x
Breaking News
More () »

The Great Smoky Mountains just reached a major milestone: 20,000 species

Scientists from across the globe have helped the park catalog its abundance of biodiversity.
Credit: GSMNP

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The Great Smoky Mountains National Park made a big announcement Thursday: it has reached a "biodiversity milestone" with the documentation of 20,000 species of animals, plants and other organisms discovered in the park.

Scientists from all around the world helped find and document all these different species, the park said in a news release.  

"Reaching this milestone is a testament to the curiosity, tenacity and dedication of the biological community," Cassius Cash, the superintendent of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, said in the release. "Each year, we have scientists who share their time and expertise to help us better describe, understand and protect the wonders of the Smokies."

How have they tracked all these species? Through an All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory, or ATBI for short. The project is managed by Discover Life in America (DLiA) and studies the diversity of life in the Smokies, the release said.

“This is a remarkable achievement—cataloging so many species in this relatively small region!” said Dr. Will Kuhn, the director of science and research for DLiA. “But, we think that there are still tens of thousands of species waiting to be discovered in the park. We’ve still got work to do!”

Credit: Tom Howe
Frosted elfin butterfly

The ATBI has documented 1,006 species in the park that are completely new to science in its 21 years of existence, according to the release. It has also recorded more than 9,500 known species within the park. 

Credit: Keith Langdon via GSMNP
Blue Ridge tree-lobed coneflower

"Among the newest species records in the park are the giant bark aphid (Longistigma caryae), which is the largest aphid in the US; the Blue Ridge three-lobed coneflower (Rudbeckia triloba var. rupestris), a handsome wildflower native to Kentucky, Tennessee, and North Carolina; the frosted elfin butterfly (Callophrys irus), a rare butterfly whose caterpillars feed on lupine and indigo; and the yellow passion flower bee (Anthemurgus passiflorae), which exclusively pollinates the small flowers of the yellow passion flower," the release said. "In addition, the nine-banded armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus) was recently documented in the park for the first time."

Credit: Katherine Parys via GSMNP
Yellow passion flower bee on a yellow passion flower.

DLiA and park staff have invited visitors to participate in collecting information for the ATBI, too. It's as easy as snapping a picture on your phone, and you'll be collecting and recording species location data.

RELATED: Take smartphone photos in Smokies to help map species

How can you do that? By using a citizen science smartphone app, iNaturalist. Species observations recorded by visitors on the app will be part of the Species SnapIt & MapIt project.

Related coverage:

RELATED: Girl returns heart-shaped rock to Smokies with apology

RELATED: Smokies to host star gazing event in Cades Cove

RELATED: How to 'leave no trace' while camping and experiencing the Smokies

RELATED: Dorian diverts Labor Day vacations to Smokies

RELATED: Cades Cove will be closed two months this winter

RELATED: Smokies visitation hits almost 20-year high

RELATED: Alcoa woman loses 70 pounds hiking in the Great Smoky Mountains

RELATED: Great Smoky Mountains gets donation of 'priceless' artifacts

RELATED: Is it snowing in the Smokies? New cameras provide great views & weather info

Before You Leave, Check This Out