Download 3. Arthropods of the Washington, D.C., Area, Emphasizing Dyke

Laboratory of Entomology and Biodiversity
Georgetown University
Washington, D.C. 20057-1229
Arthropods of the Washington, D.C., Area, Emphasizing
Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve and Rock Creek Park
Edward M. Barrows, Daniel S. Kjar, Christianne R. Bird, Bao Q. Chung,
Toan Q. Chung, and Matthew R. Minor
The 11 National Capital Parks may have over 6,000 arthropod
species, including centipedes, daddylonglegs, diplurans, insects,
isopods, millipedes, mites, proturans, spiders, springtails, and ticks.
Arthropoda is the most diverse animal phylum in the Washington,
D.C., Area. Arthropods are key organisms that provide many
ecosystem services.
They include aerating soil, controlling
population sizes of other organisms through parasitism and predation,
pollinating, recycling nutrients, and serving as food for other
organisms.
Since 1975, the Laboratory of Entomology and Biodiversity (LEB)
has been observing local arthropods in the Parks, concentrating on
Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve (DMWP) and Rock Creek Park
(ROCR).
Materials and Methods
Our lab collected information on DMWP arthropods by visual
sampling from 1995–2003; Malaise trapping, 1998–1999; pitfalltrapping, 2000–2003; and soil-core sampling, 2002–2003.
The lab collected information on ROCR arthropods from 1975–2003
by visual sampling. The lab performed an extensive literature search
for arthropod species, present or expected in the Washington, D.C.,
Area.
Results
Our lab produced three searchable, on-line databases that regard
National Capital Parks.
• The Biodiversity Database of the Washington, D.C., Area (BDWA)
contains annotated images of 1,000s of local arthropods and other
organisms (Figure 1).
• Arthropods of the Washington, D.C., Area: A Searchable Online
Database (AWDCAD) contains over 12,000 records of arthropod
species of Washington, D.C.; Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey,
Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia (Figure 2). This database
includes records from ROCR and DMWP.
Figure 2. AWDCAD.
• Arthropods of Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve, Virginia: A Searchable
Online Database (ADMWPD) contains records of over 1000 arthropod
species and morphospecies from DMWP (Figure 3).
Discussion
Our lab plans to continue adding data to the three databases in the
forthcoming years. This information is useful for managing National
Capital Parks in view of the many threats that these Park face. They
include air, light, noise, soil, and water pollution; alien, invasive
organisms; and possible pesticide use against mosquitoes that carry the
West Nile Virus challenge the Parks.
Acknowledgements
We thank Friends of Dyke Marsh, Georgetown University, the National
Park Service, and the Washington Biologists’ Field Club for supporting
our research.
Literature Cited
Barrows, E. M. and D. S. Kjar. 2004. Arthropods of Dyke Marsh Wildlife
Preserve, Virginia: A Searchable Online Database (ADMWPD). Website.
http://data.georgetown.edu/departments/biology/nps/dmwp.cfm
Barrows, E. M. and D. S. Kjar. 2004. Biodiversity Database of the Washington,
D.C., Area (BDWA). Website. http://biodiversity.georgetown.edu
Barrows, E. M., D. S. Kjar, C. R. Bird, B. Q. Chung, T. Q. Chung, and M. R. Minor.
2004. Arthropods of the Washington, D.C., Area: A Searchable Online Database
(AWDCAD). Website. http://data.georgetown.edu/departments/biology/nps
Figure 1. BDWA.
Figure 3. ADMWP.