This project is an inventory of the macroinvertebrates (insects, mollusks, crustaceans and other animals) of the Selenge River and its tributaries in north central Mongolia. Occupying over 300,000 sq. km, the Selenge River basin lies in an active geologic zone, and connects Lake Hovsgol, one of the world's most pristine ancient lakes, with Lake Baikal, the world's oldest and most biologically diverse lake.

In freshwater aquatic habitats, macroinvertebrates, particularly insects, comprise a large portion of biological diversity. Studies of their taxonomy (identification) and distribution provide important results for understanding the evolution, biogeography, and ecology of aquatic communities. Increasing economic development and population in the Selenge basin are stressing the aquatic community through mining, untreated wastes, agriculture, over-grazing, fires, and climate change.

The project is generating not only basic scientific knowledge of the biodiversity of the Selenge basin, but also is providing the Mongolian government a yardstick for monitoring water quality. This project encompasses a comprehensive, three-year sampling program. Three month-long expeditions are being undertaken to sample a range of aquatic macroinvertebrates, assess habitats and measure physical characteristics of the waterways. The principal investigators are established insect scientists with a broad range of field experience around the world, including the completion of a major inventory project at Lake Hovsgol, Mongolia. The expeditions are collaborative with Mongolian scientists and students, and other scientists, with a focus on training of Mongolian students to develop in-country scientific expertise.

TOP

1. Intensive sampling of Mongolian aquatic invertebrates, particulary insects, over a wide variety of aquatic habitats in the Selenge River watershed.
   
2. Determination of the aquatic biota's phylogenetic and biogeographic relationships with Hovsgol and Baikal Lakes and with the surrounding region.
   
3. Collection of associated data at each site including geographic coordinates (GIS), water chemistry, habitat characterization, and level of human and domestic animal impact will be used in developing tolerance limits for aquatic monitoring.
   
4. We predict that the number of Mongolian species in selected groups will eventually increase by 86%. Based on this biotic survey, we will test these hypotheses

   a. The majority of those 567 yet-undiscovered species will be found in the Selenge River basin,
   b. At least 20% of these species will be endemic to Mongolia and Central Asia, and
   c. At least 10% of these will represent disjunct populations of species otherwise known only from West Palearctic or other parts of the Holarctic Region.

5. Identification of caddisflies (Trichoptera), crane flies (Diptera: Tipuloidea) and chironomid midges (Diptera: Chironomidae) to species level, with description of new species, examination of material in other museums, and electronic publication of collection data.
   
6. Delivery of Plecoptera, Ephemeroptera, Odonata, aquatic Coleoptera, Megaloptera, other Diptera specimens, Gastropoda, Amphipoda, and other invertebrates, to specialists for study and identification with electronic publication of species lists and dissemination of collection data.
   
7. Training of Mongolian students to conduct field surveying and identification of taxa, to produce museum quality specimens.
   
8. Development of collection expertise, resources and deposition of representative, authoritatively determined specimens in a Mongolian Academy of Sciences depository, including type material.
   
9. Production of a database of collections, including specimen, locality, and associated data, and of relevant literature, which will be available over the Internet. The database will also allow users to assess the amount of material remaining unstudied.

TOP

SAMPLING PROGRAM: (Visit Expedition links for sampling data) During the summers of 2002 to 2005, we led three major, nearly month-long sampling expeditions exploring the southern and western drainages of the Hentii Mountains (2003), the northern drainages of the Hangai Mountains (2004) and the central and northern drainages of the Selenge River (2005). We sampled over 150 separate sites including rivers and streams primarily, but also fresh and salt water lakes, hot and cold springs, and marsh wetlands. A diverse range of taxa were sampled, primarily insects, and including 7 Phyla, 12 Classes, 25 Orders, and 98 Families. Diptera (true flies) and Trichoptera (caddisflies) were most diverse at the family level. Samples are estimated at approximately 200,000 specimens over three years (including bulk samples), with the focus in the first three years being the preparation and identification of the target taxa of the PI's and close participants. As our Mongolian researchers are more completely trained, we are now accomplishing the movement of non-target samples to specialists. Fieldwork was accomplished by 14 Mongolian, USA, and European scientists. In addition we included two US graduate students, three US undergraduate students, and 9 young Mongolian researchers. Among insects, numerous new species of Diptera (true flies), Trichoptera (caddis flies) and Coleoptera   (beetles) are being described from this effort. Species of the following have been identified: Trichoptera, Diptera (Tipuloidea, Chrionomidae, Sciomyzidae, Ptychopteridae), Plecoptera, Ephemeroptera, Coleoptera (Hydrophilidae, Dytiscidae, Dryopoidea), and Odonata. In addition, diatoms and rotifers have been identified from our samples.

