mapping the insect biodiversity of hispaniola...to map the insect biodiversity of the dominican...

ABSTRACT

The authors propose an Entomology Research Project with a goalto map the insect biodiversity of the Dominican Republic.Distribution patterns of ants, beetles and other insects can besuperimposed on high resolution base maps containing informa-tion on geology, botany and geography. Analysis of insect patternsof distributions can inform scientists, policy makers and the publicon areas rich in biodiversity and endemism.

The Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard Universityunder the research direction of Dr. Brian Farrell and Edward O.Wilson has established a long term research study of the insect bio-diversity of the Dominican Republic. So far, thousands of speci-mens of ants, beetles and other insects have been collected, identi-fied and, geo-referenced. An NSF supported digital imaging ini-tiative has successfully imaged thousands of species of insect typesat the Museum of Comparative Zoology and an effort is underwayto image the insect diversity of the Dominican Republic.

Insects, especially ants and beetles are the focal point for measur-ing biodiversity in tropical and subtropical countries around theworld. Students working in the DR can obtain references, images,classification information and now distribution patterns of insectsfrom their home country. This data can by analyzed and used tomap important areas of endemism, conservation priorities, refugiaand habitat destruction. This existing research and teaching col-laboration project in the field of biodiversity is a model system forbridging technology between countries.

INTRODUCTION

HARVARD IN THE CARIBBEAN

The long history of scientific exchange between the Caribbean and theMuseum of Comparative Zoology (MCZ) at Harvard and neighboringinstitutions places Harvard University in a position to foster researchin this important biogeographic region. The Caribbean ranks in the top

4 of 25 biodiversity hotspots designated by Conservation Internationalfor their high proportions of endemic species. Because the Caribbeanis small relative to other hotspots, a digital encyclopedia of the speciesfound there is within reach, complete with web pages on each speciescontaining high resolution photos, distribution maps and informationon the biology and practical importance to humans.

Professor Brian D. Farrell and Professor E. O. Wilson pursueCaribbean insect studies in the Entomology Department. Farrell focus-es on the evolution of plant-feeding beetles in the superfamiliesCurculionoidea and Chrysomeloidea with their hostplants. Of particu-lar interest is the bark beetle family Scolytidae, well known for theintricate galleries they produce in forest trees. While some bark beetlesare symbiotic with pathogenic fungi that help in their attacks on plants,other bark beetles have become agriculturalists, cultivating particularstrains of fungi deep inside trees for their own food and the often path-ogenic fungi they transport. Because they often attack trees with resins,bark beetles are also among he very most abundant insects represented

in Dominican amber, the fossil resin of an extinct species of tree(Hymenaea) in the bean family Fabacaeae. Professor E. O. Wilson pur-sues research on the ants of the West Indies, also well represented inamber. Farrell and Wilson contribute images of the type specimens ofCaribbean bark beetles and ants to the Caribbean Type Initiative, anonline database complementing the more comprehensive EntomologyType Database. While the MCZ-administered Ernst Mayr grants pro-vide support for researchers from each corner of the globe to visitimportant collections for examination of type specimens, these data-bases bring the types from our collection to researchers worldwide.

THE CONSORTIUM FOR BIODIVERSITY OF THE CARIBBEAN

The Consortium for Biodiversity of the Caribbean (CBC) is aninformal consortium of scientists and institutions committed tofurthering knowledge of the insects and plants of Hispaniola andthe Caribbean and building the capacity of Caribbean scientists tocontribute to that knowledge. The CBC consists of the followingorganizations or institutions: the Departmento Botanica at theJardin Botanico Nacional (JBN), the Department de Entomologiaat the Museo Nacional de Historia Natural (MNHN), the

Fundación Ecológica Punta Cana / Punta Cana Center forSustainable Tourism and Biodiversity Laboratory (PCSB), theDepartment de Biologia at the Universidad Autonoma de SantoDomingo, the Department of Invertebrate Systematics at theCarnegie Museum of Natural History in Pittsburgh (CMNH), theDepartment of Entomology at the Museum of ComparativeZoology at Harvard University (MCZ), the Department ofSystematic Biology at the Smithsonian Institution (SI), andConservation International (CI).

Professor Brian D. Farrell of the MCZ serves as acting supervisorand liaison. The CBC provides an assembly of personnel and equip-ment in three database/imaging centers in the Dominican Republic(at JBN, MNHN, PCSB), and assists these centers in achieving thecommon goals: 1) Complete documentation of native and invasiveinsect and plant species diversity in Hispaniola via barcoding andimaging specimens in the Dominican National Collections andspecimens newly sampled from the National Parks for the databaseserved on the internet at present by the MCZ; and 2) Continuallyimproving the standard of georeferencing and the accuracy in tax-onomy and coverage of diversity in the database in a way consis-tent with the grants that initiated and maintain the centers.

The American centers (CMNH, MCZ, SI) accomplish imaging anddatabasing of their collections of Caribbean specimens as well asdigitizing relevant literature. The CBC has begun with a focus onthe Dominican Republic, with a goal of developing materials, pro-tocols and inter-institutional relationships that facilitate expansionto other countries in the Caribbean and elsewhere, as well as toother components of biodiversity.

OBJECTIVE

The initial objective of the Entomology Research Project is to map all of the specimen level GIS information associated with specimenscollected in the Dominican Republic and Haiti. To date, there are over28,000 specimens in our online database (biocaribe.org), includinginsects and plants, representing several hundred localities. An equal

number of insect specimens and associated data are in process now andmore will come as our research on Hispaniola continues.

The GIS map will then use the collected coordinates to pinpointlocalities on a map. Additional attributes to be associated withthese points will include an image of the specimen, habitat and ele-vation information and notes.

The ultimate goals for the CBC centers are to provide a completedatabase of insects and plants of Hispaniola via mechanisms thatstrengthen Dominican scientists and institutions, and provide docu-mentation of best practices for use in other countries. These prac-tices provide the mechanism for simultaneous digitization of histor-ical and new collections in the DR, with the goal of reaching aneventual equilibrium with new acquisitions and collections. At thesame time, each of the CBC centers contributes to this effort in away that strengthens the personnel and institution via production ofdeliverable products, such as field guides and posters, based onspecimens entered into the database. While the Dominican databaseand supporting centers are currently managed by the MCZ, the goalis to eventually establish the information technology infrastructurefor serving the database on the web from the Dominican Republic,and encourage substantial participation of additional partners ormembers with the establishment of additional CBC centers in theDR and in Haiti, Jamaica, Puerto Rico and Cuba.

FUTURE

Over the next five years, it is anticipated that this project will result inthe first near-complete online searchable atlas, together with maps andimages, of the insect fauna of any country, especially timely with today'sfocus on biodiversity hotspots and inventory of the planet's biota.

MAPPING THE INSECT BIODIVERSITYOF HISPANIOLA

ENTOMOLOGY RESEARCH PROJECT MUSEUM OF COMPARATIVE ZOOLOGYBRIAN FARRELL, EDWARD O. WILSON, GARY ALPERT & DAVID TURELL