 250 hours

Water mites are well represented in virtually every freshwater habitat and are among the most abundant, taxonomically diverse, and ecologically important aquatic groups. Yet many species remain undescribed. Our goal was to initiate an extensive survey of water mites in the aquatic environments of Great Smoky Mountain National Park. From 14-27 September 2005, we collected water mites from 56 habitats representing rivers, streams, waterfalls, and springs runs in 11 watersheds across the northern and western perimeter of the Park. We identified mites from 49 genera in 25 families and 7 superfamilies, including two genera not previously found in North America and two others known only from Oregon and California. We estimate that approximately 150 species will be identified from the 2005 collections, many of which will prove to be undescribed and unnamed. Specimens from the Park are making an important contribution to improving our knowledge of the systematics and biogeography of North American water mites and to facilitate greater inclusion of the group in aquatic ecosystem research.

DATA SUBMITTED to database manager Michael Kunze < michael_kunze@nps.gov> on February 8, 2006 in Excel format. (Since Michael was on vacation, it was submitted to Chuck Cooper.)

PRODUCTS PROMISED in Original Proposal and Their Current Status

1. Product: a comprehensive list of water mite families and genera in the Park to be recorded in the ATBI Database.
Current Status: Several thousand specimens from 56 collections were identified to family and genus. Geo-referenced records for all identified taxa have been recorded in the ATBI Database.

2. Product: Information on unexpected or unusual taxa, including those new for the southeastern United States.
Current Status: We discovered undescribed species of two genera, Acherontacarus and Bogatia, which were previously known only from Eurasia. We also collected an undescribed species of Chelohydracarus, an interesting finding since the only previously known species is found in California and Oregon, and Neomideopsis, the only other known species of which lives in Oregon.

3. Product: A preliminary list of species collected in selected genera
Current Status: Approximately 150 species are represented in our collections from 2005 including many undescribed species. We have begun to sort to species and to prepare representative specimens for dissection and slide-mounting so that they can be identified as either named or new species. Preliminary results will be available for some genera by May 2006 and an inventory of all species will be completed by March 2007.

4. Product: material suitable for posting on the DLIA website including a brief illustrated summary of water mite biology, including their role in aquatic ecosystems.
Current Status: We have contributed pages on the life history of water mites including an illustration.

5. Product: digital images of water mite taxa and their habitats.
Current Status: Some water mite images were produced and used in the powerpoint presentation made at the 2005 ATBI Annual Conference, but we are working on increasing the quality of the images through a collaborative effort with Rod Nelson who has considerable expertise with auto-montage photography. (Dr. Nelson presented images of slime molds at the 2005 ATBI Annual Conference). We will make these images available for the ATBI website as they become available.

6. Presentation of our results at the ATBI Annual Conference.
Current Status: Co-Investigator, Andrea Radwell, presented preliminary findings at the December 2005 ATBI Annual Conference.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES garnered to support this research

Total leveraged funds: $ 1,200.00. Total value of in-kind resources donated: $59,200

Leveraged source: CanaColl Grant for Dr. Radwell to travel to Ottawa, Ontario, Canada for taxonomic work on 2005 water mite collections $ 1,200

In-kind contributions:
Professional expertise - Ian M. Smith $30,000
Professional expertise - Andrea J. Radwell $15,000
Technical expertise - Michelle McKenzie $10,000
Museum grade vials, stoppers, preservative, slides, and labels $ 4,000
Auto-montage digital camera use at the University of Arkansas $ 200

Pyrenomycetes represent one of the largest groups of fungi, but are also one of the most poorly known most likely due to their small size (usually <1mm diameter) and cryptic nature. These organisms occur throughout all geographical areas on plant material and dung, where they play an essential role in nutrient cycling and decomposition of organic matter. Pyreno Pursuit, which was held September 5-10, 2005, was the first attempt to bring together experts to inventory the diversity of pyrenomycetes in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park . Collecting occurred throughout the Park in six locations including Alum Cave , Big Creek, Cades Cove, Greenbrier, Purchase Knob, and Sugarlands Visitor Center . This week-long bioblitz produced a total of 226 collections comprising 91 species and resulting in 65 (71%) new Park records and three new species to science. Products resulting from this bioblitz include: 1) a species checklist, 2) a georeferenced database with distribution and host data, 3) fresh material which will be used in creating future species web pages and identification guides, and 4) publications of new Park records and new species to science.

