Taxonomic Working Group Research

Taxonomic Working Groups (TWIGs) have been established to organize the efforts of scientists working the All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory (ATBI).
Depending on practical considerations of research, some TWIGs are composed of individual orders, such as Lepidoptera or Coleoptera.
Others TWIGs are combined into broader groups such as aquatic insects, or larger taxa such as vascular plants or fungi.
For more links to scientists doing research in the Park on the ATBI visit Links Related to the All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory.

Dr. David Wagner, Lepidoptera TWIG, with Upward Bound Youth.

Photo by Rebecca Shiflett.

TWIG Groups & Leaders

Algae
- Rex Lowe, Bowling Green State University, lowe@bgnet.bgsu.edu.
  - Algae Crew - Great Smoky Mountains National Park
  - Algae ATBI - Bowling Green State University
- Jeff Johansen, John Carroll University, johansen@jcu.edu.
Apterygotes and Myriapods
- Ernie Bernard, University of Tennessee, ebernard@utk.edu.
Aquatic Insect Orders
- John Morse, Clemson University, jmorse@clemson.edu.
- Chuck Parker, USGS, Chuck_Parker@usgs.gov.
Coleoptera, Strepsiptera
- Christopher Carlton, Louisiana State University, ccarlt@lsu.edu.
  - Documenting Beetle Diversity in GSMNP.
Diptera
- Gary Steck, The Museum of Entomology FSCA (Gainesville).
- Bruce Sutton, The Museum of Entomology FSCA (Gainesville).
Fungi
- Fungus Herbarium - University of Tennessee
- Karen Hughes, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Karen Hughes.
- Ron Petersen, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Ron Petersen.
Hemiptera
Hymenoptera
Lepidoptera
- Dave Wagner, University of Connecticut, dwagner@uconnvm.uconn.edu.
- Brian Scholtens, College of Charleston, scholtensb@cofc.edu.
Mammals
- Don Linzey, Wytheville Community College, VA, wclinzd@wcc.vccs.edu.
Mites, ticks, fleas, lice
Mollusks, Crustaceans
Nematodes
- Ernie Bernard, University of Tennessee, ebernard@utk.edu.
Neuroptera, Mecoptera, Psocoptera, Zoraptera, Thysanoptera, Embioptera, Orthopteroids
Parasites
Plants
- Patricia Cox; pbcox@tva.gov
Protists
Slime Molds
- Steve Stephenson, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, slsteph@uark.edu.
  - The Eumycetozoans Project
  - Myxomycetes & Other Slime Molds
Spiders
- Fred Coyle; coyle@email.wcu.edu
Tardigrades
- Paul Bartels, Warren Wilson College, pbartels@warren-wilson.edu.
Vermes - Worms and Worm-like Groups
- Mark Wetzel, Illinois Natural History Survey, mjwetzel@uiuc.edu.
Viruses, Bacteria

For more information, or to participate in a TWIG, contact Dr. Becky Nichols, Great Smoky Mountains National Park entomologist, at 865-436-1702, or becky_nichols@nps.gov.

Summary of TWIG Functions:

Twig Members:

deeply involved in organization of the TWIG
or
committed to research in the Park

Duties:

gather data agreed upon in Park
have some level of ID, curation
report activities to TWIG leader and submit appropriate reports
assist in orientation/training of volunteers
provides input for proposals to TWIG leader

TWIG Leaders:

maintain list of members and their expertise
develop a budget for the TWIG
interface with larger taxonomic community
track and coordinate TWIG activities
on a trial basis, serve as first filter for data authorization
coordinates proposals for funding among members and with �gatekeepers�
distributes timely info on volunteers to members
helps select/orient volunteers

With Funding:

distribute specimens to TWIG members (sort to family, etc.)
develop active field program for TWIG
maintain Biota database
represent TWIG at the annual ATBI conference
coordinate training of volunteers

Gatekeeper:

administration of all TWIGs
keeps all TWIGs and �Branch Leaders� informed
contributes to newsletter
gathers information from each TWIG, organizes it, and disseminates to all
tracks or leads proposal development from TWIGs

The DLIA/ATBI site is hosted and supported by

and