2004 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 2004 season.  Dr. John Morse, Discover Life in America Board member and Science Committee Co-Chair, administered the grant program, in its fifth year. The review panel included seven DLIA scientists. Requests totaled $67,247 for the $60,000 budgeted for this year.

Fifteen proposals were funded. The research delved into a variety of life forms in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, including aphids, ants, aquatic worms, beetles, grasshoppers, lichens, micro-fungi, fruit flies, and tardigrades. One of this year’s projects involved teachers and students designing and conducting scientific research in the Park. Educational workshops and bio-quests for lichens and for Lepidoptera 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. Contact Jeanie Hilten at jeanie@dlia.org for complete reports.

A total of 1440 bark samples (480 per species) were assayed for presence of mycobiota. Over 3,604 isolates were obtained over the three sampling dates. Total numbers of fungi isolated differed significantly (P=0.05) with sample date. Even though total isolations appeared to be almost numerically equal between the healthy and infected/infested tree bark samples, across the three sampling dates, significant differences occurred (Table 2-In attached). When isolation frequencies were compared by bark sampling position, significantly greater numbers of fungi were obtained from samples collected at 0.3 and 0.6 m than at 0.9 and 1.2 m. When compared by individual species, differences in frequencies were also noted between healthy and infected/infested tree bark. From the infected/infested tree bark, the most commonly isolated Phylum was the Fungi Imperfecti at 98%, 93.4% and 97.2%, with a similar trend for healthy bark at 98%, 96.4% and 98.3% for American beech, Fraser fir, and eastern hemlock, respectively (Table 3). Petersen (1978) compiled a list of fungi from GSMNP (Management Report # 29) and 133 species from the Fungi Imperfecti, representing 70 genera of microfungi, were reported. In the 2004 study, six species previously reported were isolated from the bark samples. Other groups of fungi identified during the current investigation were from the Ascomycetes and Zygomycetes, but their percent isolation frequencies were low. Overall, a total of 30 genera were identified from all American beech bark samples, 24 for Fraser fir, and 25 for eastern hemlock. The most common genus Trichoderma, was represented by 12-14 species and comprised 63% of all the isolations for American Beech, 70% for Fraser fir and 57% for eastern hemlock. Other common genera of fungi included Penicillium (5-6 species), Nigrospora and Pestalotia (including Monochaetia and Truncatella). Thysanophora canadensis was previously identified on hemlock in Canada, but this is the first report for that species on eastern hemlock in the GSMNP.

I. Promised Products  

In my 2004 proposal I indicated that the following activities would be carried out during the 2003-2004 grant cycle:

1. Diminish backlog of samples in freezer
2. Double number of specimens identified (from 2000-4000)
3. Describe new species
4. Develop on-line key
5. Begin photocatalogue    

II. Completed Products  

Thanks to three talented undergraduate research students (Saba Alemayehu, Suzy Dobbertin, and Kristal McKelvey), we accomplished much this year. Our current species list (see below) now stands at 65 species, 62 new records, and 13 new to science.  

1. Diminish Backlog of samples in freezer
All samples from all 19 ATBI plots have now been sieved and isolated. Many await slides and identification, but the basic lab work on the basic collection is now completed.  

2. Number of Specimens
In our last report the database contained 1590 specimens. We far exceeded our goal this year, and now have 5450 specimens identified.  

3. Describe New Species
Our alleged new species have been investigated, and most verified, by a number of taxonomic specialists. Currently, specimens are being sent overseas to several colleagues who have agreed to co-author species description papers with Diane Nelson and myself. One new species, Bryodelphax n sp (Fig. 1), has been studied by H. Dastych in Germany . It appears to be very similar to B. tatrensis, but differs by the size of the dentate collar on leg IV. SEMs are now being produced to complete this description.   4.

4. Develop On-Line Key
A Lucid key has been developed for the genera and some species in the park, and is under reconstruction due to update to a new software version. Our goal is to have a complete key of all park species, with photos and range maps by the summer of 2006.  

5. Begin Photocatalogue
We now have over 2000 photos of 40 species. This work has gone a bit slower than we hoped because I have been unsuccessful at securing an adequate photomicroscopy system at my campus. Most of this work has been done in Easley , SC at the warehouse of Martin Microscopes.

