Collaborative Research: The Butterflies of Ecuador (Lepidoptera: Papilionoidea) - A Comprehensive Survey of a Megadiverse Fauna

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This project will complete a long-term survey of the taxonomy, distribution and ecology of the butterflies of Ecuador, one of the world's most species-rich countries. It will update classification and distributional data for Ecuador's approximately 2700 species of true butterflies through conduct of worldwide museum research and fieldwork throughout all regions of Ecuador. Distributional data will be used in biogeographical and conservation analyses, training of US and Ecuadorian staff and students, and promoting the value of biodiversity research and museums through the dissemination of project results. Since Ecuador harbors about 50% of Neotropical butterfly species, the project results and publications will have a broad impact in the field. The formation of extensive reference collections in the US and Ecuador of dried specimens and alcohol-preserved tissue samples, combined with the training of several parataxonomists, graduate and undergraduate students, will provide a strong foundation for future research on Ecuadorian and Neotropical butterflies. Findings will be broadly disseminated through talks, scientific and popular publications, a series of field guides, a project website, museum exhibits and other educational media. In addition, the project will help Ecuador meet its obligations to the Convention on Biological Diversity and to collaborating environmental organizations that have identified priority areas for conservation.