Summary of proposed field methods and activities: Sampling Myriapods is a low-impact process. Collecting is done by turning over leaf piles with a millipede rake (see Means et al. 2015) to expose specimens at the soil-leaf interface. Rocks and logs are also rolled over to search for specimens. Leaf litter samples are sometimes taken and processed with a Berlese funnel to extract small-bodied individuals. After an area has been searched, logs and rocks are turned back over and leaves spread out to return the area to its pre-disturbed state. Numbers of Myriapods collected will range from 10-30 specimens, depending on quality of the habitat and success of the search. Both millipedes (Diplopoda) and centipedes (Chilopoda) will be collected, to contribute to related research on species groups by the Marek Lab. In the case of leaf litter samples, other incidental leaf litter arthropods including insects and spiders are collected as well, but not in numbers large enough to cause strains on the local populations.

PI aims to collect specimens of selected species of harvestmen/grand-daddy-long-legs (Opiliones) and centipedes (Chilopoda) to better understand their place in the arthropod tree of life. For almost two decades his laboratory has been working on the phylogenetic relationships of centipedes and harvestmen.

PI aims to collect specimens of selected species of harvestmen/grand-daddy-long-legs (Opiliones) and centipedes (Chilopoda) to better understand their place in the arthropod tree of life. For almost two decades his laboratory has been working on the phylogenetic relationships of centipedes and harvestmen.

PI and his team used ropes to scale trees of primarily five species (ash, tulip poplar, red maple, white pine, and white oak) and describe fungi, myxomycetes (slimemolds), mosses, liverworts, lichens, and ferns from tree canopies and at different heights along the trunk. In addition to basic inventory work, they described a new species of slimemold and determined that slimemold diversity did not change with height on a tree, but did change with the pH of the bark. They found several species that had been rarely encountered in ground-based surveys to be quite common in the canopies. Some sites high in trees built up considerable soil, along with springtails and other soil-dwelling invertebrates.

PI and his team used ropes to scale trees of primarily five species (ash, tulip poplar, red maple, white pine, and white oak) and describe fungi, myxomycetes (slimemolds), mosses, liverworts, lichens, and ferns from tree canopies and at different heights along the trunk. In addition to basic inventory work, they described a new species of slimemold and determined that slimemold diversity did not change with height on a tree, but did change with the pH of the bark. They found several species that had been rarely encountered in ground-based surveys to be quite common in the canopies. Some sites high in trees built up considerable soil, along with springtails and other soil-dwelling invertebrates.

Bird banding data from various research projects conducted within Great Smoky Mountains National Park, including but not limited to studies GRSM-00013, -00014, -00112, -00128, -00163, -00164, -00434, -00570, -00721, -00793, -00857, -00984, -01101, -01804, and -01805. This data is periodically downloaded from the USGS Bird Banding Lab. Most birds were captured in mist nets and fitted with a single metal numeric band. Some individuals were also fitted with plastic colored bands to facilitate identification when seen free in the field. Additional data collected includes species, age, sex, molt, reproductive status, date, capture location, capture time, and/or ectoparasites present.

Wildflower phenology data recorded from 13 plots of 2 meter square, at The Purchase area and near Chimneys Picnic Area. Most data involve species in bloom and number of blooms per species per square, but other phenophases are also recorded on flowering and non-flowering plants for most plots. Chimneys Picnic Area data extends back to 2000, Purchase data to 2011 (previously certified).

Wildflower phenology data recorded from 13 plots of 2 meter square, at The Purchase area and near Chimneys Picnic Area. Most data involve species in bloom and number of blooms per species per square, but other phenophases are also recorded on flowering and non-flowering plants for most plots. Chimneys Picnic Area data extends back to 2000, Purchase data to 2011 (previously certified).

Field Methods: I will sample salamanders at five locations within Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Collections will take place during June 2015. D. quadramaculatus and D. marmoratus will be located by visually searching streams, stream edges, and beneath rocks within streams. All efforts will be made to minimize impact on the habitat. Each salamander found will be hand-captured and placed in a new, clean plastic bag with a small amount of water to keep their skin moist. Salamanders will then be measured with calipers for snout-vent length, tail length, and cranial length and width. An approximately 5 mm piece of tissue will be removed from the tail tip for use in genetic analyses. To minimize handling stress, salamander measurements and tissue collection will take place in the field, adjacent to capture sites, and salamanders will be released at their point of capture immediately afterwards.

Field Methods: My work will test three predictions: (1) Hemlock decline alters nutrient cycling and decomposition rates. (2) Hemlock decline alters plant and soil communities, including microbial (bacteria and fungi) and soil arthropods (ants). (3) Hemlock decline and ant interactions with ecosystem processes will vary across elevation. To test my predictions, I will establish a series of 10- 20 m2 plots throughout the GSMNP to inventory and monitor hemlock stands. I will choose sites across a gradient of elevation throughout the park. Additionally I will classify each site based on its hemlock mortality (calculated using the percent of the hemlock crown remaining). Vegetation sampling: All overstory trees within plots will be identified to species and the diameter at breast height measured. All shrubs and tree saplings will be identified to species and the density of individual stems will be calculated. All hemlock seedlings within the plots will be counted. Within each of these 20 m2 plots, 10 randomly stratified 1 m2 subplots will be established for understory woody vegetation, herbs, and ferns, which will be identified to species, and percent groundcover will be estimated to determine density. I will compare community composition, richness, and structure (for the overstory trees) across each of the 20 m2 plots. Soil community sampling: To assess the soil community I will remove soil cores, sample ants, and take measurements of soils in situ at three locations within each 20 m2 plot. To monitor the ant community, I will lay out 10 pitfall traps within each plot, which will be left open for 48 hours. After this time, pitfall traps will be collected and taken to my lab to have the contents sorted and ants identified to species. I will collect 3 soil core samples per plot, to determine the abundance of soil microbial communities using qPCR, and to determine enzyme activity and microbial biomass in the soil. Soil samples will be taken back to the lab for detailed nutrient analysis including total nutrient content, nitrogen mineralization, and carbon evolution. Hemlock leaf litter will be collected and used to measure decomposition rates, using decomposition bags. Nine decomposition bags will be placed within each of the 20 m2 plots, and three bags will be removed after 3, 9, and 15 months. I will also collect in situ soil measurements including soil moisture, temperature, and respiration using a Li-Cor, and measurements will be compared across plots.