View source for Digitizing collections to trace parasite-host associations and predict the spread of vector-borne disease

[[Category:TCN]]
== Digitizing collections to trace parasite-host associations and predict the spread of vector-borne disease (TPT) ==

{| class="wikitable" style="float:right; margin-left: 10px;"
! colspan="2" style="background:#D58B28;width:200px;font-size:10pt" | TPT-TCN
|-
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;font-size:7pt" | [[File:TPTlogo tall.png|200px|thumb|center]]
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!colspan="2" style="background:#D58B28;text-align:center;font-size:9pt" | Quick Links
|-
|[[#Project Summary|Project Summary]]
|- 
|[[#Current Research|Current Research]]
|- 
|[[#Project Websites & Social Media|Project Websites]]
|- 
|[[#Publications|Publications]]
|-
|[[#Citizen Science & Outreach Projects|Citizen Science!]]
|-
|[[#Educational Tools|Educational Tools]]
|-
|[[#News & Press|News & Press]]
|-
|Short code for this page: https://bit.ly/TPTiDigBio
|}

=== Project Summary  ===

Arthropod parasites (specifically, insects and their relatives) are responsible for economically critical issues in human health, wildlife conservation, and livestock productivity. Because natural history collections are permanent repositories for past and present parasite specimens, these collections and their data can help address these significant societal challenges in human and animal health and safety. Natural history collections often contain specimens and ancillary materials that are completely unknown to the broader community, yet represent irreplaceable knowledge about organismal habitats, distributions, and parasite-host associations. Further, these collections yield information that can be used to model ecological processes and changes in species distributions, predict the future spread of human and animal disease, update taxonomy, and help identify under-represented parasite groups in urgent need of sampling and threatened parasite diversity in need of conservation. This project will provide digital records (i.e., specimen label data and images) of invaluable arthropod parasite collections to make research-ready baseline data accessible online, catalyzing new research and education initiatives. These newly digitized data will have immediate and long-lasting benefits for our understanding of organismal associations, biodiversity, and beyond.

The Terrestrial Parasite Tracker Thematic Collection Network (TPT-TCN) will digitize over one million arthropod specimens representing species that are significant parasites and disease vectors of vertebrates in the United States. This digitization effort will integrate millions of vertebrate host records with vector and disease monitoring data shared by state and federal agency collaborators, creating a novel foundation for integrative, long-term research. This project is a collaboration of taxonomists and curators from vertebrate and invertebrate collections, as well as epidemiologists, ecologists, data-scientists, and biodiversity informatics specialists. This reach is further extended by the 26 collaborating research collections and other initiatives. This project will empower ongoing citizen science and public awareness campaigns with the tools to understand distribution changes of arthropod vectors and associated diseases due to environmental change and global movement. Public education initiatives include partnering with natural history museums to educate the public about parasites via science-focused lectures, exhibits, summer youth programs, informal presentations, and developing new online educational resources for teachers in underserved communities. All specimen images generated by this project will be used for the development of a rapid identification tool for parasites which will be made accessible through the internet and smartphone apps and shared with iDigBio (idigbio.org). The TPT-TCN will also develop and implement undergraduate teaching modules focused on data held in natural history collections. These modules will be disseminated to academic institutions across the United States and made available online.

The short url for this page is: https://bit.ly/TPTiDigBio 

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=== Current Research  ===
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=== Project Websites & Social Media ===

'''[http://parasitetracker.org/ Terrestrial Parasite Tracker]'''<br>
The original project home page.
<!--- 
'''[https://s2.parasitetracker.org/ Terrestrial Parasite Tracker Portal]'''<br>
Data portal and newer project home page with links to assorted resources.
-->

'''[https://www.globalbioticinteractions.org/parasitetracker/ GloBI Parasite Tracker]'''<br>
This Terrestrial Parasite Tracker (TPT) status page shows the current state of integration between TPT affiliated collections and Global Biotic Interactions (GloBI) which provides open access to finding species interaction data (e.g., predator-prey, pollinator-plant, pathogen-host, parasite-host) by combining existing open datasets using open source software.

'''[https://github.com/njdowdy/tpt-taxonomy TPT Taxonomy Resource Hub]'''<br>
This repository is meant to facilitate access to taxonomic resources produced by the Terrestrial Parasite Tracker project. It includes taxonomic name lists, name cleaning scripts, and contact information.

'''[https://www.globalbioticinteractions.org/how-to GloBI How-To]'''<br>
An instructional information page to assist in navigating and using data in [https://www.globalbioticinteractions.org GloBI] 

'''[https://bit.ly/ECMworkshop Interaction Data Interpretation Workshop]'''<br>
A free, reusable and modifiable lesson plan on biological interaction data.

'''[https://github.com/njdowdy/digitization_progress_reports Digitization Progress Reports]'''<br>
A resource for generating digitization effort graphs (or other efforts).