DATA SUBMITTED to database manager Michael Kunze < michael_kunze@nps.gov> on _ January 31, 2006___(date) in __ Microsoft Excel__(format).

PRODUCTS PROMISED in Original Proposal and Their Current Status

1. Product: species checklist
Current Status: complete

2. Product: georeferenced specimen data
Current Status: complete

3. Product fresh material for creating future species web pages and identification guides
Current Status: The fresh material has been obtained and the species web pages and identification guides are currently in progress.

4. Product : publications of new Park records and new species to science
Current Status: A paper on one of the new species to science is currently being prepared. Papers describing the other two species will soon follow.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES garnered to support this research

Total leveraged funds: $370,000
Total value of in-kind resources donated: $25,920
Leveraged source #1: National Science Foundation, Biodiversity Surveys & Inventories Grant $370,000

During June and July of 2005 the PI (Robert T. Allen) and his associates were able to collect repreentatives of one or more of the apterygote hexapod orders (Protura, Collembola, Diplura, Microcoryphia) from 95 different localities in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Approximately 500 Diplura, 600+ Protura, and 37 Microcoryphia were collected. An undetermined number of Protura and Collembola remain in alcohol. Among the Diplura were 4 previously described species and 1 or 2 possibly new species. The Protura were represented by 11 previously described species and possibly 9 new species. The Microcoryphia represented two previously described and one undescribed new species. No specimens of Thysanura were collected, although 1 immature specimen belonging to this order was identified from material previously collected in a Malaise trap. The work to date shows that the GSMNP supports a healthy population of most of the apterygote hexapod orders. A great deal of additional work would be required to adequately define this fauna.

DATA SUBMITTED to database manager Michael Kunze < michael_kunze@nps.gov> on 23, March 2006____________(date) in DLIA fromat ____________(format).

PRODUCTS PROMISED in Original Proposal and Their Current Status

1. Product: A list of identified species collected (Diplura, Microcoryphia) with associated collection data
Current Status: Submitted in this report and in the data format.

2. Product: Submission of all necessary collection data and identifications in a usable digital format o the DLIA and GSMNP for their respective data bases
Current Status : Submitted on 23 March, 2006 to DLIA data manager.

3. Product: Publication of new species description in refereed scientific journals.
Current Status: 3 manuscripts in preparation, submission anticipated before 1 July 2006.

4. Product: Submission of voucher specimens to the GSMNP Arthropod collection.
Current Status: Vouchers of previously described species will be submitted on or before 1 April, 2006. New species will be submitted on acceptance of manuscripts for publication.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES garnered to support this research

Total leveraged funds: $5,500.00 approximately
Total value of in-kind resources donated:
Leveraged source #1: Robert T. and Sue Allen, personel funds $5000.00
Leveraged source #2: Mr. Greg Cowper $500.00

We spent the summer of 2005 collecting ants that are found generally just in the leaf litter. This under-studied and under-sampled group of organisms likely play key roles in ecosystem function and affect the diversity of countless other organisms, yet little is known about their distribution or abundance. Along with a team of undergraduates (~5) and graduate students (2), we collected data from 16-m 2 plots at 11 forested sites. To date, we have identified ~60 ant species. Several important results have emerged from these data. The most important result is that our sampling techniques collect an almost entirely different set of species than the techniques used so far (e.g., pitfall traps). However, richness of leaflitter ants and ground foraging ants track one another in both space and time. We also devoted some time to processing samples from Chuck Parker’s “how to conduct ant ATBI” project. Together, these activities have provided a wealth of information on ant diversity in the Great Smokies. To date, we have three manuscripts in press, one in review, and have applied for several other grants.

DATA SUBMITTED to database manager Michael Kunze < michael_kunze@nps.gov> on 1/26/06 (date) in .txt format.

PRODUCTS PROMISED in Original Proposal and Their Current Status:

1. Updated species list.
Current Status Product: 90% complete. We are currently planning a trip to Harvard to confirm identifications of specimens from 2 genera. We have also been processing Chuck Parker’s ATBI samples and Colin Favret’s samples. Together, these thee different samples will prove to be very informative.

2. Product__Georeferenced database. Have Lat Long coordinates for all collections.
Current Status _Complete.

3. Product_Web pages for each species.
Current Status _Though this is a great idea, we’ve been beaten to the punch by another organization.

