Insect ecology and biodiversity: Island ecosystems of the Hancock Forest Management, a member of the Thicket of Diversity ATBI

The Hancock Forest Management is a private actively logged forest adjacent to the Big Thicket National Preserve (BTNP), and member of the “Thicket of Diversity” All Taxa Bio Inventory (ATBI) being administered by the Big Thicket Association in cooperation with the National Park Service. Geographic islands of the Hancock forest have been untouched and contain old growth forest that is an analogue to parts of the BTNP. Conducting an insect ecological survey of the Hancock Forest is a unique opportunity to study the richness, abundance and characteristics of these ecological islands. The aim of this biodiversity study is to establish a base line that can be used to asses other forests in the region to understand geographic, environmental and temporal differences. We are collecting diversity through the use of malaise traps, sweep netting, pit fall traps, and lighted bucket traps. The insects collected will be housed and maintained at Sam Houston State University for reference and future work.