ABQ Times

The University of New Mexico's Museum of Southwestern Biology, Natural Heritage New Mexico, and the New Mexico BioPark Society have launched a new website, the New Mexico Rare Arthropod Resource (NM-RARe). This online platform aims to educate users about rare, endemic, and threatened arthropod species in New Mexico. The site is designed to compile information on these species to help land managers, conservationists, students, and the public better understand and protect them.

Research Associate Professor Esteban Muldavin, director of Natural Heritage New Mexico at the Museum of Southwestern Biology, University of New Mexico, said: "NMRARe is the first of its kind for New Mexico in bringing to our attention the status not only of pollinators but a wide array of other arthropods in the state. It was made possible by dedicated group students, researchers, and conservation practitioners, and we hope that collaboration will grow to further the conservation of this important element of biodiversity in New Mexico."

Arthropods are among the most species-rich groups on earth. They include insects, arachnids such as spiders and scorpions, crustaceans, and myriapods like millipedes and centipedes. Despite their small size, they play crucial roles in ecosystems as predators, herbivores, decomposers, and pollinators. Many are at risk of extinction.

The NM-RARe website offers several resources:

1. A List of Assessed Species: The site includes rare or threatened arthropods from New Mexico evaluated by either IUCN Red List or NatureServe conservation assessments.

2. Species Accounts: Detailed information on assessed species including distribution, life history, threats, and conservation considerations.

3. Resources: Links to additional insect information sources and opportunities to support list improvement.

Anna Walker from the New Mexico BioPark Society highlighted the urgency with which action needs to be taken due to alarming global insect decline rates. She stated: "The dire situation of the Sacramento Mountains Checkerspot was a wake-up call for those of us concerned about insect conservation in New Mexico."

This initiative came together through interdisciplinary collaboration among regional experts and professionals. The content for NM-RARe was primarily written by students from UNM's Department of Biology affiliated with MSB. The project received funding from the Carroll Petrie Foundation based in Santa Fe and technical support from Colorado Natural Heritage Program.