4. Product: IGERT Pre-proposal.
Current Status: See below

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES garnered to support this research:
Leveraged source: Two NSF grants applied for; both still pending. $190,000
Leveraged source: IGERT Training Grant (pre-proposal) pending
Leveraged source: Several in-house grants $ ~45,000

Great Smoky Mountains National Park comprises more than half a million acres and serves as refuge for one of the richest and most diverse communities of plants and animals in the temperate world. The richness has led to the park’s designation as an International Biosphere Reserve. Climate, topography, the north-south orientation of the mountains, large tracts of old-growth and contiguous forests, and protection as a national park have all contributed to this abundance.

But while we know the park possesses a vast and varied assemblage of life forms, there is still much we don’t know in terms of the number and identity of species. Consider, for instance, that some estimates the park possesses more than 100,000 species, excluding bacteria –yet it have been estimated only a small percentage of them. Because of this lack of basic resource knowledge, National Park Service managers are continually hampered in their critical decision making efforts.

A new research initiative has grown from the need to learn more about all of the park’s varied species. Termed an All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory (ATBI), this research effort represents a comprehensive inventory of all life forms in Great Smoky Mountains National Park . It may be completed in 10-15 years and therefore represents a comprehensive undertaking. Before it is finished, the project will tap the expertise of taxonomist (people who differentiate, classify plants and animals and are interested in discover how they live), data specialist, biologist, botanist and ecologist, among others. Once completed ATBI will provide a baseline from which to measure change. In conducting their research, these specialists will sample the park, discovering and documenting nearly all the species that occur there. This type of scientific survey has never been undertaken on such a scale anywhere in the world, and it will serve as model for future projects in other national parks and protected areas. This effort is founded on the notion that knowledge is essential for effective preservation.

The park must complete its all taxa inventory as soon as possible if it hopes to preserve the greatest number of resources and acquire the knowledge necessary to make better informed management decisions. Specifically, the goals of the inventory are to:

• Complete a comprehensive “Checklist” of life forms in the park.
• Gather data to create initial range maps for each species. These maps, based on extrapolations from sampled habitats, will be crucial for the protection of natural resources.
• Compile natural history information on each species, including its relative abundance, its response to various climatic conditions, photographs of each of its life stages, its role in the greater ecosystem, its relationship with other species, and digital recordings of its calls or sounds.
• Organize the information gathered and make it available to scientist, educators, land managers, students, and all other interested parties via the World Wide Web and other media.

In the summer of 2005, April Meyers, a teacher from Clinton Middle School, assisted staff at Tremont in bird banding, Monarch larvae monitoring, moth inventorying, dragonfly collections, dung beetle collections, fungi mapping, tree mapping, ozone biomonitoring, and stream salamander monitoring. April incorporated several aspects of ATBI into her lessons, including a biodiversity study of schoolyard biodiversity, focusing on invertebrates and tree identification. April is also planning to set-up an ozone garden to teach her students about air pollution and to serve as food and cover for wildlife and pollinators.

In the summer of 2006, Carol Engebretson, an assistant principal from Central High School, assisted us with our 10-day Field Ecology class, where she was expsosed to a number of different field activities, including moth collecting, black bear trapping, salamander monitoring, and tree mapping. Carol was particularly interested in Tremont’s Tree Mapping Project and is planning on implementing a similar study at her school. Carol also helped teach moth identification and biology at Tremont; she hopes to set-up a similar study at her school. Since Carol is an administrator, she hopes to use her influence to encourage teachers to use the schoolyard environment as a tool for teaching.

DATA SUBMITTED to database manager Michael Kunze < michael_kunze@nps.gov> on Sept. 2005 (date) in Excel Spreadsheet (format). Data from this summer will be included in our end of the year ATBI report to the park in MS Access (ATBI Database Software).

PRODUCTS PROMISED in Original Proposal and Their Current Status

1. Product: To provide an opportunity for two local teachers to learn about the ATBI and to gain scientific skills to share with students.

Current Status: The teacher intern from 2005 was exposed to a number of different ATBI-related projects; she incorporated a schoolyard biodiversity project into her lessons. The teacher intern from 2006 is planning on incorporating tree identification and moth inventorying at her school.

2. Product: To provide data for the ATBI.

Current Status: Data was submitted from the 2005 ATBI intern in September 2005; data from the 2006 intern will be included in Tremont’s yearly ATBI database report to be given to Michael Kunze by the end of the year.

