Collecting Team Activities in FY99
Date: Thu, 11 Mar 1999 12:05:21 -0500
From: Chuck_Parker@nps.gov (Chuck Parker)
Subject: Collecting Team Activities in FY99
To: bright.cheryl@nmnh.si.edu, cover@oeb.harvard.edu,
dietrich@denr1.igis.uiuc.edu, dl@discoverlife.org,
dwagner@uconnvm.uconn.edu, ebpvr@clemson.edu,
foster.mercedes@nmnh.si.edu, jody@discoverlife.org, jwrassoc@erols.com,
moth@ra.msstate.edu, mroossinck@noble.org, msharkey@byron.ca.uky.edu,
paulevi@webaccess.net, rokeller@davidson.edu, rude0001@acpub.duke.edu,
sgj@ornl.gov, sjames@mum.edu, wgall@buffnet.net,
Keith_Langdon@nps.gov (Keith Langdon),
Becky_Nichols@nps.gov (Becky Nichols)
Greetings,
I want to update you on what is going on at this point in time
regarding the Collecting Team. You should have recieved a general
update about DLIA from Jody Flemming recently, and I also just sent
out our report on the CT discussions at last December's DLIA meeting.
[Thanks to Jan for writing the report in a timely fashion, a pox on me
for failing to get it out sooner.]
March 1 was the official start of the pilot year for the ATBI.
Accordingly, on March 1 I attached fresh jars of alcohol to the two
Malaise traps that are set up on the demonstration plot across the
creek from my office at Twin Creeks. Monday, March 15, I will
retrieve those bottles and install the replacements. The ATBI has
begun! Unfortunately, it may not get much bigger than that in the
near future. The CT has not recieved any funds from DLIA, so we can't
buy any new traps, bear fences, etc. The Sorting Team will be funded
at about $8,000 this year, which should allow Becky to buy basic
necessities and hire a seasonal employee. She thinks they will be
able to process the samples from the Twin Creeks Malaise traps. But,
more importantly, it does not appear that the taxonomic working groups
are ready to process bulk samples this year, with the exceptions of
the Diptera, Hymenoptera, and aquatic orders twigs. The aquatic twig
will collect and process a number of light trap samples from
throughout the Park this year, and we will turn the residue over to
the sorting team. The Apterygote twig has their hands full processing
samples from an NSF-funded spider survey that has been ongoing in the
Park for several years, and cannot handle additional pitfall, litter,
or soil samples. I do not want to collect lots of samples that will
just sit on the shelf, so I recommend that our activities be limited
to the Malaise traps at Twin Creeks. Other than that, I suggest that
we concentrate on specific collecting that meets the needs of
taxonomists who are ready, willing, and able to process material this
year. This type of activity does not actually come under the
responsibility of the CT, but I personally will do everything I can to
facilitate the work of anyone who comes to the Park this year.
The emphasis on ATBI activities this year seems to be on Nature
Quests, or BioBlitzes. The Diptera twig is planning a Nature Quest
over the Memorial Day weekend to coincide with a national meeting to
be held in Boone, NC. The fungi twig is organizing an outing with the
Asheville mushroom club. Other quests may happen with other groups.
Some groups will hold quests next year, or later.
If you have questions, comments, or observations, please send an email
or a letter, or give me a phone call at (423) 436-1704.
Chuck
| Discover Life in America | Science | Collecting Plan | Parker - 11 March, 1999 |