The purpose of this project was to begin inventory work on five families of beetles. Efforts were made to examine appropriate literature for records from the Park and to identify the material in the park insect collection. Also, I was able to examine the insect collections at the University of Tennessee, Illinois Natural History Survey, and Smithsonian Institution for records from the Park. Field work resulted in 483 records representing 132 species of which 74 were new to the Park. Collection examination resulted in 87 records but no species new to the park. Literature records were found for 14 species, none of which were new to the Park. Educational work was done with the staff and interns at Tremont and Purchase Knob. They used the inventory work as part of their environmental education programs.

DATA SUBMITTED to database manager Michael Kunze < michael_kunze@nps.gov> on 11 January 2004 in Excel and accepted on ____________(date).

PRODUCTS PROMISED in Original Proposal and Their Current Status

1. Specimen backlog.

Current Status. I processed 103 backlog samples from ATBI malaise traps and 57 samples from Ed DeWalt and Mark Wetzel’s stream inventory work.

2. Field inventory work.

Current Status. Conducted field inventory work trips of 15 days in May (54 samples) and 10 days in June (29 samples). Planned fall trip cancelled due to weather. I focused on ponds, swamps, and temporary pools in Cades Cove and Cataloochee, the most under-collected habitats for these beetles. A total of 75 species new to the park were found.

3. Education.

Current Status. We presented an overview of the project at the DLIA volunteer workshop at Haywood. We trained the staff at Tremont in survey techniques. We trained the staff, interns, and volunteers at Purchase Knob in survey techniques. We led a field trip for Tremont science teacher class. I developed training modules on water beetle and dung beetle sampling. We spent a morning with a nature writer demonstrating this inventory and discussing the goals of ATBI project.

4. Historic specimens.

Current Status. Weexamined the insect collection holdings of University of Tennessee and the Illinois Natural History Survey for specimens of targeted families. This resulted in 87 historic records.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES garnered to support this research

Total leveraged funds: none. Total value of in-kind resources donated: $9621.00

Three trips were made to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park to collect specimens of 3 families of the Order Orthoptera: Acrididae (short horn grasshoppers), Tetrigidae (grouse locusts), and Tridactylidae (pigmy mole crickets). At least 4 species of Acrididae not previously recorded from the park were collected. No new records of Tetrigidae were found and as of yet no species of Tridactylidae are know from the Park.

Added to all previous records we now know that 37 species of Acrididae and 8 species of Tetrigidae occur in the Park. I estimate that eventually another 10 species of the Suborder Caelifera probably will be found in the Park.

DATA SUBMITTED to database manager Michael Kunze < michael_kunze@nps.gov> on 1 Feb 2005____________(date) in ATBI database ____________(format).

PRODUCTS PROMISED in Original Proposal and Their Current Status

1. Product_Specimens of the suborder
Current Status_45 species are now know from the Park but the possibility of at least 10 more species yet to be found.

2. Product_Photos of the species.
Current Status _I have made digital photos of most of the species and will continue to do so.

3. Product_Web pages for each species.
Current Status Currently on hold until a standard format is developed. I plan to work on them this year.

4. Product_work with interns at Purchase House.
Current Status _The scheduled meeting was canceled because of President Ragan’s funeral. Paul Super knows that I will meet with his interns in the future.

5. Product
Current Status

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES garnered to support this research
Total leveraged funds: ____0
Total value of in-kind resources donated: __115 hours

During June and July of 2004 we contracted with art teacher Barbara Wilkes of Scotts Creek Elementary ( Jackson County , NC) to assist high school research interns as they collected specimens and other observations for various ATBI researchers under a grant from the Burroughs Wellcome Fund. Ms. Wilkes provided an adult presence and positive roll model while she learned more about biological diversity and its study. By the end of 2004 she wrote an integrated art and science unit for grades K through 8, tied to North Carolina Standard Course of Study Objectives, which will be presented to DLIA at the end of February, 2005. Ms. Wilkes and the students worked from Oconaluftee to Twentymile, including areas seldom visited by visiting scientists. Georeferenced specimens collected by Ms. Wilkes and the students interns include plant hoppers, grasshoppers, moths, aquatic beetles, spiders, land snails, and spring tails, as well as observations of reptiles. Specimens and observations have been distributed to the appropriate ATBI scientists for identification and databasing. They worked with five other recipients of 2004 DLIA grants, including running a malaise trap at Oconaluftee for Drs. Gary Steck and Bruce Sutton (2004-07). A poster was presented at the 2004 DLIA Conference.