3. Product: To continue improving both the scientific and educational aspects of our ATBI activities.

Current Status: In the summer of 2006, Tremont established a Terrestrial Salamander Monitoring Project where we are testing 2 types of cover boards to attract salamanders. This study will be used to teach the scientific method and hypothesis testing to students, as well as to provide another venue for talking about the ATBI. We have incorporated ATBI projects such as Fungi Mapping and Dung Beetle Collecting to our all day hikes, which our staff regularly leads for school groups at Tremont.

4. Product: To develop relationships with local teachers that will facilitate their continuing participation in the ATBI and incorporation of ATBI research into the classroom.

Current Status: Our Citizen Science Director has maintained close contact with both teachers, offering advice and encouragement. In addition, our Citizen Science Director has gone to other local schools to talk about Citizen Science and the ATBI. Because of these contacts, we have had several school groups volunteer their time for Monarch Tagging, Stream Salamander Surveys, Fungi Mapping, and Dung Beetle Collecting.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES garnered to support this research

Total leveraged funds: 0
Total value of in-kind resources donated: $3,078

REPORT TEXT:

Background

In 2005, Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont received a grant from Discover Life in America (DLIA) to support local school teachers in an internship that involves them in the All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory (ATBI). The objectives of these internships were to: 1) provide and opportunity for two local school teachers to learn about the ATBI and to gain scientific skills to share with students; 2) provide data for the ATBI; 3) continue improving both the scientific and educational aspects of our ATBI activities; and 4) develop relationships with local teachers that will facilitate their continuing participation in the ATBI and incorporation of ATBI research into the classroom.

In 2005, Tremont agreed to host two ATBI interns, each receiving a stipend of $600 from the grant. Because one of the two interns had major surgery and was unable to meet her obligations, it was agreed that the remaining $600 would be used to secure an ATBI teacher intern during the summer of 2006. This report discusses the benefits of the grant for both the 2005 and 2006 ATBI Teacher Interns.

2005 Grant Recipient – April Meyers

April Meyers teaches at Clinton Middle School. During her 80-hour internship at Tremont, April assisted in bird banding, Monarch larvae monitoring, the moth inventory, dragonfly inventory, dung beetle collections, fungi mapping, tree mapping, ozone biomonitoring, and stream salamander monitoring. She also participated in two days of Hellbender tagging with Dr. Freake of Lee University.

At school, April incorporated several aspects of the ATBI into her lessons. She initiated a biodiversity study of schoolyard animals, including investigating dung beetles found in scat. She used beat sheets to sample invertebrates with her students. The students were amazed at how many insects fell on the sheet after hitting the tree branch a couple of times. She led her students on a schoolyard tree identification hike, an activity she modeled after Tremont’s Tree Mapping Project.

April was particularly interested in the ozone biomonitoring. She talked to her students about ozone and they explored the Hands on the Land website that shows the different graphs of species affected by ozone damage, including data from Tremont and Purchase Knob. Because of the students’ interest in this issue, her class is in the planning stages of planting an ozone garden, a garden that will not only benefit wildlife and pollinators, but also serve as a bioindicator of ozone levels at the school.

2006 Grant Recipient - Carol Engebretson

Carol Engebretson is an assistant principal at Central High School in Morgan County, Tennessee. Prior to becoming an assistant principal, she spent many years in the classroom as a science teacher for Central Middle School and was selected as Teacher of the Year for Morgan County in 2004. While at Tremont, Carol assisted with our 10-day Field Ecology Adventure Camp. This camp allowed her to be exposed to a number of different activities, from moth collecting to helping a University of Tennessee grad student trap and collect data on black bears (we trapped and helped collect data on four bears). During her internship, Carol became particularly interested in Tremont’s Tree Mapping Project, where we have participants identify and measure the tree’s DBH (diameter at breast height) along a 30 m section of trail. She hopes to include this activity as a schoolyard project – her school has over 45 acres, much of it forested. Carol also taught moth biology and identification and helped camp participants identify moths from Tremont’s long-running Moth Inventory Project. The moth project intrigued her and she is looking into ways to set up a similar study at her school. Since she is an administrator, she hopes to use her influence to encourage teachers to use the schoolyard environment as a tool for teaching.