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=== Citizen Science & Outreach Projects ===

'''[https://www.zooniverse.org/projects/md68135/notes-from-nature-terrestrial-parasite-tracker/ Notes from Nature - Terrestrial Parasite Tracker Portal]'''<br>
Become a citizen scientist and help out with the project! We have many ongoing projects and are frequently adding more. [https://www.zooniverse.org/projects/md68135/notes-from-nature-terrestrial-parasite-tracker/ Check it out!]

'''Parasite Palooza'''
<br> FMNH’s free Museum days in October where Museum visitors take a closer look at parasites and can
volunteer to work on Notes from Nature projects. [https://www.facebook.com/events/764542061487716/764542064821049/?active_tab=about Parasite Palooza Facebook page].

'''Bird Lice educational exhibit''' 
<br>Exhibit at UNH allows users to learn about the bird parasites by matching a bird with the lice that use it as a host. [https://colsa.unh.edu/unh-collections/insects-other-arthropods UNH collection homepage].

'''YPM EVOLUTIONS''' (Evoking Learning and Understanding through Investigations of the Natural Science) 
<br>A Free after school youth program for highschool students that helps prepare students for college and careers in science through classes, museum jobs, research internships, and other events. [https://evolutions.peabody.yale.edu/ YPM EVOLUTIONS homepage].


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=== Educational Tools ===

'''[https://qubeshub.org/publications/1817/1 Birds and Lice: Reciprocal Natural Selection]''' 
<br> Monfils, A., Julie Allen, Goodner, B. W., Linton, D. (2020). (2020) <i>Biodiversity Literacy in Undergraduate Education, QUBES Educational Resources</i>. [https://qubeshub.org/publications/1817/1 doi:10.25334/JAWH-MZ69].
<br> ➡️ This exercise investigates the form and function of lice and their relationship to their bird host. ⬅️

'''[https://qubeshub.org/publications/1818/1 Louse Genetics, Genomics, and Gene Function...Oh My!]'''
<br> Monfils, A., Julie Allen, Goodner, B. W., Linton, D. (2020). <i>Biodiversity Literacy in Undergraduate Education, QUBES Educational Resources.</i> [https://qubeshub.org/publications/1818/1 doi:10.25334/WR1H-KA33].
<br> ➡️ In this module, students will be investigating a louse gene with an unknown function to determine if it might be important in the evolution of the louse ecomorphs. ⬅️

'''[https://qubeshub.org/publications/1801/1 Louse and Human Coevolution]'''
<br> Monfils, A., Allen, J., Goodner, B. W., Linton, D. (2020). <i>Biodiversity Literacy in Undergraduate Education, QUBES Educational Resources.</i> [https://qubeshub.org/publications/1801/1 doi:10.25334/JJBH-SG27].
<br> ➡️ This module examines the complicated co-evolution of Lice, Humans, and Great Apes. ⬅️

'''[https://bit.ly/ECMworkshop Interaction Data Interpretation Workshop]'''
<br> Tucker, E., Poelen, J., Seltmann, K., Sullivan, K., Zaspel, J. (2022). <i>Entomological Collections Management Workshop.</i>
<br> ➡️ A free, reusable and modifiable lesson plan on biological interaction data. ⬅️


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=== Project Leadership ===

''Project Sponsor:'' Purdue University [https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1901932&HistoricalAwards=false (NSF Award 1901932)]

''Principal Investigators (PIs):'' [mailto:cameros@purdue.edu Stephen Cameron] (PI), Jennifer Zaspel (co-PI)
=== Project Collaborators  ===

====Digitizing Institutions====


=====Academy of Natural Sciences Philadelphia=====
Jason Weckstein, Academy of Natural Sciences Philadelphia, [http://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1901935 (NSF Award #1901935)]

=====Purdue University=====
Stephen Cameron, Purdue University, [http://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1901932 (NSF Award #1901932)]<br>
Jennifer Zaspel, co-PI, Milwaukee Public Museum

=====University of California-Santa Barbara=====
Katja Seltmann, University of California-Santa Barbara, [http://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1901926 (NSF Award #1901926)]

=====Texas A&M AgriLife Research=====
Jessica Light, Texas A&M AgriLife Research, [http://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1901916 (NSF Award #1901916)]<br>
John Oswald, co-PI

=====Field Museum of Natural History=====
Petra Sierwald, Field Museum of Natural History, [http://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1901857 (NSF Award #1901857)]<br>
John Bates, co-PI, Field Museum of Natural History

=====University of Nebraska-Lincoln=====
Scott Gardner, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, [http://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1901911 (NSF Award #1901911)]

=====University of Minnesota-Twin Cities=====
Robin Thomson, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, [http://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1901915 (NSF Award #1901915)]<br>
Ralph Holzenthal, co-PI, University of Minnesota

