1-30 November: Processing and data management of recent collections continues. Powerpoint presentation to be given at annual DLIA / ATBI meeting in Gatlinburg (7-10 December) organized. Website pages updated to reflect recent changes, new information.

1-31 October: Planning for, then completing visit to Park (17-23 October) to conduct surveys for aquatic annelids and other macroinvertebrates at 13 sites. During this visit, we assisted Susan Sachs (NPS), Jonathan Mays, and Jennifer Krell at the Appalachian Highlands Science Learning Center at Purchase Knob (18 October), during a field trip by high school science students from Cherokee High School. Sample processing of past collections continues.

16-30 September: Website pages updated to reflect recent changes, new information. No other progress on project completed; other project responsibilities take priority.

1-15 September: Assessment of precipitation dumped by Hurricane Frances on Park and surrounding area, and additional precipitation anticipated from Hurricane Ivan, and timing of its presence over the Appalachians, forces postponement of September collecting trip by Wetzel and Morgan. Tentative plans established for collecting trip occurring in mid-October, including outreach sessions with Cherokee High School biology students.

1-31 August: Karyla Trester (INHS Database expert) assists MJW in resolution of FileMaker data (wetzel ATBI project database) with fields in software program used by ATBI database managers Chuck Cooper and Michael Kunze. Plans formulated for mid-September 2004 collecting trip to the Park by Wetzel and Morgan to continue surveys, and to include a public outreach/education opportunity with Susan Sachs (NPS) and high school biology students from Cherokee High School. Sample processing of past collections continues.

1-31 July: Sample processing of past collections continues.

1-30 June: Sample processing of past collections continues.

1-31 May: Updated several pages associated with this project website to reflect progress, including project highlights in 2003. Updated project database. Processing on samples collected during 2002 and 2003 continues. Planned and conducted collecting trip to Park (15-21 May); 14 aquatic habitats were visited. During this trip (Tuesday 18 May) we met with Drs. Keith Langdon, Becky Nichols, and Janet Rock along the toe (base) of the bluffs on the east side of Chilhowee Reservoir (TN Hwy 28) to look for presence of an exotic earthworm, Amynthas hawayensis (Chinese jumper), a species that had been observed there in 2003; although no specimens of this species were observed, other earthworm specimens were collected for identification and addition to records of earthworms known from the Park. Amynthas hawayensis (Family Megascolecidae) is one of 45 earthworm species considered to be introduced to North America (Reynolds and Wetzel 2004). Preparation of annual report to DLIA (for work conducted in 2003) continues.

1-30 April: Updated several pages associated with this project website to reflect progress, including project highlights in 2003. Updated project database. Processing on samples collected during 2002 and 2003 continues.

2 April: Notification from DLIA received stating that proposal submitted to DLIA in February to continue this research in 2004 was fully funded. Planning begun for field trip to Park in late April or early May.

1-31 March: Updated several pages associated with this project website to reflect progress, including project highlights in 2003. Updated project database. Processing on samples collected during 2002 and 2003 continues.

1-29 February: Proposal to DLIA to continue surveys for aquatic oligochaetes in the Park during 2004 finalized; proposal submitted to DLIA via web-based submission format on Friday 13 February. Updated several pages associated with this project website to reflect progress, including project highlights in 2003. Updated project database. Assisted three other colleagues in finalizing collaborative research proposal to the National Science Foundation that will focus on the Branchiobdellida - a group of small, leech-like clitellate annelids that form an ectosymbiotic relationship with (primarily) freshwater crayfishes in the Holarctic region (submitted to NSF on 9 January). A part of this proposal will include the collection of branchiobdellidans associated with crayfishes occurring in the Park. This NSF proposal also includes funding to prepare and present 2-3 workshops focusing on the biology, taxonomy, and systematics of the Branchiobdellidae; one of these workshops is being planned for presentation at the Appalachian Science Learning Center at Purchase Knob (summer of 2005 or 2006). Processing on samples collected during 2002 and 2003 continues.

1-31 January: Finalized proposal to DLIA to continue surveys for aquatic oligochaetes in the Park during 2004. Updated several areas on the project website to reflect progress. Finalized NSF proposal focusing on the Branchiobdellida - a group of small, leech-like clitellate annelids that form an ectosymbiotic relationship with (primarily) freshwater crayfishes in the Holarctic region (submitted to NSF on 9 January). A part of this proposal will focus on branchiobdellidans associated with crayfishes occurring in the Park, and one of the planned taxonomic workshops addressing this group is being planned for the Appalachian Science Learning Center at Purchase Knob (summer of 2005 or 2006). Processing on samples collected during 2002 and 2003 continues.