DATA SUBMITTED to database manager Michael Kunze < michael_kunze@nps.gov> on ____________(date) in ____________(format). Specimens submitted to taxonomists for identification and databasing by December 2004.

PRODUCTS PROMISED in Original Proposal and Their Current Status

1. Product___ Georeferenced Specimens_and Observations________________________
Current Status____ Specimens were distributed to taxonomists by December 2004,____ including plant hoppers (Bartlett), algae (Lowe), moths (Scholtens and Pogue for species we could not identify ourselves), beetles (Staines and Mayor), tephritid flies (Sutton and Steck), collembola (Bernard), reptile observations (Cash), and spiders (Mays, with_____ identification assistance from Coyle)._________________________________________

2. Product____ Poster for 2004 DLIA Conference________________________________
Current Status __ A poster describing Ms. Wilkes’ experience and the Integrated Art and Science Unit she wrote was presented at the 2004 DLIA Conference in Gatlinburg. The same poster will also be presented at a curriculum fair for Jackson County teachers at the end of March, 2005, so that they can learn about the unit._________________________

3. Product_____ Presentation of work to park staff summer 2004____________________
Current Status ___ Ms. Wilkes was unable to make her presentation during the summer__ because of scheduling problems, but all the students who worked with her made_______ presentations on July 22, 2004 at Collins Creek Group Picnic Shelter.________________

4. Product_____ Species web pages for selected shrubs and invertebrate associates______
Current Status __ For a variety of technical reasons this did not happen in 2004; we will attempt this again in 2005.__________________________________________________

5. Product____ Curriculum materials for instructing students about biodiversity________
Current Status __ Though not identified as a product in the grant application, Ms. Wilkes prepared a K-8 curriculum to integrate Art and Science through the study of biological diversity. We are exploring ways to post this on the web and a hard-copy folder will be presented to Jeanie Hilton at the end of February or beginning of March._____________

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES garnered to support this research
Total leveraged funds: $8,312.00 Total value of in-kind resources donated: $1,963.00
Leveraged source #1_ Burroughs Wellcome Fund_________________ $_ ~8,312.00

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 51 species (2 undescribed) and 38 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 41 species of live adult tephritid flies occurring in GSMNP have been photographed. In addition, numerous photographs of hosts, larval stages, gall, 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 2005 in Excel format.

PRODUCTS PROMISED in Original Proposal and Their Current Status

1. Product: Checklist of tephritid flies of GSMNP
Current Status: 51 species recorded

2. Product: ATBI Database
Current Status 241 records added for total of 583 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 38 species and flight and/or larval data for 46 species.

5. Product: Checklist of Diptera of GSMNP
Current Status: 1,482 species in 82 families of Diptera.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES garnered to support this research
Total value of in-kind resources donated: $31,565.

In 2004 botanists from the Illinois Natural History Survey (INHS) made three week-long trips to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP) to collect vascular plants and lichens. Collecting trips were conducted in April, July, and October to maximize the number of different species encountered. Once again in 2004, we concentrated our search efforts to the watersheds above Fontana Lake. We collected a total of 941 vascular plant and ~60 lichen specimens. Tentatively eight vascular plants and one lichen new to the park have been found in this area (Two vascular plant species still pending verification). Also, 77 collections of 44 vascular plant species listed as park-rare were vouchered. Voucher specimens of all vascular plant species were collected and will be deposited at ILLS and TENN. Specimens of new park records will also deposited at the GSMNP herbarium located at the Sugarlands Visitor Center. Label data is entered into the INHS herbarium's electronic database and is sent to park personnel and Discover Life in America (DLIA). The INHS herbarium's electronic database is searchable at: http://ellipse. inhs.uiuc.edu:591/INHSCollections/plantsearch.html. Additional lichen specimens are in the process of being identified, labeled, and databased. Specimens and database information will be distributed when completed.

DATA SUBMITTED to database manager Michael Kunze < michael_kunze@nps.gov> on _~April 15, 2004_______(date) in __ Microsoft Excel_____(format).