=====University of Wisconsin-Madison=====
Daniel Young, University of Wisconsin-Madison, [http://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1902070 (NSF Award #1902070)]

=====Board of Regents, NSHE, obo University of Nevada, Reno=====
Julia Allen, Board of Regents, NSHE, obo University of Nevada, Reno, [http://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1902031 (NSF Award #1902031)]<br>
Robert Guralnick, co-PI, University of Florida

=====University of Hawaii=====
Daniel Rubinoff, University of Hawaii, [http://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1901931 (NSF Award #1901931)]

=====University of Utah=====
Sarah Bush, University of Utah, [http://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1901923 (NSF Award #1901923)]

=====California Academy of Sciences=====
Michelle Trautwein, California Academy of Sciences, [http://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1901917 (NSF Award #1901917)]

=====Michigan State University=====
Anthony Cognato, Michigan State University, [http://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1901958 (NSF Award #1901958)]

=====Bernice P Bishop Museum=====
James Boone, Bernice P Bishop Museum, [http://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1901928 (NSF Award #1901928)]<br>
Neal Evenhuis, co-PI, Bernice P Bishop Museum

=====University of New Mexico=====
Joseph Cook, University of New Mexico, [http://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1901920 (NSF Award #1901920)]<br>
Mariel Campbell, co-PI, University of New Mexico

=====University of Michigan Ann Arbor=====
Barry OConnor, University of Michigan Ann Arbor, [http://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1902113 (NSF Award #1902113)]<br>
(*Erika Tucker transferred to B.M. Oconnor 10/2021)

=====Brigham Young University=====
Michael Whiting, Brigham Young University, [http://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1902048 (NSF Award #1902048)]


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=== Protocols & Workflows ===

TPT has contributed many exemplar workflows to the '''[https://entcollnet.github.io/BugFlow/ BugFlow repository]''' as well as helped build many of the baseline workflow protocols on BugFlow. Specific exemplar workflows contributed include:
* [https://github.com/EntCollNet/BugFlow/tree/master/workflows Workflows folder] (master/all workflows)
* [https://github.com/EntCollNet/BugFlow/blob/master/modules/module_1/module_1A.md Module 1A: Inventory and Taxonomy Update]
* [https://github.com/EntCollNet/BugFlow/blob/master/modules/module_3/module_3A.md Module 3A: Direct Label Transcription]
* [https://github.com/EntCollNet/BugFlow/blob/master/modules/module_3/module_3C.md Module 3C: Label data parsing]
* [https://github.com/EntCollNet/BugFlow/blob/master/modules/module_3/module_3D.md Module 3D: Label Imaging]
* [https://github.com/EntCollNet/BugFlow/blob/master/modules/module_4/module_4C.md Module 4C: Enveloped or "flat" Imaging]
* [https://github.com/EntCollNet/BugFlow/blob/master/modules/module_4/module_4F.md Module 4F: Slide Label/low-res Imaging]
* [https://github.com/EntCollNet/BugFlow/blob/master/modules/module_4/module_4K.md Module 4K: Pinned 2D non-stacked specimen imaging]
* [https://github.com/EntCollNet/BugFlow/blob/master/modules/module_4/module_4L.md Module 4L: Vial low-res imaging]

Imaging with the Terrestrial Parasite Tracker TCN [https://vimeo.com/505426633 Vimeo]


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=== Publications ===

'''2022'''
* Durden, Lance A.,  Robinson, Chase, Cook, Joseph A.,  Bell, Kayce C., Nyamsuren, Batsaikhan, Greiman, Stephen E. Sucking Lice (Phthiraptera: Anoplura) Parasitizing Mongolian Rodents with the Description of a New Species of Hoplopleura from Mountain Voles (Alticola spp.). <i>Journal of Parasitology 108(4): 353-365 </i>. 

* Peterson, Dianne. A diverse flea (Siphonaptera) assemblage from the small mammals of central New Mexico. <i>University of New Mexico: MS Thesis.</i>

* Poelen, Jorrit. On Interpreting Biotic Association Records. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6686306 

* Poelen, Jorrit H., Seltmann, Katja C., Campbell, Mariel, Orlofske, Sarah A., Light, Jessica E., Tucker, Erika M., Demboski, John R, McElrath, Tommy, Grinter, Christopher C, Diaz-Bastin, Rachel, Bush, Sarah E, Delapena, Robin, Cook, Joseph, Gall, Lawrence F., Whiting, Michael F, Clark, Shawn M, Cameron, Stephen L, Replogle, Charla R, Rund, Samuel S.C., Young, Daniel, Brabant, Craig, Sullivan, Kathryn, Turcatel, Maureen, Shuman Baquiran, Rebekah, Albion, Zoe, Austin, Kyhl, Rubinoff, Dan, Cognato, Anthony I., Caywood, Alyssa, Colby, Julia,  Allen, Julie, Zaspel, Jennifer M. (2022). Terrestrial Parasite Tracker indexed biotic interactions and review summary (0.6) [Data set]. <i>Zenodo.</i> [https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6761707 doi: 10.5281/zenodo.6761707].

