Research projects conducted from the Museum largely address aspects of biodiversity in relation to various land use situations. Most of these projects are components of the graduate programs of M.S. and Ph.D. students and are funded by a variety of state and federal agencies. Other projects that are being conducted by the Museum Director address phylogenetic questions. Some of our projects are as follows:

Re-establishment of the lentic fauna of ponds along the Andaman Sea coastline following the Tsunami (NSF)
Samples were taken at four time intervals following the devastating tsunami of 2004. Approximately 20 ponds along the coastline in Thailand were chosen, roughly half within the devastated area and half further inland, to determine the rate at which the lentic insect fauna becomes re-established. In addition, a series of peat swamps were sampled and the results will be compared with those of Watanasit (1995) for direct pre- and post-tsunami sampling.

Biodiversity and biogeography of aquatic Heteroptera of Thailand (NSF)
The aquatic Heteroptera fauna of distinct mountainous regions from the northern regions near Chiang Mai through the Isthmus of Kra to Malaysia will be examined and community similarity examined to determine if a natural barrier to the distribution of species exists at a definable point in the latitudinal distribution of the mountains. Further, particular ubiquitous species will be selected and molecular genetics examined to estimate the degree to which the mountains act to isolate populations.

Elevational zonation of Heteroptera communities in northern Thailand (NSF)
The aquatic Heteroptera fauna will be sampled at distinct elevational increments on Doi Inthanon and Doi Suthep to determine if the communities in what ways the communities are associated with elevation. Many new species are being described in the following families: Aphelocheiridae, Helotrephidae, Naucoridae, Nepidae, Gerridae, Veliidae, and more.

Phylogeny of Naucoridae
The family Naucoridae includes 32 currently recognized genera, which have been assembled into 5 subfamilies. No phylogenetic analysis has been performed on these taxa, in part because of the difficulty in using morphological characters. Thus, we are conducting a phylogenetic analysis using both morphological and molecular data. Currently, we are trying to obtain as many genera as possible in 100% etOH. We sincerely thank Herbert Zettel (Natural History Museum - Vienna) and Michael Whiting (Brigham Young University) for providing some important SE Asian and other genera for our use.

Lotic Prairie Streams (EPA/USDA-ARS)
Aquatic insect communities in prairie streams are being examined in relation to the re-establishment of riparian buffer strips. The documented capacity for the buffer strips to mitigate agricultural chemicals and nutrients entering the streams suggests that an effect on aquatic insect communities might be realized.

Subterranean arthropods of Missouri tallgrass prairies (MDNR)
Research will be conducted on the subterranean arthropod community of native tallgrass prairies to determine the effects of seasonal prescribed burns on the community. This research will document the constituents of this community in different seasons, as well as changes in community structure (i.e., richness, diversity, abundance) resulting from management-prescribed seasonal burns. These changes will be correlated with other fire-related effects, such as changes in the chemical and physical properties of the soil, and with time since burning. Comparisons also will be made in the rates of recovery of communities following seasonal burns.

Biodiversity and faunistics of lotic insects (MDNR)
The goal of this study is to conduct an intensive, seasonally-based survey of the Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera fauna associated with streams in Missouri State Parks and Historic Sites. This survey will be one of several components in achieving the overall goal of providing a comprehensive examination of the status and distribution of aquatic insect species for the entire state.

Odonata of Missouri prairie ponds (UMC)
Larval Odonata were sampled from >100 prairie ponds in northern Missouri and community associations with existing ecoregionalization schemes and vegetation zones analyzed. Many range extensions were recorded and taxonomic enigmas solved.

Descriptions of immatures (UMC)
Immature stages of Ambrysus circumcinctus, a naucorid from central Texas, are being described. This lotic naucorid is the fourth in a series of descriptions from a species-rich fauna from the South Llano River. Immatures of previously described taxa from this river include A. lunatus, Cryphocricos hungerfordi, and Limnocoris lutzi.

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