1. Product Vouchered Specimens

Current Status All specimens collected have been identified. Specimens will be delivered, by Dr. Loy R. Phillippe, to the herbarium at the University of Tennessee ( TENN ) at the Annual Wildflower Pilgrimage in April. Specimens will also be deposited in the herbarium at the Illinois Natural History Survey (ILLS). Specimens of new park records will be given to park personnel at the GSMNP to be deposited in their herbarium (GRSM).

2. Product Database information.

Current Status Specimen data has been entered into the Illinois Natural History Survey herbarium database (FileMaker Pro format) and will be exported into Excel for distribution to GSMNP and DLIA. A few minor changes are being made (upon request by Michael Kunze). Should be ready to send to Michael Kunze in early to mid April. The INHS herbarium database is accessible on the web at: http://ellipse.inhs.uiuc.edu:591/INHSCollections/plantsearch.html

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES garnered to support this research
Total leveraged funds: _________
Total value of in-kind resources donated: $13,093

We spent the summer of 2004 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 13 forested sites. To date, we have identified 23 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.

In 2004 I collected a total of 18 trap nights ranging in elevation from 1478 – 5400 ft. Also included in the data are 2004 records for specimens I identified for the Purchase Knob collection. To date (2004) there are 490 species of Noctuidae or Owlet moths recorded from GSMNP. In 2004, six new noctuid park records were added. All of the new park records were collected by J. Bolling Sullivan in several localities along the north shore of Fontana Lake, where a proposed road may be built. The 490 species represents approximately 90% of the predicted nocutid fauna of GSMNP. Six days were spent collecting at remote sites that were accessed by pack llamas. A total of 1,030 specimens have so far been identified and databased from the 2004 collections. Participation in the Lepidoptera Bio Blitz yielded many localities and specimens. These specimens are in the process of being prepared, labeled, databased, and identified.

DATA SUBMITTED to database manager Michael Kunze < michael_kunze@nps.gov> on 16-Feb-05 (date) in DBF (format).

PRODUCTS PROMISED in Original Proposal and Their Current Status

1. Product: Barcoded, georeferenced specimens in database format
Current Status: 1,030 records have been sent to the database manager, additional specimens from the Lepidoptera Bio Blitz are currently being prepared, these data will be submitted within the next few months

2. Product: Checklist of the Noctuidae from GSMNP
Current Status: This will be submitted to Chuck Parker in EXCEL format.

3. Product: A volunteer monitoring program established
Current Status: I ran a workshop for volunteers in late June. It was a cold and rainy day and night and only a few volunteers were present. Worked with those present, but have had limited feedback since workshop. A student that was present won his school and county (Sevier) science fairs and will be going to the regional fair in April.

4. Product: Results of project presented as a talk at the annual ATBI meeting
Current Status: I presented a talk in December at the ATBI meeting.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES garnered to support this research
Total leveraged funds: $ 1, 720.00 Total value of in-kind resources donated: __________
Leveraged source #1 U.S. Department of Agriculture $1, 720

The blitz was run like previous collecting efforts, but an emphasis was put on getting a complete voucher set of all species seen so that we could take DNA samples and cryopreserve specimens for later study. We were able to get DNA samples from 642 species of Lepidoptera and get cryopreserved samples from more than 300 specimens. The blitz confirmed that our Park list for macrolepidoptera is approaching completion, but the microlepidoptera list is still growing. We added only 24 new species records because most microleps require dissection for positive ID. Significant were the addition of two need families, the Opostegidae and the Epipyropidae as well as a new butterfly, the Olive Hairstreak. Overall the blitz recorded 805 species, 9 of which are currently undescribed. As data is recorded we will be adding several thousand records to our database.

The second of three proposed years of sampling aphids took place in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in 2004. Aphids are small plant-sucking insects with complex life cycles, and knowledge of their host plant is often critical in being able to identify the species. Aphids excrete large amounts of honeydew which attracts attendant ants. Colin Favret and undergraduate student Joshua Duggan spent a combined total of seven weeks collecting in the park in May and June, making almost 200 collections of aphids directly off of their host plants. Host plant vouchers and attendant ants were also collected.

During the fall semester Colin and Josh mounted a series of adult aphids from each collection, making almost 500 microscope slides in the process. All the slides were databased and labeled with collection locality and host data. The specimens were identified as possiple in early 2005. In 2003 we identified 37 species of aphid. In 2004, we determined 63, 48 of which were new records.

