P2.30  Jan. 5  Comparing changes in invertebrate biodiversity at sites in Kansas and Michigan DAVIS, E.C.*; EIDIETIS, L.; BENJEY, C.R.; Columbia College Chicago; Eastern Michigan University; Eastern Michigan University edavis@colum.edu

To understand the ecological impact of factors such as habitat destruction and introductions of invasive species, it is useful to have baseline biodiversity levels for the region studied. To this end, we sampled for invertebrates, focusing on mollusks, at localities in both Kansas and Michigan assessing baseline biodiversity. We will compare these baseline survey data to historical and land use data, and use known indicator species to estimate the level of habitat degradation.

Surveys of the mollusks in two areas in KS, the Nature Conservancy�s Welda Prairie and the U. of KS� Fitch Natural History Reservation, were conducted by sampling at 2 terrestrial sites and 1 aquatic site using sampling grids and a general survey for gastropods. The Welda site had never been surveyed for gastropods; the 2004-2005 data are baseline diversity data for the site. The Fitch area was sampled in the 1950�s and then underwent succession. This survey allows us to examine changes in the family and species composition at Fitch. Very few differences in diversity at the family level were found, even though the 1950 survey was considerably more extensive in scope than this survey.

We conducted a preliminary invertebrate survey, focusing on mollusks and aquatic insects, at 3 areas in MI, in and around Fish Lake in Lapeer County (East), Eastern Michigan University in Washtenaw County (Southeast), and Bellows Lake in Benzie County (Northeast). We used the same techniques to sample terrestrial gastropods in both KS and MI. Dip-net sampling was conducted at the aquatic sites. The insect data were used with the mollusk data to augment the biomonitoring because some insects are only found in non-polluted habitats. We will compare the results of these regional invertebrate surveys to other surveys to estimate the level of biodiversity and habitat degradation at these sites.