Natural Resource Year in Review--2001National Park Service; U.S. Department of the Interior; arrowhead logo
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New life form discovered in 2001 at Great Smoky Mountains National Park--Hypogastrura
In 2001 scientists continued their discovery and documentation of species not only new to Great Smoky Mountains National Park but also new to science. The two insects shown here (genus Hypogastrura, above, and Agrenia, below) are among the 228 species that have never been described before the comprehensive survey of all life occurring in the national park.
(2) University of Tennessee, Dr. Ernie Bernard

New life form discovered in 2001 at Great Smoky Mountains National Park--Agrenia

Becky Nichols
Entomologist, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee and North Carolina

Keith Langdon
 Inventory and Monitoring Coordinator, Great Smoky Mountains National Park




Back to Chapter 3: National Parks as Laboratories

Articles

Urban refuge for rare amphipods in the National Capital Region
By Diane Pavek

Monitoring volcanic and earthquake unrest in Yellowstone
By Tom Olliff

Rest from grazing at Chaco
By Annie Esperanza and Judy Rocchio

Lessons from the 1988 Yellowstone fires
By Tami Blackford and Mary Ann Franke


Other Developments

Parks for science

Journey into Amazing Caves premieres


   All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory--Finding our hidden biodiversity
By Becky Nichols and Keith Langdon

The fourth year of the All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory (ATBI) in Great Smoky Mountains National Park was very successful. Accomplishments include scientific and educational advancements, facility expansion, and increased volunteer involvement, all being realized under the park’s partnership with Discover Life in America, the nonprofit organization leading the project.

From a scientific viewpoint, a tremendous amount of information is being collected regarding species’ ranges, habitats, and relationships. An amazing number of new species has been found in just four years since the project began. At the end of 2001, the tally of newly discovered, undescribed species was 228, and the number of new records for the park was 1,613. The majority of new discoveries are arthropods, although other groups are also represented, such as algae, fungi, slime molds, and worms. Some of the more notable finds in 2001 are a new species of leaf litter flea beetle, a group previously unknown in North America, and a new species of moth that represents a new North American record for its genus and tribe (one taxonomic level above genus); one of the many new species of Collembola (springtails) discovered represents not only an undescribed species but also an undescribed genus.

The Biological Resources Division of the U.S. Geological Survey has funded a study to determine the specifics of conducting an ATBI using passive invertebrate collecting devices in a plot system. Information about seasonal occurrence, relative abundance, and species distribution and diversity is being gathered. This information will help determine the most efficient and lowest-impact sampling methods. The study is also leading to the development of protocols that can be used for the remainder of the ATBI in the Smokies and in many other parks and reserves. (Point Reyes National Seashore began planning in 2001 for a marine species ATBI.)

One method for collecting data and creating enthusiasm for the project is the “bio-blitz.” This series of events brings together amateur and professional biologists to document park species in a short time period, and has been held in the past for butterflies and moths, algae, and flies. In 2001, several world-class coleopterists were here to participate in a beetle bio-blitz, resulting in many new records for the park. Also, as part of this event, a large number of Upward Bound high school students (minority and disadvantaged science and math students) collected species, learned basic identification skills, and interacted with the scientists. Volunteer Training Days were also held, involving orientation and skills training for anyone interested in participating in ATBI activities. Sorting, collecting, distribution mapping, photography, scientist hosting, and Web page development are all skills and services in need of public involvement in the ATBI.

In addition to scientific advancements, 2001 was a good year for many other aspects of the ATBI. The Purchase Knob Science Learning Center was further developed to facilitate science-education programs for the Appalachian Highlands Inventory and Monitoring Network. The facility is now open to accommodate ATBI scientists and others. The annual ATBI conference was held in November in Gatlinburg, and approximately 150 scientists attended. Since 1999, Discover Life in America has distributed $150,000 in grants to researchers, and to help increase this level of funding, it hired a full-time fund-raiser in 2001. With this type of staff expertise, Discover Life in America will be better able to seek the levels of funding necessary to build on the work completed so far.

Group photo--participants in the All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory The All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory of Great Smoky Mountains National Park relies on the energy and dedication of hundreds of scientists and volunteers. The group gathered in November 2001 for the annual ATBI conference, held in the park, to review their progress.
Kemp Davis Jr.

This material is from Natural Resource Year in Review--2001, published by the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, in May 2001 (publication D-2255)
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Last Updated: 1/10/2008