In-kind Support

Support #1: Hiring, training, and supervision by the Citizen Science Director (80 hours of in-kind support) $ 1250

Support #2: All equipment to conduct the research (including microscope, GPS units, collecting equipment, insect pinning materials, and appropriate keys and identification guides) $ 1350

Support #3: Computer access for data entry and presentation, using MS Access and ArcView $ 900

Support #4: Indoor laboratory area for processing samples $ 35

Support #5: Administration of payroll $ 15

Support #6: Continued follow-up with the teacher interns during the following school year (~20 hrs. of in-kind support) $ 312

Support #7: Provide meals and housing for interns $ 226

Conclusion

The ATBI Teacher Intern Grant has enabled local educators to gain knowledge and learn field skills concerning the All Taxa Biodiveristy Inventory and Tremont’s citizen science projects. Both teachers are already implementing the skills they learned at Tremont and applying these new skills both in the classroom and in the schoolyard. Our Citizen Science Director has been in contact with both educators, offering advice and encouragement. A follow-up visit to the schools is planned in the fall, to help the educators implement some of their projects. Tremont feels that this has been a successful program and would like to discuss the possibility of continuing this grant in 2007 by hosting two more local teachers.

Pollination is one of the most important and least known ecosystem functions. The relationships of bees to specific plants are still little known and while some bee species are broad generalists, other species may be much more specialized as to the plants they visit for pollen and nectar. Two field workers—recent college graduates—with assistance from 9 high school interns, collected 593 pollinators at 95 sites on the North Carolina side of the park, either while the insects were visiting one of 46 flowering plants or using colored bowls of soapy water to attract and catch bees. Specimens are currently being identified to generate species lists for each flower. The data has been entered into a spreadsheet version of the ATBI database and will be submitted to DLIA as specimens are identified. Species web pages were written for the bumblebees and the honey bee. A taxonomic expert is currently reviewing the text.

DATA SUBMITTED to database manager Michael Kunze < michael_kunze@nps.gov> on _ pending____(date) in _ excel______(format). >>Records entered into Chuck Cooper’s Excel version of the ATBI database, but awaiting identification of insect specimens.

PRODUCTS PROMISED in Original Proposal and Their Current Status

1. Product: identify bees and other insects associated with the blooms of 14 targeted rare plants and other flowering species at Purchase Knob and other sites in the park.
Current Status: Eight of the 14 target species were observed for multiple mornings during their blooming period. Insect visitors were collected from seven of those eight plants, a total of 186 specimens. One of the target species— Malus coronaria—did not bloom in 2005 and we were unable to locate the remaining five target species based on historical records. Flower visitors were collected for an additional 39 species of flowering plant during the spring and summer.

2. Product: continue to add to the park species list for bees.
Current Status: To date, no new species of bee has been identified from the material produced by this project. We were able to locate historic records in the literature for two species of Bombus that were not on the park list. Specimens continue to be identified and new species may turn up. At least one rare species was collected, but only in bowl traps and not at any flowers.

3. Product: provide work experience to high school and college students or recent college graduates that will help them with their careers.
Current Status: We hired two interns fresh out of college, one from UNC— Asheville and the other from Warren-Wilson College . In addition, we were able to provide a small amount of funding to a high school graduate who volunteered to assist with pollinator work, to compensate her for mileage in her personal vehicle. In addition to gaining field experience and letters of recommendation, these field workers were also given opportunities to assist with inventory work with hellbenders, avian parasites, moths, land snails, beetles, fungi, and reptiles, on several occasions getting to work with PIs of other DLIA or park-funded projects.

4. Product: produce species web pages for the genus Bombus (bumble bees) and as many other bee or host plant species as can be written within the timing of this project.
Current Status: Sixteen species web pages were written during the summer and fall of 2005, representing all known species of the genera Bombus and Apis found in the Smokies. These web pages are currently being reviewed for content errors by Adriean Mayor before they are posted.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES garnered to support this research
Total leveraged funds: Total value of in-kind resources donated: ~$1,465.00
Leveraged source #1: Burroughs Wellcome Fund—intern salaries $1,465.00

ATBI sampling for crane flies (Diptera; Tipuloidea) in 2005 focused on collecting in areas of the Park that has have previously received low sampling pressure and on collecting in microhabitats such as springs, seepage areas, and stream margins in an effort to target species that may not have been collected in previous sampling. A two-week collection trip was conducted between the 10 th and 20 th of May and resulted in the collection of 67 species with 23 species collected for the first time during ATBI sampling and 8 representing new species records for GRSM. One undescribed species, Achyrolimonia n.s., was collected in Greenbriar Cove and represents a new genus record for the Nearctic region. Additional collecting was conducted at Twin Creeks where Malaise trapping was conducted for the entire year in an attempt to determine the amount of trapping pressure needed to completely characterize the species composition of an area, these specimens are currently being sorted and identified. Additional specimens were also requested from the Diptera TWIG.

