Insect Inventory at Walnut Canyon National Monument

Szydlo M and Alpert G. Insect Inventory at Walnut Canyon National Monument. 2020-2021. National Park Service

This research has produced the collection of insect species not previously documented within the Colorado Plateau and a previously undescribed insect species. This inventory project cataloged and created a dataset for insect specimens collected in the park to make the data usable for decisions about insect-borne diseases and other resource management issues. In coordination with Colorado Plateau Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit researchers Northern Arizona University and the Museum of Northern Arizona, the Walnut Canyon National Monument has embarked upon a six year study to inventory insect species within Walnut Canyon. Over 6000 specimens - representing 337 species - have been collected, pinned, imaged, museum cataloged, and databased as part of a larger project. Northern Arizona University Walnut Canyon National Monument Collection (NAU-WACA) is an important collection of both specimens and associated images of arthropods within Walnut Canyon National Monument on the Colorado Plateau. The goal of the WACA collection, on behalf of the National Park Service and NAU, is to represent material relevant to ecologists, taxonomists, conservationists and the public. Mark Szydlo Biologist for the National Park Service, and Gary Alpert, Biologist at Northern Arizona University have been contributing specimens for curation into this collection.

Type
Project
Authors
Szydlo, Mark; Alpert, Gary
Publisher
National Park Service
Units
WACA
Keywords
Arthropods, collections, Colorado Plateau, curation, Ecdysis, images, IMD, Insects, National Park Service, NPS, NPS Inventory and Monitoring Division, NPS Species Inventory Program, specimens, WACA, Walnut Canyon National Monument

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