RUI: Survey and Inventory of Parasites of Fishes in the Big Thicket National Preserve

这个项目测试了德克萨斯州东部大灌木丛国家保护区（BTNP）的溪流和湖泊是否比周围未受保护地区的溪流和湖泊拥有更高的动物物种多样性。这将通过对BTNP及其周边地区（包括大灌木丛的历史范围）鱼类寄生虫的全面调查来完成。寄生虫将被用作总体生物多样性和群落相互作用的指示物种，预计将包括来自8个动物类群的至少220种寄生虫和至少95种鱼类。该项目将极大地加速在人类压力巨大的地区发现新物种，为保护保护区在保护自然生态系统方面的效用提供关键的、信息丰富的测试，并将有助于为有关保护设计和保护自然资源的未来决策提供信息。此外，该项目将加强国家公共博物馆对寄生虫和鱼类标本的收藏（至少1,600个新标本），加强一所小型农村大学STEM学科学生的研究和教育基础设施，为学生在科学领域的职业发展提供机会和有效途径，并为正在进行的研究和保护工作做出贡献。包括由国家公园管理局协调的大灌木林所有分类群生物多样性清单。

This project tests whether streams and lakes in the Big Thicket National Preserve (BTNP) in East Texas harbor a higher diversity of animal species than streams and lakes in surrounding, unprotected areas. This will be accomplished via a comprehensive survey of the parasites of fishes in the BTNP and the surrounding area that encompasses the historical range of the Big Thicket. Parasites will be utilized as indicator species for overall biodiversity and community interactions, and is expected to include at least 220 parasite species from 8 animal groups and at least 95 species of fishes.The project will greatly accelerate discovery of new species in an area under intense human pressure, provide critical, informative tests of the utility of conservation preserves in protecting natural ecosystems, and will help inform future decisions regarding conservation design and protection of natural resources. In addition, the project will enhance the nation's public museum holdings of parasite and fish specimens (at least 1,600 new lots of specimens), enhance infrastructure for research and education of students in STEM disciplines at a small, rural college, provide opportunities and effective avenues for student advancement towards careers in the sciences, and contribute to ongoing research and conservation endeavors, including the Big Thicket All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory coordinated by the National Park Service.