DATA SUBMITTED to database manager Michael Kunze < michael_kunze@nps.gov> on February 20, 2006 in text format.

PRODUCTS PROMISED in Original Proposal and Their Current Status

1. Product: Updated species list.
Current Status: Two weeks of spring sampling in May of 2005 resulted in the collection of 423 positively-identified specimens representing 67 species. Twenty-three of these species were previously uncollected during the ATBI with 8 species representing new species records for the Park and large range extensions from the northeastern US and 1 newly discovered undescribed species.

2. Product: Expanded records of temporal and spatial species distributions.
Current Status: Twelve additional areas were investigated that had previously seen little sampling pressure. These records will help to expand known distribution patterns of crane flies and give evidence that phenoloy models produced for species previously collected during the ATBI pilot project accurately display patterns of adult fly distribution and presence.

3. Product: Geo-referenced specimens for inclusion in GRSM natural history collection.
Current Status: Over 400 specimens collected during this sampling season have been prepared for incorporation into the museum collection of GRSM. The majority of these specimens were collected as dry pointed specimens and will help supplement the previous collection material that is almost entirely preserved in alcohol. These specimens will greatly expand the representation of this diverse and readily encountered family.

4. Product: Field guide for the identification and collection of crane flies of GRSM.
Current Status: Images of all species collected during this season’s fieldwork are currently being taken for inclusion in both species pages and for inclusion in the field guide for collection and preparation of crane fly specimens. A finished version of the collection guide will be available this spring and will be distributed to interested persons through DLIA. Species pages are currently under construction for all species collected during this research.

5. Product: Collection of specimens for use in systematic revision and phylogenetic investigation.
Current Status: A revision and phylogeny of the genus Lipsothrix Loew is currently being conducted by the PI that greatly utilizes specimens collected during this research. Specimens collected during this research are currently being utilized in a phylogenetic investigation into the familial relationships within the superfamily Tipuloidea utilizing both molecular and morphological characters. This project will additionally provide specimens for use in current research to help to test the utility of three genes (CAD, AATS, and Per) for phylogenetic investigations.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES garnered to support this research
None.

We are documenting the biologies, distributions, host relationships, and immature stages of tephritid flies in GSMNP. These “true fruit flies” are colorful insects whose immature stages are plant feeders. GSMNP, with an estimated 60-70 species of fruit flies, is a hot spot of tephritid diversity, as it harbors over half of all the fruit fly species known from all of eastern North America. Methods include mass-trapping, targeted collecting, and dissection of infested plants to reveal details of feeding, development time, mortality factors, parasites and predators.

Since 1999, we have documented the presence and distribution of ca. 55 species (2 or more undescribed) and 42 of their host plants in the Park, based on 2,000+ adults and 1,000+ larval specimens. Immature stages of at least 27 species have been collected and preserved; and 42 species of live adult tephritid flies occurring in GSMNP have been photographed. In addition, numerous photographs of hosts, larval stages, galls, mines, and habitats have been obtained. Videotapes of live adults of about 20 species have been filmed. The photographs and videotapes are being incorporated into the web pages for these species.

DATA SUBMITTED to database manager Michael Kunze < michael_kunze@nps.gov> on 28 Feb 2006 in Excel format.

PRODUCTS PROMISED in Original Proposal and Their Current Status

1. Product: Checklist of tephritid flies of GSMNP
Current Status: ca. 55 species recorded (taxonomy of some is unresolved)

2. Product: ATBI Database
Current Status: 217 records added for total of 800 records

3. Product: Labelled, identified, vouchered specimens in FSCA and GSMP
Current Status: More than 2,000 pinned adults and >1,000 preserved larvae since 1999

4. Product: Documentation of host records and phenologies
Current Status: Host records for ca. 40 species and flight and/or larval data for 46 species.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES garnered to support this research
Total value of in-kind resources donated: $12,540

Over 1,000 bulk 6-ft Malaise trap samples representing over 2,000 trap-days in GSMNP have been sorted to major and minor orders. Over 6,000 Diptera were pinned, labeled and sorted to 48 families. Over 5,000 of these specimens were made available to taxonomic specialists resulting in identification of 135 taxa, of which 68 are new GSMNP records and at least two are undescribed species.

DATA SUBMITTED to database manager Michael Kunze < michael_kunze@nps.gov> on 6 April 2006 in Excel format.

