Curious about the latest data gleaned through the all-taxa biodiversity inventory at Great Smoky Mountains National Park? A conference in mid-December will lay it all out.

Presented by the folks at Discover Life in America, who have been managing the inventory for the National Park Service, the three-day conference (December 9-12) in Gatlingburg, Tennessee, is titled, Invasive Species: The Biggest Threat to Biodiversity?

Here's a glance at the agenda:

* ATBI science talks

* Smokies’ air quality update

* Smokies’ save the Hemlocks update

* Silent and live auctions to raise funds to help support the Smokies’ ATBI

* A nature photographer workshop

* A full day for Educators at all levels

* Workshops that include: GPS use session, Connecting the Curriculum and the ATBI, Using “Critters” in the Classroom, Lost proofing, Smokies’ Yuky Stuff, Citizen Science, “Getting everyone Involved,” and much, much more!

* Scientific poster sessions

* Fantastic field trips on Winter Tree ID, Geology of the Smokies and Bryophytes

* Keynote address and a reception with celebrated, invasives biologist, Dr. Daniel Simberloff

* Updates from ATBI’s across the country

* The conference culminating event is “The Great Smoky Mountains Salamander Ball” at Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies!

The All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory is a unique ecological undertaking to find and document every species of life in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, from ferns and fungi to birds and beetles. The effort began in 1998 and is serving as a model for efforts to document the diversity of life throughout the nation—at other national parks, state parks, and in other preserves, large and small. To date more than 900 species have been identified that are new to science and more than 6,400 species have been identified that are new records for the park itself.

For a more detailed schedule; registration forms; or to volunteer...see conference info (schedules, times, special events) at www.dlia.org Questions and/or to register for the conference, please contact Heather MacCulloch, at Discover Life in America, 865-430-4756 or e-mail at [email protected].