Project Description
This project created digital access and online resources for the ground beetle specimens in the sizeable H. J. Andrews Experimental Forest's entomological voucher collection. There are nearly 100 species of ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) reported from the H. J. Andrews - most of which are represented by specimens housed in the Oregon State Arthropod Collection.
For each of the known species, high resolution images were created from three views (dorsal, lateral and ventral). In addition, a image of the entire unit tray - often showing an entire series of specimens - was taken. All of the images are linked in a MySQL relational database to relevant taxonomic, biological and curatorial information via a permanent, unique specimen identification number. The permanent specimen number provides a 'tag' by which information for any given voucher specimen can be retrieved irregardless of whether its taxonomic name remains stable.
Several interfaces to the data are provided. The first is via pre-set browsing functions through a specially designed portal. This allows HJA researchers to browse through the list of taxa or view all of the images (as if using a published field guide). Users with knowledge of the taxonomic name for a particular group may use a search function to view only those records of interest.
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- Project Taxa - Alphabetical list of species associated with this project
- Project Images - View hyperlinked images of vouchered specimens associated with this project
- Project Specimen(s)
Introduction
The Carabidae, or ground beetles, are a biological diverse and ecologically important element of the forest insect community. The vast majority of ground beetles are active predators, hunting for prey items on the forest floor, in trees and vegetation and within the soil itself. However, not all are entirely predatory and a number of species are scavengers of suitable animal and plant plant tissue.
Ground beetles belong to the Adephaga, the second largest suborder within the Coleoptera. Although the Adephaga constitute only around 10% of beetle species biodiversity worldwide they are quite abundant - especially in moist and aquatic environments. The tiger beetles (Carabidae: Cincindellinae) were for many years considered their own family, but are here treated as a subfamily within the Carabidae.
There are currently 100 species of ground beetle reported from the H. J. Andrews Experimental Forest. There are most certainly many more carabid specieds to be found and/or confirmed and it is hoped that this online resource will help researchers recognize species that have yet to be documented at the H.J. Andrews.
Project Participants:
Mr. Adam Martinez
Dr. Christopher J. Marshall
Dr. Barbara J. Bond
| H. J. Andrews Experimental Forest National Science Foundation |
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