1-31 December: Processing on samples collected during 2002 and 2003 continues. Began working on an NSF proposal focusing on the Branchiobdellida - a group of small, leech-like clitellate annelids that form an ectosymbiotic relationship with (primarily) freshwater crayfishes in the Holarctic region. A powerpoint lecture summarizing the results of our work in the Park to date (1999- ) and highlighting our 2003 field work and education/outreach opportunities, was presented at the annual DLIA meeting in Gatlinburg, TN, 2-6 December. At the end of that meeting, Paul Bartels (Warren Wilson College, Ashville, NC) and Wetzel were interviewed by Candice Grimm (journalist, The Mountain Press - a daily paper serving Sevier Co., TN). In the article that appreared in that newspaper on Sunday 7 December (Vol. 4-03, No. 341: pp. 1-2), we summarized our interest in conducting research in the Park, integrating our ongoing research with the goals of the ATBI program. The following week (11 December) I presented a talk on our research (similar to that which was presented in the Netherlands in October) to participants of the 17 annual meeting of the Florida Association of Benthologists, Naples Florida.

1-30 November: Processing on samples collected during 2002 and 2003 continues. A powerpoint lecture summarizing DLIA, the ATBI program, and the result of our work in the Park to date (presented in October at symposium in The Netherlands [see below]) was reorganized and prepared for presentation at the annual DLIA meeting in December.

1-31 October: Processing on samples collected during 2002 and 2003 continues. A powerpoint lecture summarizing DLIA, the ATBI program, and the result of our work in the Park to date was presented at the Ninth International Symposium on Aquatic Oligochaete Biology, Wageningen, The Netherlands, 6-10 October. This presentation, and new information resulting from the 2002 and 2003 collections was reorganized/prepared in powerpoint format for the annual DLIA meeting in December.

1-30 September: Processing on samples collected during 2002 and 2003 continues. A powerpoint lecture summarizing DLIA, the ATBI program, and the result of our work in the Park to date was prepared for presentation at the Ninth International Symposium on Aquatic Oligochaete Biology, to convene in The Netherlands in October. Travel to Park (19-27 September); surveys for oligochaetes and other aquatic macroinvertebrates conducted at 13 stream sites, Round Bottom Spring, and at the Smokemont sewage treatment lagoon. Website updated to reflect new information.

1-31 August: Processing on samples collected during 2002 and 2003 continues. Information in database being prepared for transfer to Micahel Kunze, ATBI database manager. Planning for September collecting trip to Park continues. Website updated to reflect new information.

1-31 July: Processing on samples collected during 2002 and 2003 continues. Information in database being prepared for transfer to Micahel Kunze, ATBI database manager. Planning for September collecting trip to Park initiated; hoping to work with Susan Sachs and Cherokee High School biology students. Website updated to reflect new information.

16-30 June: Processing on samples collected during 2002 and 2003 continues; final report summarizing research conducted during 2002 completed (date: 27 June 2003); electronic version forwarded to DLIA/ATBI administrators (Hilten, Morse), and to NPS (Langdon). Website updated to reflect new information.

1-15 June: Processing on samples collected during 2002 and 2003 continues; final report summarizing research conducted during 2002 being completed; website updated to reflect new information.

16-31 May: Processing on samples collected during 2002 and 2003 continues; final report summarizing research conducted during 2002 being completed; website updated to reflect new information.

4-15 May: Processing on samples collected during 2002 continues; final report summarizing research conducted during 2002 being completed; website updated to reflect new information. Complete abstract, send in to symposium organizers, and begin preparation of presentation summarizing our research accomplishments to date; to be presented in October at 9th International Symposium on Aquatic Oligochaete Biology convening in Wageningen, The Netherlands. Continue preparation of final report to DLIA summarizing our research accomplishments during 2002.

26 April-3 May: field trip to Park; 12 stream and 4 spring/seep sites surveyed, including several sites accessible by boat via Fontana Reservoir.

8-25 April: plans to visit Park finalized; field equipment, transportation, and lodging needs finalized.

7 April: Notice received that proposal (submitted in February) to continue research in the Park during 2003 was funded.

1-31 March: Processing on samples collected during 2001 and 2002 continues as time permits; plans made for field work to be conducted in late April, in anticipation of continued funding via proposal submitted to DLIA in February.