RESEARCH TRAINING:

Our program has trained 14 USA and Mongolian students who participated in the field studies.

MONGOLIAN TRAINING: Our six Mongolian student researchers, when selected in 2002, could scarcely comprehend English, and had a limited scientific education through the Mongolian university system. They are now testing at minimal TOEFL levels, have mastered the systematics of their particular focus taxa, are writing scientific papers and are giving presentations at international meetings. Five researchers have visited the USA for training one or more times, and three have worked in Europe with our European collaborators.  Four other young Mongolian researchers received field training, and one, an employee of the Mongolian Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology (IMH), studied Odonata with a project collaborator in the USA. The importance of this training cannot be over emphasized. We have invested considerable effort in building this in-country research expertise and need to continue these efforts. We have as Mongolian collaborators two researchers who first received their training on our first project in Mongolia in 1995-1997. Dr. Soninkhishig Nerqui, who is now teaching at the National University of Mongolia (NUM) received her training at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia (ANSP) with Dr. Ruth Patrick. She is a diatom systematist and our collaborator along with her students (see support letter). Dr. Boldiv Bazartseren, Chair, Ecology Program, NUM, first started with our project studying zooplankton ecology and the molecular systematics of the grayling fish species of Hovsgol, and recently completed a Ph.D. dissertation on molecular genetics of Mongolian crane flies at the University of Pennsylvania (see support letter). Also, P.I. Barbara Hayford, completed her doctorate in entomology in 1998 at the University of Kansas, during which she participated in our fieldwork in Mongolia at Lake Hovsgol in 1995 and 1997.
    
Five of our Mongolian researchers (Enkhtaivan, Chuluunbat, Enkhnasan, Monkhjargal, Uuganatsetsg) initiated and two (Enkhtaivan, Chuluunbat) completed Masters degrees during our project period. One (Chuluunbat) entered the Ph.D. entomology program at Clemson University, while Enkhtaivan entered a Masters program at Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology where she is focusing on aquatic biomonitoring research.  Three have given their first scientific presentations at international meetings in China and the USA in 2004.

USA TRAINING: Two US undergraduates have used their research on this project for their senior thesis projects. One Ph.D. candidate, Andrew Short, has used this material for a research paper, and as part of his Ph.D. research at Cornell University. Of the four US undergraduates who accompanied our expeditions, one is graduated and employed as a field research assistant, two have entered graduate schools with programs in biological research (field ecology and entomology), and the fourth is in his senior year with plans to pursue graduate school in entomology.

(To see a list of participants, visit the Expedition links)

COLLABORATIONS: We have worked with over 70 collaborators and organizations. Particularly close collaborations are with the IMH (Cooperative Agreement, Drs. Azzaya and Davaa), and the Entomology Section of the Mongolian Academy of Sciences (MAS, letters from Drs. Namkhaidorj, Puntsadalam and Janchiv).  The Selenge Project has provided their staff with training opportunities in the USA and with equipment. The IMH has provided our project with laboratory and storage space. Our project and the World Bank-funded Hovsgol GEF Project  have co-funded three Mongolia researchers (Oyunchuluun, Enkhtaivan, Chuluunbat) during the life of both projects (2002-2006) and have shared equipment, supplies and training opportunities in a mutually beneficial manner. We have linked with two other survey projects in Mongolia with our taxonomic focus on insects in running waters being complementary, not overlapping, with them (lake diatoms, ostracods, chironomids, M. Edlund, PI; rotifers, C. Jersabek, PI). A full listing of 29 field collaborators and their subject areas can be found at the Selenge Project web site at http://www.clade.acnatsci.org/mongolia/http://www.clade.acnatsci.org/mongolia/

DISSEMINATION:  A Selenge Project internet site set up in 2004 summarizing the research and collaborators, along with the activities of the Selenge Project is at http://clade.acnatsci.org/mongolia/  including research resources from our work at Lake Hovsgol 1995-1997. The Selenge Project researchers have given a combined 54 presentations in 2002-2005 to international and national professional society meetings, and invited talks to diverse audiences such as university classes, evening public lectures, reporters and embassy personnel.

TOP