PRODUCTS PROMISED in Original Proposal and Their Current Status

1. Product: Checklist of the Diptera of GSMNP (1,600+ species)
Current Status: Names of about 75% of the checklist have been validated and annotated with earliest known collection date and collector, identifier, repository, and record source

2. Product: Georeferenced specimen/occurrence database (1,000+ records)
Current Status: 461 records submitted, more in progress as loans are returned

3. Product: Labeled and identified specimens permanently preserved in FSCA and GSMNP (5,000+)
Current Status: 6,224 specimens pinned and labeled; 1,560 specimens identified comprising 135 taxa and 68 new Park records. (Pinned specimens represent <<1% of total number of specimens in the bulk samples.)

4. Product: Publication in peer-reviewed scientific journals
Current Status: one publication, two presentations

5. Product: Thousands of non-target specimens of other arthropod Orders permanently preserved and stored at the FSCA, and transferred to cooperating scientists
Current Status: About 90% of all Malaise trap samples fully sorted to major orders; ca. 17,000 Hymenoptera being processed; 416 vials of minor orders in alcohol to be transferred to aquatic insects TWiG.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES garnered to support this research
Total value of in-kind resources donated: $15,815

The Lepidoptera TWIG ran a 4-day bioblitz in May to gather additional DNA barcoding data and crypreservation samples. Participating scientists took samples from about 30 traps and mercury vapor collecting sheets as well as daytime collecting. We sampled about 400 total species and prepared vouchers for about 1000 DNA barcoding samples and 200 cryopreservation samples. We now have DNA samples from approximately 2/3 of the known park fauna, and our efforts continue to add several new records each sampling period.

DATA SUBMITTED to database manager Michael Kunze < michael_kunze@nps.gov> on Jan. 2006 (date) in Filemaker Pro (format).

PRODUCTS PROMISED in Original Proposal and Their Current Status

1. Product: DNA vouchering of up to 75% of known park species
Current Status: We current have about 2/3 coverage of known park species with other specimens already sampled, but awaiting identification.

2. Product: Additional cryopreserved samples to AMNH
Current Status: We deposited about 200 additional samples at the cryopreservation facility at the American Museum. These are available for use by other researchers.

3. Product: Progress on publications from Smokies survey work
Current Status: We currently have 3 publications from the Lepidoptera TWIG, 2 by Michael Pogue on groups of the Noctuidae in the park (both in Zootaxa) and “The Caterpillars of Eastern North America” by David Wagner, that used a significant amount of material from our park collecting efforts. In addition, a publication by Scholtens and Wagner will be forthcoming from the symposium sponsored by the Association of Southeastern Biologists at their annual meeting in Gatlinburg. We have several other publications in various stages of completion, mainly systematic work, but also a listing of known park species and a paper on the use of bioblitzes to survey Lepidoptera.

4. Product: Database fully integrated with the DLIA and park databases.
Current Status: Database has been submitted and should be fully accessible soon. This will add over 21,000 records to the ATBI database and will make possible mapping of taxa and correlation with other variables such as vegetation or soil types.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES garnered to support this research
Total leveraged funds: $7400 Total value of in-kind resources donated: about $5000
Leveraged source #1_Funding to Paul Hebert, University of Guelph_ $ 6000
Leveraged source #2_Funding to AMNH $ 900
Leveraged source #3_Funding to USDA through Mike Pogue $ 500

Aphids are small plant-feeding insects with complicated life cycles. Species of aphids are generally restricted to a narrow taxonomic range of hosts, and host identity is usually necessary for correctly identifying an aphid. The 2005 season marks the third and final year of an aphid survey of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, already shown to harbor a diverse aphid fauna. In 2005, areas of the park that contain particular plants known to host aphids will be targeted for sampling, with particular emphasis given to those ecological areas not yet sampled. Among other plants, sedges, ferns, and asters will be targeted, and mud flats, balds, and other unique areas will be visited. Furthermore, many aphids are tended by ants, and working out aphid-ant relationships will be a secondary focus of the project.

All specimens of the widely recognized and important beetle family Cerambycidae (longhorned beetles) from Malaise and Lindgren trap samples collected during the structured protocol phases of the ATBI were sorted, prepared, and identified to species. These specimens, and those from LSAM collecting activities, resulted in a database of 1,540 specimens representing 159 species and 88 genera. Data were submitted to DLIA and NPS. Webpages are being prepared for these species as suitable habitat photographs and/or live photographs become available. In addition to cerambycid webpages, webpages produced by LSAM staff for species in the following families are represented on the DLIA website: Nitidulidae, Carabidae, Eucnemidae, Nosodendridae, Leiodidae, and Staphylinidae.

