[NHCOLL-L:1251] Alaska Insect Survey- offer of collaboration

[James Kruse]

Greetings:

I am looking for entomologists whom would like to/have been/are working on
insects from Alaska with some "taxonomic expert" capacity to help with the
Alaska Insect Survey. I'd like some help with determinations within your
specialty/ies. I am especially looking for help on arctic and boreal insects
including but not limited to Diptera, Ichneumonidae, Braconidae, Coleoptera
- esp Staphylinidae, Curculionidae, Carabidae, others. This is not an
exclusive list, surprise me.

Return favors are somewhat grant-dependent (the more taxonomic experts I can
find, the better the chances), but may include field trips, research
assistantships for your students, and other possibilities. Timing and length
of involvement is negotiable and flexible. If you have been wishing for
access to the northwestern boreal forest and/or arctic for insects for your
research (hey, all I need is IDs, you go do whatever research you want, but
further collaboration would be desirable), or just a 'cool' research site,
this may be a great opportunity for you.

Alaska possesses some of the most interesting habitats on the planet,
including tundra, taiga, alpine, 10,000 year old isolated glacial sand dune
areas, north versus south slope, and bog, with eastern influences into the
interior, western/temperate rain forest influences in the southeast, and the
state shares the circumpolar arctic with many other northern countries.
roughly half of the projected insect fauna has been recorded (with aquatics
being one notable exception), so the chances for publication on range
extensions, new species, new host associations, circumpolar associations,
etc, etc, are high.

Feel free to pass this on, and thanks for your interest.
Sorry if you are deluged by my cross-posting.

Regards,
James J. Kruse, Ph.D.
Curator of Entomology
University of Alaska Museum
907 Yukon Drive
Fairbanks, AK, USA 99775-6960
tel 907.474.5579
fax 907.474.1987
http://www.uaf.edu/museum/ento