Service-learning biodiversity surveys: A partnership with the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina

Insects are used as bioindicators because they are sensitive to changes in their surroundings. Their diversity can tell us about restoration success and the general health of ecosystems. Since 2019, three courses (Entomology, Invertebrate Zoology, and Conservation Biology) at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke have been partnering with the Lumbee Tribe Cultural Center (LTCC) to aid the tribe in achieving their conservation goals. The LTCC is a 300 acre partially forested property maintained for recreation, cultural practices, and conservation by the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina. The service-learning partnerships have focused on surveying biodiversity. Given their ease of sampling, relationship to ecological function, and known responses to habitat disturbance, ants have been strongly promoted as bioindicators in the Entomology course, though all biodiversity has been inventoried with additional partnerships of Invertebrate Zoology and Conservation Biology courses. Tracking biodiversity over time, especially for important bioindicator groups, can be used to determine changes in communities at the LTCC and the effectiveness of conservation and restoration initiatives. The partnerships increase student competencies in applying course content, sampling methods, data analysis, and science communication. Students have created trail signs, videos, and presentations to share their findings with the tribe and the broader community. Additionally, a website was developed by Conservation Biology students to house records and photos of biodiversity. The courses represent significant application of knowledge and strengthen existing partnerships with the Tribe while promoting cross cultural awareness.