*Tucker, Erika, Poelen, Jorrit, & Seltmann, Katja (2022). A lesson plan for better understanding entomological specimen interaction data in collections by NSF funded Terrestrial Parasite Tracker Thematic Collection Network [website: https://www.globalbioticinteractions/ecm-workshop/]. <i>Zenodo.</i> [https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6704580 doi: 10.5281/zenodo.6704580].

* Dr. Nicolas J. Dowdy, Dr. Erika M. Tucker, Jorrit Poelen, Dr. Vijay Barve, Teresa Mayfield-Meyer, Kathryn Sullivan, & Dr. Jennifer M. Zaspel. njdowdy/tpt-taxonomy: TPT Taxonomic Resource v2.0.0 (v2.0.0) [Data set]. <i>Zenodo.</i> [https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7215550 doi: 10.5281/zenodo.7215550[.

'''2021'''
* Dowdy, N.J., Barve, V., Mayfield-Meyer, T., Sullivan, K., & Zaspel, J.M. njdowdy/tpt-taxonomy: TPT Taxonomic Resource v1.0.3 (v1.0.3) [Data set]. <i>Zenodo.</i> [https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5562742 doi: 10.5281/zenodo.5562742].

* Poelen, Jorrit H., Seltmann, Katja C., Campbell, Mariel, Orlofske, Sarah A., Light, Jessica E., & Tucker, Erika M. Terrestrial Parasite Tracker indexed biotic interactions and review summary (0.5) [Data set]. <i> Zenodo. </i> [https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5572874 doi: 10.5281/zenodo.5572874].

'''2020'''
* Cook, Joseph A, Arai, Satoru, Armién, Blas, Bates, John, Bonilla, Carlos A, Cortez, Maria Beatriz, Dunnum, Jonathan L, Ferguson, Adam W, Johnson, Karl M, Khan, Faisal Ali, Paul, Deborah L, Reeder, DeeAnn M, Revelez, Marcia A, Simmons, Nancy B, Thiers, Barbara M, Thompson, Cody W, Upham, Nathan S, Vanhove, Maarten P, Webala, Paul W, Weksler, Marcelo, Yanagihara, Richard, Soltis, Pamela S. Integrating Biodiversity Infrastructure into Pathogen Discovery and Mitigation of Emerging Infectious Diseases. <i>BioScience 70(7): 531-534.</i> [https://academic.oup.com/bioscience/article/70/7/531/5857068 doi: 10.1093/biosci/biaa064]

* Poelen, Jorrit H., Seltmann, Katja C., & Campbell, Mariel. Terrestrial Parasite Tracker indexed biotic interactions and review summary (Version 0.2) [Data set]. <i>Zendo.</i>[https://zenodo.org/record/3778773#.Y5CxnOzMI_U doi: 10.5281/zenodo.3778773].

* Poelen, Jorrit H., Seltmann, Katja C., Campbell, Mariel, Orlofske, Sarah A., & Tucker, Erika M. Terrestrial Parasite Tracker indexed biotic interactions and review summary (Version 0.1) [Data set]. <i>Zendo.</i> [https://zenodo.org/record/3685365#.Y5CyCOzMI_U doi: 10.5281/zenodo.3685365]. 

* Seltmann KC, Poelen JH, Sullivan K, Zaspel J. Making Parasite-Host Associations Visible using Global Biotic Interactions. <i>Biodiversity Information Science and Standards 4: e58985</i>. [https://biss.pensoft.net/article/58985/ DOI: 10.3897/biss.4.58985].

* Zaspel, Jennifer M, Allen, Julie M, Tyrrell, Christopher D, Lemoine, Nate, Jacobus, Luke M, Klem, Crystal, Goodwin, Jillian, Bates, John M. Human Health, Interagency Coordination, and the Need for Biodiversity Data. <i>BioScience 70(7): 527-527.</i> [https://academic.oup.com/bioscience/article/70/7/527/5861522 doi:10.1093/biosci/biaa065]


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=== Professional Presentations & Symposia ===

'''2023'''
* Barve, V. R scripts for nomenclature cleaning. <i>National Native Bee Monitoring RCN Data Workshop</i>. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEbOjtORQmo Recording]. Remote. 

* Poelen, J. Global Biotic Interactions. <i>National Native Bee Monitoring RCN Data Workshop</i>. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWZXEGZgcZ8 Recording]. Remote. 

* Seltmann, K. and Paul, D. Data Life Cycle. <i>National Native Bee Monitoring RCN Data Workshop</i>. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TAw02qohJoI Recording]. Remote.

* Tucker, E. M. Responsible use of Museum Specimens & Their Data. <i>National Native Bee Monitoring RCN Data Workshop</i>. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2PvOmzSQrA Recording]. Remote. 

