Sagehen Creek Field Station

12 Aug, 05 AM - 17 Aug, 02 AM

Project description ? Caterino ? Sagehen Creek August, 2003 I am currently working to compile a comprehensive inventory and distributional database of California beetle species. The project will integrate information from published literature, existing collections (including those of the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, CA Dept of Food and Agriculture, California Academy of Sciences, LA County Museum, and the major University of California museums), and fieldwork. Many areas of the state and many of the less conspicuous beetles remain extremely poorly known. Undescribed species are still being routinely discovered, and even named species are rarely known from more than a few locations. I am undertaking focused surveys at selected sites around the state. So far these have been concentrated near my home base in Santa Barbara. But as some of these surveys near completion, I am beginning to expand this operation. I am currently working with several other UC reserves, including Coal Oil Point, Carpinteria Salt Marsh, Big Creek, Santa Cruz Island, and Sedgwick, as well as some government and private preserves. The goal of this fieldwork is to document the complete beetle faunas of each site, to begin to be able to analyze broad distributional patterns, abundance and impact of non-native species, possible declines of native species, etc. This visit (5 days) to the Sagehen Creek Field Station will be my first, and as such I?ll spend considerable time familiarizing myself with the area. But I will also undertake some intensive, if brief, collecting. Methods to be employed will include: 1. Flight intercept traps - a simple mesh barrier (1m x 2m) hung between two trees or posts. Many beetles in flight will drop upon hitting this barrier into pans of preservative beneath. 2. Pitfall traps - small (quart-size) cups are buried flush with the surface of the ground. Some will be unbaited while others will be baited with decaying meat and dung (for carrion and dung beetles). A 3/8 inch chicken wire mesh over the cup excludes vertebrates. 3. Malaise trap ? A tent-like trap for insects whose natural tendency upon hitting a barrier is to grab and climb. They are collected in a bottle of ethanol at the top. 4. Lights - blacklights and mercury vapor lights will be set up to attract nocturnals. The mercury vapor light runs on a very small gasoline generator, which allows it to be placed far from roads and buildings. The generator is quiet, has a spark arrester, and will be attended at all times. 5. General collecting - various plants will be sampled directly, by beating (tapping branches over a square meter sheet) and sweeping with a net. Rocks and logs will be turned, etc. All specimens collected will be georeferenced and databased, and will be housed in the collections of the Department of Invertebrate Zoology at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History. The Museum is currently working on the digital infrastructure necessary to serve collections data online, so that soon any researcher w*W?1be able to access specimen data resulting from this fieldwork. I hold a Scientific Collecting Permit from the California Department of Fish and Game, and will furnish a copy upon arrival. For a more complete description of the larger project please see the California Beetle Project homepage: http://www.sbnature.org/collections/invert/entom/cbphomepage.htm

Visit #1786 @Sagehen Creek Field Station

Approved

Under Project # 1445 | Research

California Beetle Project

faculty - Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History

Reservation Members(s)

Michael Caterino Aug 12 - 17, 2003 (6 days)

Reserve Resources(s) | Create Invoice

Classroom 1 Aug 12 - 17, 2003
East Cabin (Lower Camp) 1 Aug 12 - 17, 2003
Lab / Classroom 1 Aug 12 - 17, 2003