15-28 February: Processing on samples collected during 2001 and 2002 continues as time permits; training undergraduate and graduate student assistants in the processing and identification of aquatic invertebrates collected from Park sites during our research trips.

25 January-14 February: Proposal in response to RFP from the DLIA Science Committee (to continue this research in 2003, beginning in April) finalized through INHS, UIUC grants and contracts offices; submitted electronically to Dr. John Morse on Friday 14 February. Reorganization of website summarizing this project finished; new website goes live on 14 February.

15-24 January: Minor changes to new website completed. Processing on samples collected during 2001 and 2002 continues as time permits; training undergraduate and graduate student assistants in the processing and identification of aquatic invertebrates collected from Park sites during our research trips.

1-14 January: Preparing proposal in response to RFP from the DLIA Science Committee, to continue this research in 2003, beginning in April. Reorganization of website summarizing this project begun.

9-31 December: Processing on samples collected during 2001 and 2002 continues; training undergraduate and graduate student assistants in the processing and identification of aquatic invertebrates collected from Park sites during our research trips.

6 December: PowerPoint presentation, summarizing progress to date, and short- and long-term goals for continuing this research, given to participants of the Annual DLIA meeting at the Glenstone Lodge in Gatlinburg, TN.

Also during the annual ATBI meeting in Gatlinburg, over 300 vials and jars of aquatic insects collected from our sites in the Park (1999-2002) distributed to ATBI entomologists attending the meeting. All vials and jars included extensive, archival locality labels, with complete georeferencing information. All locality information on specimen labels is also available on this website, accessible via the Site Map, Locality Information link noted in the navigator bar at the bottom of this page.

5 October-4 December: Processing on samples collected during 2001 and 2002 continues; training undergraduate and graduate student assistants in the processing and identification of aquatic invertebrates collected from Park sites during our research trips. Preparing powerpoint presentation summarizing progress to date, for presentation at the annual meeting of Discover Life In America, to convene at the Glenstone Lodge in Gatlinburg, 4-7 December 2002; organizing non-annelid aquatic macroinvertebrates (clean-sorted / labeled) for distribution to taxonomists attending ATBI conference.

26 August-4 October: Processing on samples collected during 2001 and 2002 continues; training undergraduate and graduate student assistants in the processing and identification of aquatic invertebrates collected from Park sites during our research trips.

20-25 August: Research and public outreach trip to the Park; stayed at the Appalachian Highlands Science Learning Center at Purchase Knob. During this visit, I presented a slide show to visitors to the SWAG Country Inn (this presentation included a short history of my institution and synopsis of research being conducted; and introduction to the ATBI program; and my specific research on aquatic oligochaetes in the Park). With the assistance of Ms. Susan Sachs (NPS), we introduced students from a biology class at Cherokee High School to aquatic invertebrates (slide show, lab/microscope investigations), and field work in a stream (headwater tributary of Hemphill Creek), where Susan involved the students in a salamander capture and release study. Rebecca P. Shiflett, ATBI photographer, documented this opportunity for the program.

11-19 August: Processing on samples collected during 2001 and 2002 continues; preparation for research and public outreach trip to the Park.

9 May-10 August: Processing on samples collected during 2001 and 2002 continues

1-8 May: Processing on samples collected during 2001 continues; rinsing and sorting of samples collected in April 2002 is begun.

1-30 April: Planning for April 2002 collecting trip to Park completed. Notification of successful proposal received 15 April. Field work in Park conducted 19-27 April; 14 aquatic sites were surveyed for oligochaetes and other macroinvertebrates, including the collection of worms from rimstone pools in Gregorys Cave (photodocumentation provided by Rebecca P. Shiflett, ATBI photographer). Processing on samples collected during 2001 continues.

1-31 March: Processing on samples collected during 2001 continues.

9-28 February: Proposal for funds to continue research in the Park during 2002 was finalized and submitted to DLIA for consideration; processing on samples collected during 2001 continues.

1-8 February: Proposal for funds to continue research in the Park is being prepared; processing on samples collected during 2001 continues.

2-31 January: Processing on samples collected during 2001 continues. Popular article summarizing our research in the Park, entitled "Worms: Segments, Hairs, Maybe Gills -- Oh My!", is published in the Winter 2002 (Vol. 3, no. 1) issue of the ATBI Quarterly.