Collections Manager of Invertebrates

jamie.smith@ncdenr.gov
919.733.7450 x762

B.S., Biology, East Carolina University, 2000



 

Research Interests

Mollusks were among the first inhabitants of the Earth. There are fossils of mollusks that date back over 500 million years. They are an amazingly diverse array of animals that are great indicators of the streams overall health and ecological condition. North American bivalve fauna is the most diverse in the world, with the greater part of the species in the superfamily Unionoidea. 

My general research interests and efforts are focused on the use of molecular and morphological systematic techniques to identify mollusks, documentation of mollusk distribution, natural history and the management of biological information. The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences’ mollusk collection contains over 31,000 catalogued lots, totaling over 645,000 specimens. My current projects consist of the recent donation from Herbert D. Athearn of an estimated 25,000 lots (approximately 300,000 specimens) and the Douglas Wolfe collection of nearly 1,000 lots. This brings our collection to nearly 1 million specimens. 

All incoming specimens are carefully analyzed and the resulting information is entered into a server based database to enable the user to query on many levels. This relational database contains multiple linked tables and push button driven menus that allow the user to document specimen and locality related data. The tables include detailed breakdowns of drainages, political subdivisions, habitat, donator information, specimen identification and taxonomic history, determiner, specimen size, nature of specimen, complete georeferencing and more. Initial entries are entered into temporary tables that are verified and then appended into the final table. Although our primary research focus is the diversity and distribution of North Carolina, we are a repository for agencies worldwide allowing us to get a global perspective. The catalogued mollusk distribution, so far, consists of over 50 countries and is continuously growing. The information gained relating to the abundance and distribution of these mussels will be used to protect the remaining areas where they and the habitats that sustain them are healthy, and to target areas where conditions indicate that improvements are essential.

Other interests include cartography, Visual Basic and SQL application development, digital imaging, photography and virtually anything that involves being outdoors.

Recent Publications

Bogan, Arthur E., J.M. Smith, C.M. Bogan. 2008.  The H.D. Athearn Museum of Fluviatile Mollusks, Cleveland, Tennessee. Tentacle, 16:14-15.

Smith, Jamie M., C Bogan, A.E. Bogan. 2007. Museum of Fluviatile Mollusks Collection Donates to the North Carolina State Museum of Natural Sciences, Raleigh. Ellipsaria, 9(3): 12-14.

Bogan, Cynthia, J.M. Smith, A.E. Bogan. 2007.  Museum of Fluviatile Mollusks Collection Donated to NC Museum of Natural Sciences, Raleigh.  The Naturalist, 15(3): 13.

Bogan, Cynthia, J.M. Smith, A.E. Bogan. 2007.  Museum of Fluviatile Mollusks Collection Donated to NC Museum of Natural Sciences, Raleigh.  NC Shell Club October Newsletter, p 2.