'''2022'''

* Albion, Z., Bailey, C. Empowering volunteers in a large scale digitization effort; highlights from Field Museum’s Terrestrial Parasite Tracker project. <i>Entomological Collections Network</i>. Vancouver, BC.

* Allen, Julie. (Re)using Published Georeferences with Biodiversity Enhanced Location Services (BELS). <i>Entomological Collections Management Workshop</i>. Remote.

* Bush, S. Ecology and Evolution of Grooming Behavior. Kenya, Africa.

* Caywood, A., Buntin, M., Julia, J., Tyrell, C., Zaspel, J. Show and tell: Finding other ways of knowing in digitized specimens. Poster.<i>Entomological Collections Network</i>. Vancouver, BC. 

* Deczynski, A., Caterino, M. Ferro, M.L. The Terrestrial Parasite Tracker project and beyond: A decade of digitization at the CUAC. <i>Entomological Collections Network</i>. Vancouver, BC.

* Hart, L.V., Kohler, M., Mason, S., Struckhoff, E., McElrath, T. Got parasites? We do! The Illinois Natural History Survey’s workflows for the Terrestrial Parasite Tracker TCN using TaxonWorks. Poster. <i>Entomological Collections Network</i>. Vancouver, BC.

* Lily V. Hart, Michelle Kohler, Sara Mason, Emily Struckhoff & Tommy Mcelrath. Got parasites? We do! The Illinois Natural History Survey’s workflows for the Terrestrial Parasite Tracker TCN using TaxonWorks. <i>Entomological Collections Network</i>. [https://ecnweb.net/welcome/meeting/ecn-2022/poster-hall/ Abstract]. [https://i0.wp.com/ecnweb.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Poster-3.png?w=1382&ssl=1 Poster].

* Light, Jessica. Terrestrial Parasite Tracker: Digitizing collections to trace parasite-host associations and predict spread of vector-borne disease. <i>4th International Congress on Parasites of Wildlife</i>. Kruger National Park, South Africa.  

* Jadin, R.C., King, S., Gausmann, C.R., Leon, J., Orlofske, S.A. Parasites lost (and found): Filling in gaps of parasite distributions with newly digitized collections. Poster. <i>American Society of Parasitologists annual meeting</i>. Texas A&M, College Station, Texas. [https://www.bio.tamu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/ASP-2022-Booklet-Final-B.pdf Program  & Abstracts].

* Osgood, L., Meyer, R., Leon, J., Cayetano, I., Gausmann, C., Orlofske, S. Behind closed doors: Digitizing the Stephen J. Taft parasitology collection. Poster. <i>Annual Midwestern Conference of Parasitologists</i>. Touch of Nature Education Center, Makanda, IL. [https://parasitology.siu.edu/Images/AMCOP%2073%20Booklet%20(OFFICIAL).pdf Program & Information].

* Osgood, H., Meyer, R., Leon, J., Cayetano, I., Gausmann, C. Behind closed doors: Digitizing the Steven J. Taft parasite collection. <i>College of Letters and Science Undergraduate Research symposium</i>. University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, Stevens Point, WI. [https://www3.uwsp.edu/cols/Documents/ResearchSymposium/UGRS%20Full%20Presentations%20Booklet.pdf Program]. 

* Orlofske, S.A.,  Jadin, R.C., Bates, K.M.. Implementing course-based undergraduate research experiences of waterfowl parasitology across the curriculum. <i>American Society of Parasitologists annual meeting</i>. Texas A&M, College Station, Texas. [https://www.bio.tamu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/ASP-2022-Booklet-Final-B.pdf Program  & Abstracts].

* Poelen, Jorrit. On Interpreting Biotic Association Records. Entomological Collections Management Workshop. Remote. https://zenodo.org/record/6686306#.YrspYezMJZo 

* Seltmann, Katja. Current TCNs: Big-Bee & TPT. <i>Entomological Collections Management Workshop</i>. Remote.

* TPT Report Out. <i>iDigBio sponsored event</i>. Representatives from all 24 TPT primary data providers, as well as representatives from GloBI, SCAN, and Notes from Nature, gave presentations and project updates at the TPT Report Out. [https://www.idigbio.org/content/terrestrial-parasite-tracker-tcn-report-out See virtual event page for full list of presentations].  [https://vimeo.com/781887470 Event recording].

* Tucker, E., Zaspel, J. Terrestrial Parasite Tracker (TPT) Beyond the TCN: Project Sustainability. <i>Entomological Collections Network</i>. Vancouver, BC.

* Tucker, E., Poelen, J., Seltmann, K., Sullivan, K., Zaspel, J. Interaction Data Interpretation Workshop. <i>Entomological Collections Management Workshop</i>. Tempe, AZ.