New-to-science taxa that have been published, submitted for publication, or are in final stages of preparation by LSAM students and staff include Philothermus stephani Gimmel and Slipinski (2007) (Cerylonidae), Ptomaphagus “merritti” (Tishechkin, in press) (Leiodidae), Anillinus “pusillus” and A. “ceiglerae” (Sokolov et al., submitted) (Carabidae), and Arianops “hiltenae” ( Carlton , in preparation).

DATA SUBMITTED to database manager Michael Kunze ( michael_kunze@nps.gov) on June 9 th, 2006 and updated in December 2006.

PRODUCTS PROMISED in Original Proposal and Their Current Status

1. We will provide beetle identifications and distributional data for malaise trap samples generated by the Great Smoky Mountain National Park ’s structured collecting protocols for the beetle family Cerambycidae.

Status - completed. In addition, all cerambycids from all events and all collectors have been identified and databased.

2. We will submit two manuscripts describing new taxa to a refereed journal.

Status - completed. One has been published, one is accepted and in press, a third is submitted and in review, and a fourth is in final stages of preparation.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES garnered to support this research:

Total leveraged funds: $3,249.

Leveraged source #1: 2.5% Salary Chris Carlton $1,919.

Leveraged source #2: Graduate Assistantship (one month) Gimmel $1,313.

A Mega Bioblitz for the Coleoptera (Beetle) Twig of the GSMNP ATBI was conducted June 1-15, 2005. Sixty invitations were sent to Coleopterists in the US and 5 invitations to international scientists. Of those, 4 scientists who work with beetle families that are poorly represented on the species list maintained by the Twig Leader, Chris Carlton. http://entomology.lsu.edu/lsam/smokybeetles.htm, were offered and paid $250 each as a participant fee. Twelve researchers and nineteen citizen scientists participated. With the help of Jeanie Hilten at DLIA, housing was arranged and the training and participation of volunteers was coordinated. A public educational display and talk was presented to the public at Sugarlands Visitor’s Center. Interns from Tremont Institute and the Appalachian Highlands Science Learning Center were instructed on collecting techniques and collected beetles during the blitz and during the rest of the summer. Collecting was done throughout the park. The researchers e-mailed identifications as they were completed, resulting in 19 new park records. Work on identifications continues. Identified specimens were returned to the Louisiana State Arthropod Museum to be databased. An updated dataset of all beetles identified and their localities, including those from this Blitz was forwarded to DLIA and the GSMNP.

DATA SUBMITTED to database manager Michael Kunze (michael_kunze@nps.gov) on June 9 th, 2006 and updated in December 2006.

PRODUCTS PROMISED in Original Proposal and Their Current Status

1. Product -- Organize a Beetle Blitz to allow specialists to travel to GSMNP.

Current Status -- Completed, June 16, 2005

2. Product -- Have on-sight mounting, labeling and identifications accomplished.

Current Status -- Completed. Laboratory space was set up at the UT Greenbrier Field Station and approximately 1000 specimens were processed with many identifications in the families Cantharidae and Lycidae.

3. Product -- Train high school students and citizen volunteers to assist researchers with their sampling efforts. Encourage interactions with researchers to foster greater understanding of GSMNP biodiversity.

Current Status -- Completed. Most training was accomplished by Jeanie Hilton prior to the Blitz but a short training session during the 1 st day of the Blitz was held. Volunteer/scientist interactions during the blitz were coordinated as well as training of high school students/interns at Purchase Knob. Supplies were purchased and used for volunteers and scientists.

4. Product – Provide access to knowledge about beetles via publications and website.

Current Status - In progress. http://entomology.lsu.edu/lsam/smokybeetles.htm , the LSAM website contains the current status of the beetle Twig and current publications. Specimens collected during the Blitz are on this list although some are still in the process of identification. Researchers continue sending their reports of identified material to Chris Carlton the Twig leader, for inclusion on the website.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES garnered to support this research

Total leveraged funds:$2,720.

Total value of in-kind resources donated:

Leveraged source #1: 5% Salary Victoria Bayless - LSU = $2,000.

Leveraged source # 2: Vehicle use - LSU @36/mi = $720.

Report text

Researchers Victoria Bayless and Chris Carlton led a two week "beetle megablitz" during June 2005. Areas of expertise, researchers participating, and their association were as follows: Staphylinidae- Chris Carlton (LSAM); Histeri