Beetle Blitz, 2003—Intensive Sampling and Identification of Coleoptera in GSMNP
Beetle Blitz, 2003—Intensive Sampling and Identification of Coleoptera in GSMNP
Funding supplied by this proposal will support the Coleoptera (beetle) collecting event, Beetle-Blitz 2003 (July 17-20). A team of highly qualified researchers will focus on groups that are poorly known from the GSMNP. Funding will be used to support eight of these scientists in the form of $250 honoraria. Supplies for collecting specimens will be purchased for volunteer workers and students to use during the Blitz. Basic travel costs for the organizers are also covered. The Blitz will be coordinated with educational and volunteer programs, and results will be posted on the “Smoky Beetle” Website.
The goal of this proposal was to organize and conduct a Bioblitz for the Coleoptera (Beetle) Twig of the GSMNP ATBI during the summer of 2003. “Beetle Blitz –2003” was held July 17-20. Fifty invitations were sent to Coleopterists who work with beetle families that are poorly represented on the species list maintained by the Twig Leader, Chris Carlton. http://www.agctr.lsu.edu/Inst/Research/Departments/arthropodmuseum/smokybeetles.htm . Of those, 7 scientists were offered honoraria of $250 each to assist with their travel expenses. A total of 19 researchers participated. With the help of Jeanie Hilten at DLIA, housing was arranged for those participating. She also coordinated the training and participation of volunteers. A guided collecting walk was offered to the public at the Sugarlands Visitor’s Center. Interns from Tremont Institute and Upward Bound students participated at the Appalachian Highlands Science Learning Center. An on-site laboratory was set up at the UT Greenbrier field station and identifications of previously collected beetles were done by the experts. The researchers have already or will send Chris Carlton a report of the species collected. Specimens were returned to the Louisiana State Arthropod Museum to be databased. The information databased is being forwarded through the Coleoptera Twig to the ATBI Database.
