DR. NEIL CUMBERLIDGE NAMED
NMU 2009 PETER WHITE SCHOLAR

The Freshwater Crabs of Eastern Africa: production of a major taxonomic revision using advances in biodiversity informatics.

This project is the culmination of a 20-year research program on the taxonomy and systematics of African freshwater crabs undertaken by Dr. Neil Cumberlidge.  Previous work has led to the description of seven new genera and 30 new species of freshwater crabs, and more than 80 journal publications, several book chapters, and a book-length monograph.  This project focuses on the poorly known freshwater crab faunas of six countries in the East African region that includes two biodiversity hotspots.  Specialized taxonomic databasing software will be used to integrate new research and new species descriptions with existing publications to produce a single volume, The Freshwater Crabs of Eastern Africa.  In addition, much-needed resources, including first-time national species lists, identification keys, and digital images of type specimens, will be made freely available on biodiversity informatics websites.  The monograph will stimulate interest from a broad range of scientific disciplines, and raise the profile of freshwater crabs as a taxonomic group.  The award will also be used by Dr. Cumberlidge  to attend a conference to develop new skills in biodiversity informatics, to support work in museums in the USA and Europe, and to upgrade laboratory equipment.  The grant will facilitate the involvement of students in research, and will be used to upgrade NMU courses.  Dr. Cumberlidge is planning to submit the monograph for publication and will present his findings at scientific meetings. Dr. Cumberlidge will also be seeking external funding from the National Science Foundation for a scaled up continent-wide project using this project as a preliminary study.