* Tucker, E.M., Poelen, J. The Interaction Data Interpretation Workshop (2022). <i>Entomological Collections Management Workshop</i>. Hybrid: Remote/Tempe, Arizona. https://www.globalbioticinteractions.org/ecm-workshop/

* Tucker, E.M., Zaspel, J. Terrestrial Parasite Tracker (TPT) Beyond the TCN: Project Sustainability. <i>[https://www.idigbio.org/wiki/index.php/BioDigiCon_2022 BioDigiCon 2022]</i>. [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HWG1FcI2U9uy7coUGNPzaliDoHs-iMbL/view?usp=sharing Presentation recording]. 

* Tucker, E., Zaspel, J. Terrestrial Parasite Tracker (TPT) Entering our 3rd year: Project introduction & updates. <i>iDigBio TCN Advisory (IAC) Meeting</i>. Virtual meeting.

* Tucker, E., Zaspel, J. Terrestrial Parasite Tracker: websites & resources. <i>iDigBio TCN Advisory (IAC) Meeting: 3-minute lightning round talks</i>. Virtual meeting.

'''2021'''

* Barve, V. Taxonomy Compilation & Curation Within R. <i>TDWG 2021: Maintaining the taxonomic backbone (or connecting those who try)</i>. https://biss.pensoft.net/article/73736/.

* Barve, V., Dowdy, N., Mayfield-Meyer, T. Maintaining the taxonomic backbone (or connecting those who try). Symposia organizers and moderators. <i>TDWG 2021</i>.

* Dowdy, N.  TaxoTracker: A collaborative platform for taxonomic resource maintenance. <i>TDWG 2021: Maintaining the taxonomic backbone (or connecting those who try)</i>. https://biss.pensoft.net/article/73867/

* Mayfield-Meyer, T.  Using the Taxonomic Backbone(s): The challenge of selecting a taxonomic resource and integrating it with a collection management solution. <i>TDWG 2021: Maintaining the taxonomic backbone (or connecting those who try)</i>. https://biss.pensoft.net/article/74115/.

* Struckhoff, E.D., McElrath, T.C., Stone, C., Tuten, H. A checklist and taxonomic key of the ticks (Acari: Ixodidae and Argasidae) of Illinois. Student Poster Competition: Grad MUVE: Pests and the Environment. <i>Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting</i>. Virtual/In-Person.

* Zaspel, J. Terrestrial Parasite Tracker: Digitizing collections to trace parasite-host associations. <i>iDigBio Summit & Biodiversity Conference</i>. [https://vimeo.com/611911173 Presentation recording].

'''2020'''

* O’del, Jenna, Isaac A. Bergfalk, & Holly A. Hoag. Developing the digitization practices of parasitic arthropod specimens from a university collection. <i>Digital Data Conference</i>. Indiana University. Virtual.

* McElrath TC. 2020. Accidental Pandemic Preparation - how updating digital infrastructure at the INHS Insect Collection allowed us to stay productive during the COVID-19 lockdown. Symposium: Entomology collections during a global pandemic. <i>Entomological Collections Network Annual Meeting</i>. Virtual.

* McElrath TC, D Dmitriev, M Yoder. The Evolution of Databasing at the INHS Insect Collection: Lessons Learned From Migrating Three Decades of Digital Data Into TaxonWorks. <i>SPNHC & ICOM NATHIST 35th Annual Meeting</i>. Virtual Poster. [https://spnhc.biowikifarm.net/wiki/Posters#/media/File:McElrath_poster_TCM_SPNHC2020_optimized.jpg View poster here].

* Seltmann, K.C., Poelen, J.H., Sullivan, K., Zaspel, J. Making Parasite-Host Associations Visible using Global Biotic Interactions. <i>Biodiversity Information Science and Standards 4: et8985.</i> [https://doi.org/10.3897/biss.4.58985 doi: 10.3897/biss.4.58985]. [https://youtu.be/2mBrZz1u6-U Presentation video].

* Smith, Mark. Imaging Systems and Workflows for Digitizing Pinned, Wet and Slide Mounted Specimens. <i>SPNHC & ICOM NATHIST 35th Annual Meeting</i>. Virtual.

* Tucker, E. Specify and project specific database modifications. <i>iDigBio TCN workshop.</i> Chicago, IL. 

* Zaspel, J., Sullivan, K., Seltmann, K. Making parasite-host associations visible in Terrestrial Parasite Tracker (TPT). [https://www.idigbio.org/content/webinar-making-parasite-host-associations-visible-terrestrial-parasite-tracker-tpt Webinar].


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=== News & Press ===

''' Interviews & Press Releases '''

* Carr, S. (2019) [http://news.unm.edu/news/unm-joins-multi-institutional-effort-to-create-terrestrial-parasite-tracker-project UNM joins multi-institutional effort to create Terrestrial Parasite Tracker project]. <i>UNM Newsroom</i>.

