Author
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Brown, John |
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Submitted to: Bulletin of the Biological Society of Washington
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal Publication Acceptance Date: 6/1/2006 Publication Date: 5/21/2008 Citation: Brown, J.W. 2008. The invertebrate fauna of plummers island, maryland: introduction and background. Bulletin of the Biological Society of Washington. 83:352-357. Interpretive Summary: Although many invertebrates are important pests of forest, ornamental, and agricultural plants, they also may be useful indicators of habitat health and water quality. They represent the largest living component of virtually all terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems. This paper is the introductory chapter of a collection of papers on the invertebrate fauna of Plummers Island, Maryland, a small section of an extensive linear National Park that parallels the Potomac River. These papers combine to document over 3,000 species of invertebrates within the 19-hectare site. The information reported in these papers will be of value to those interested in biodiversity studies, to scientists involved in inventories of insects, and to state and federal agencies responsible for developing appropriate management strategies for public lands maintained for habitat conservation and recreation. Technical Abstract: The biota of Plummers Island, Maryland, the research home of the Washington Biologists’ Field Club, has been the subject of countless biological investigations over the last 100 years. And while the flora and vertebrate fauna are fairly well known, the invertebrate fauna remains poorly documented with the exception of several families of insects. This paper presents a brief description of the site, notes on land use over the last 100 years, and comments on collecting and research activities focused on invertebrates. It also serves as an introduction for the contributions that constitute this volume - a collection of papers on various aspects of the invertebrate fauna. |
