Dr. Scholtens

The Lepidoptera Twig of the Great Smoky Mountains ATBI plans a Lepidoptera quest/bioblitz for late July of 2004.   We have been very successful with similar efforts in 2000 and 2002.   Our emphasis this coming summer will be gathering a large amount of georeferenced specimen data on larger moths, working toward piloting dynamic web pages for some of the groups of macrolepidoptera.   Over the course of the blitz we hope to add several thousand data points to our existing data base of over 15,000 records.   In addition we propose to start a major effort to document the DNA sequences of the CO1 gene for most of the macrolepidoptera taken on the blitz (likely several hundred species).   Dr. Paul Hebert of the University of Guelph will coordinate this effort, which will provide valuable data for anyone doing systematic work on eastern North American moths groups.   In addition it will provide a database to allow identifications even in the larval stage, by comparing sequences with known adults.

Dr. Wagner

Principal Investigator

PI Name:  Dr. Brian G Scholtens

PI Organization:  College of Charleston, SC, Biology Dept.

Co-investigator #1

Co-PI Name:  Dr. David Wagner

Co-PI Organization:  University of Connecticut

Primary Taxonomist

Taxonomist Name:  Dr. Brian G Scholtens

Taxonomist Organization:  College of Charleston, SC, Biology Dept.