* Verdier, J. (2020) [https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/567392 Leveraging biodiversity science infrastructure in the COVID-19 era].   American Institute of Biological Sciences (AIBS) News Release. <i>BioScience.</i> (quotes: Jennifer M. Zaspel and colleagues; Joseph A. Cook and colleagues).

* (2019) [https://lsa.umich.edu/eeb/news-events/all-news/search-news/nsf-grants--4-3-million-to-ummz-and-collaborators-for-terrestria.html NSF grants $4.3 million to UMMZ and collaborators for Terrestrial Parasite Tracker project]. <i> LSA Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of Michigan</i>.

* (2019) [https://ecals.cals.wisc.edu/2019/08/21/uw-madison-to-contribute-to-terrestrial-parasite-tracker-project/ UW–Madison involved in NSF-funded Terrestrial Parasite Tracker project]. <i>College of Agricultural & Life Sciences University of Wisconsin-Madison</i>.

''' Blog Posts '''

* Allen, J. (2020) [https://blog.notesfromnature.org/2020/04/02/introducing-the-the-terrestrial-parasite-tracker-project-tpt/ Introducing the The Terrestrial Parasite Tracker Project (TPT)]. <i>Notes from Nature A Zooniverse Project Blog.</i>

* Fowler, S. (2020) [https://www.globalbioticinteractions.org/2020/08/25/extracting-parasite-interaction-data/ Extracting Parasite Interaction Data from a Scientific Paper using Google Sheets]. <i>GloBI</i>.

* Jolley, T. (2019) [https://blogs.illinois.edu/view/7447/803939 INHS joins effort to digitize North American parasite collections].  <i>Prairie Research Institute</i>.

* Tucker, E. (2022) [https://bug.news/blog/other/american-dog-tick/ Tik-Tok, Tick-Talk – American Dog Tick]. <i>Bug News</i>.

* (2020) [https://www.ccber.ucsb.edu/news-events/tracking-parasites Tracking Parasites (A reposting of Global Biotic Interactions Article: Tracking Parasites)]. <i>Katja Seltmann's blog</i>.

* (2020) [https://www.globalbioticinteractions.org/2020/03/05/tracking-parasites/ Tracking Parasites]. <i>GloBI</i>.

''' Podcasts '''

* Mike Caterino: Why are Insects Disappearing? (2020) <i>Land Matters Education Podcasts</i> ([https://www.clemson.edu/cafls/landmatters/episodes/03-mike-caterino.html original podcast link]) ([https://tunein.com/podcasts/Education-Podcasts/Land-Matters-p1297112/?topicId=143504654 updated podcast link])

* [https://bioscience-talks.aibs.org/episodes/21st-century-natural-history-collections 21st Century Natural History Collections]. (2020) BioScience Talks with James Verdier. [https://bioscience-talks.aibs.org/episodes/21st-century-natural-history-collections Podcast link].  

''' Videos & Webinars'''

* Webinar: Forward-Thinking Discussion on Biological Collections. (2021). Biodiversity Collections Network. [https://bcon.aibs.org/2020/12/21/webinar-forward-thinking-discussion-on-biological-collections/ Abstract]. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFuhE7rmzbE Webinar Recording]

* [https://vimeo.com/546669878 A Practical Exploration of Biotic Interaction Data Management and Information Retrieval through TPT and GloBI]. (2021).

* [https://vimeo.com/516765875 Discover new functionality in the SCAN Portal with the Terrestrial Parasite Tracker TCN]. (2021).

* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYXuNHIi42c Notes from Nature - Terrestrial Parasite Tracker]. (2021).

* Nick Dowdy. (2021). [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8EnynFzW-Q GIT GUD! Part 1: Integrate GitHub with RStudio]. 

* Forward-Thinking Discussion on Biological Collections. (2020). American Institute of Biological Sciences. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFuhE7rmzbE Webinar Recording].

''' On Twitter '''

* [https://twitter.com/hashtag/TerrestrialParasiteTracker?src=hash #TerrestrialParasiteTracker]

* [https://twitter.com/hashtag/terrestrialparasitetracker?src=hashtag_click #terrestrialparasitetracker]

* [https://twitter.com/hashtag/TPTTCN?src=hashtag_click #TPTTCN]

* [https://twitter.com/hashtag/parasitetracker?src=hashtag_click #parasitetracker]

* [https://twitter.com/hashtag/ParasiteTracker?src=hashtag_click #ParasiteTracker]

* [https://twitter.com/the_zooniverse/status/1245813275763367940 Tweet:] Introducing the The Terrestrial Parasite Tracker Project (TPT) https://ift.tt/2UAjJd4 from the nfromn blog. (2020)

''' Other '''

* PI Zaspel participated in interview with AIBS for an upcoming feature on natural history collections and COVID19 (2020).