In December, Colin and Josh attended the DLIA ATBI annual meeting in Gatlinburg where they presented their preliminary results. One interesting find is the near ubiquity of the foxglove aphid in the park. This cosmopolitan species is one of the few polyphagous aphids. In mid- to late May it was in very large numbers in the park, and we found it on a large number of hosts. In 2003, we even found it on squawroot, the first record of an aphid feeding on a parasitic plant.

DATA SUBMITTED: The data for 489 aphid specimens, including host plants, was submitted as a tab-delimited text file on 13 May 2005.

PRODUCTS PROMISED in Original Proposal and Their Current Status

1. Product: Collection data, taxonomic names, host associations, and attendant ant data.

Current Status: All specimens are mounted to slides and properly curated. 179 collections were made, each with host and full locality data, including geoposition coordinates. Aphid determinations are largely finished, although a few specimens will require extra work. The ants were loaned to ATBI researcher Nathan Sanders and determinations are still underway.

2. Product: Internet-accessible data.

Current Status: All the aphid slides have been databased. The data themselves will be served on the Internet at http://ctap.inhs.uiuc.edu/Insect/search_inhs.asp when the next periodic upload is made to the web-based database, probably at the end of the summer (the 2003 data are available now).

3. Product: Specimens.

Current Status: 489 aphid specimens are prepared and currently kept at the INHS. A synoptic set of aphids will be deposited in the GRSM collection and the National Collection at the end of the project in 2006. The bulk of the material will be housed permanently at the INHS and kept available for future work. 103 ant specimens are currently on loan. Several herbarium sheets have been selected for deposition in the INHS herbarium, including a new park record (this is reported by ATBI researchers Rick Phillippe and colleagues).

4. Product: Undergraduate research training and experience.

Current Status: Joshua Duggan spent five weeks in the park collecting and photographing aphids. He also spent ten hours per week during the fall semester processing, mounting, and examining aphid specimens. He learned useful techniques and had a valuable experience during his last year of college. Josh is now graduated and hopes to find a position in environmental conservation or some similar venture.

5. Product: DNA vouchers and taxonomic work.

Current Status: DNA from 59 aphid specimens was extracted. The DNA sequence data thus gathered will be a significant source of future taxonomic work on aphids, including possibly a future manuscript on the aphids of the park (as proposed in the 2005 proposal).

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES garnered to support this research

Total leveraged funds: $0 Total value of in-kind resources donated: $ 6,599
Leveraged source #1 PI salary $ 2,077
Leveraged source #2 PI fringe benefits $ 672
Leveraged source #3 PI collecting mileage $ 562
Leveraged source #4 F&A for 1-3 (44.3%) $ 1,467
Leveraged source #5 Unrecovered F&A (of $4110) $ 1,821

A total of 14 researcher days were spent in the field at GSMNP involving three scientists and one vocational volunteer. Field sampling for leaf beetles was conducted at 22 sites within GSMNP. A total of 1,335 specimens were collected representing 82 species 305 collecting-event records. Fifteen species were newly recorded from GSMNP and four additional species were newly confirmed for GSMNP. One exotic species was recognized in the park for the first time. Plant association data was recorded for several species including one previously unknown association. One regional endemic was taken using two techniques by which this species had not been previously collected, suggesting that it may be more easily sampled than previously thought.

The text portions of 57 new species pages for eventual link to the Identification Guide to the Leaf Beetles of GSMNP was partially completed. Text portions for the currently available pages were reviewed with minor corrections and updates added. Due to the lack of originally anticipated equipment upgrades, the production of new images as originally proposed was not completed. Additional image production will be delayed until new imaging equipment is installed, permitting the production of much higher quality images (anticipated late 2005-early 2006).

DATA SUBMITTED to database manager Michael Kunze < michael_kunze@nps.gov> on August 10, 2005 in ATBI-Excel spreadsheet format.

PRODUCTS PROMISED in Original Proposal and Their Current Status:

1. Product: Targeted field sampling of leaf beetles.

Current Status: Completed.

2. Product: Production of additional species pages for the Identification Guide

Current Status: Not completed.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES garnered to support this research:

Total leveraged funds: none.
Total value of in-kind resources donated: Scientist time, ca. $6,000.