Research Training Program

Smithsonian Institution
National Museum of Natural History

PROJECT SUMMARY
1997

Katherine Bash
University of Texas
Austin, Texas
John Brown, Ph.D.
Supervising Scientist
Department of Entomology
USDA
"An incredible educational experience and amazing exposure to information and tools which added immense and invaluable depth to my scientific training."

Geometridae (Lepidoptera) of a coastal scrub ecosystem in Southern California

ABSTRACT
Over the last decade, the maintenance of biological diversity has become an issue of both local and global concern. The values of maintaining biodiversity are numerous and have been summarized as ethical, aesthetic, economic, and "ecosystem services." The knowledge gained from inventories will lead to more efficient methods of maintaining biological diversity. Inherent in the maintenance of biological diversity are the processes of management and monitoring so that trends in community composition, which may signal adverse environmental change, can be detected and remedied. Because it is virtually impossible to monitor all aspects of a local or regional biota, specific taxonomic groups generally are selected as indicator or umbrella species based on a variety of factors relative to their response to changing environmental conditions. Because the interrelationships between insects and other organisms form the most prevalent and comprehensive elements of the fabric of biological communities, insects may exhibit rapid and perceivable responses to habitat modification. In addition, standardized sampling techniques are available for many insects; sampling and storage of large numbers of insects are easy and efficient. The use of Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths) as an exemplar taxa has additional advantages that include the relative ease of identification to the species level and the high taxonomic correlation to the diversity of vascular plants. In this study, preliminary data on the family Geometridae was generated from a survey conducted at National Air Station Miramar. An inventory of the family was developed for an undisturbed and rapidly disappearing southern California coastal eco-system. Based on the temporal distribution of the family at this site, a more efficient sampling strategy was developed for future work within the coastal scrub ecosystem. It was found that over 90% of the geometrids may be captured during five months (i.e., February, March, April, May, and December). For the purposes of monitoring, a data base was developed against which potential changes in the fauna can be detected and measured.

This research was supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation's Research Experience for Undergraduates Program - award number: BIR - 9531331.

Letter of Gratitude