* Medical Entomology Lab at INHS provided additional funds to support mosquito digitization and train a student in identification. (2020)

* Ron Rosen, Berea College Donated 1500+ Slides to the UWSP Parasitology Collection. Relevant slides to the TPT Project will be curated and included in our contribution to the TPT project. (2020)


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=== Other project documentation ===
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== PENs ==

=== 2020 Addition of the Yale Peabody Museum to the Terrestrial Parasite Tracker (TPT) Network ===
Arthropod parasites (specifically, insects and their relatives) are responsible for economically critical issues in human health, wildlife conservation, and livestock productivity. Because natural history collections are permanent repositories for past and present parasite specimens, these collections and their data can help address these significant societal challenges in human and animal health and safety. Natural history collections often contain specimens and ancillary materials that are completely unknown to the broader community, yet represent irreplaceable knowledge about organismal habitats, distributions, and parasite-host associations. Further, these collections yield information that can be used to model ecological processes and changes in species distributions, predict the future spread of human and animal disease, update taxonomy, and help identify under-represented parasite groups in urgent need of sampling and threatened parasite diversity in need of conservation. This project will provide digital records (i.e., specimen label data and images) of invaluable arthropod parasite collections to make research-ready baseline data accessible online, catalyzing new research and education initiatives. These newly digitized data will have immediate and long-lasting benefits for our understanding of organismal associations, biodiversity, and beyond.

The Terrestrial Parasite Tracker Thematic Collection Network (TPT-TCN) will digitize over one million arthropod specimens representing species that are significant parasites and disease vectors of vertebrates in the United States. The TPT-TCN is a collaboration among 26 research collections, and includes vertebrate and invertebrate taxonomists and curators, epidemiologists, ecologists, data-scientists, and biodiversity informatics specialists. This Partners to Existing Networks (PEN) grant allows the Yale Peabody Museum to join the collaboration, and digitize specimens that fill critical gaps in geographic and taxonomic coverage in the existing TPT-TCN. This project will integrate arthropod data with millions of vertebrate host records with vector and disease monitoring data shared by state and federal agency collaborators, creating a novel foundation for integrative, long-term research. It will also empower ongoing citizen science and public awareness campaigns with tools for understanding distribution changes of arthropod vectors and associated diseases due to environmental change and global movement. Educational initiatives include partnering with natural history museums to educate the public about parasites via science-focused lectures, exhibits, summer youth programs, informal presentations, and developing new online educational resources for teachers in underserved communities. All specimen images generated by this project will be shared with iDigBio.org and used in developing a rapid parasite identification tool, which will be accessible over the internet and smartphone apps. The TPT-TCN will also develop and implement undergraduate teaching modules focused on data held in natural history collections. These modules will be disseminated to academic institutions across the United States and made available online.

''Project Sponsor'': [https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2001547 Yale University (NSF Award #2001547)]

''Principal Investigators'': [mailto:lawrence.gall@yale.edu Lawrence Gall] (PI), Stephen Cameron (co-PI)

=== 2021 Adding a world-class flea collection to the Terrestrial Parasite Tracker Network ===

Parasitic insects have a global impact on human health, livestock production, and wildlife conservation. Building robust datasets of parasites’ host preferences, seasonal activity, and geographic range can help scientists and public health professionals understand and predict patterns of disease transmission; however, much of the data needed for these assessments is accessible only through museum collections. The primary goal of this project is to extract this data from a world-class collection of fleas and associated parasites at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History (CMNH). As part of the Terrestrial Parasite Tracker Thematic Collections Network (TPT TCN), high-quality specimen images and host/locality data will be captured, digitized, and shared via public data portals. This will allow entomologists, epidemiologists, and other researchers to make essential connections between disease vectors and their host species. In turn, understanding these connections will support future assessments of economic and health risks from insect-vectored disease.

The Robert Traub flea collection at CMNH is one of the largest and most meticulously curated collections of mammal parasites in the world, with 74,897 specimens mounted under glass on 60,596 glass slides with 4,615 associated genitalic dissections. This project will use automated slide scanning technology developed for pathology laboratory use to capture whole-slide and specimen images efficiently. These images will then be linked with digitized host and locality data from both slide labels and Traub’s fieldwork logs. This project will more than quintuple the Siphonaptera specimen records for the Terrestrial Parasite Tracker TCN and complete its representation of flea families. This will represent a valuable dataset and image resource not just for TPT TCN and epidemiology research, but for systematic research on Siphonaptera in general. Disseminating this data through the online data portals, including iDigBio.org, Symbiota Collection of Arthropods Network (SCAN), and the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). Broad digital access will enable researchers and diagnosticians worldwide to access an enormous database of host-parasite relationships as well as to compare their specimens to high-quality specimen images with reliable species-level identifications.

This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

''Project Sponsor'': [https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2101926 Carnegie Institute (NSF Award #2101926)]

''Principal Investigators'': [mailto:SeagoA@carnegiemnh.org Ainsley  Seago] (PI)