STEPP-NET is a multinational effort to describe mammal-associated parasite faunas in the ecologically diverse grasslands of INTERIOR Asia.

 
WHY? 
A significant portion of Earth's species still unknown to science is likely comprised of arthropods, helminths (including cestodes, trematodes, nematodes, and acanthocephalans), and viruses. Closing the massive taxonomic diversity and species distribution shortfalls for parasites in these groups is critical because they can be sensitive indicators of ecosystem integrity as well as agents of unpredictable impacts on humans, livestock, and wild species.

GOALS OF THE PROJECT:
​Specifically, we aim to (1) accelerate discovery of parasite diversity in Asia and (2) identify environmental factors that structure multi-host, multi-parasite systems in this region. Our first two expeditions occurred in 2022 and 2023 in Mongolia. 

STEPP-NET'S Approach to parasite discovery and description

Holistic Specimen Collections

Spatially Comprehensive Sampling

Follow along with our project by keeping up with the collaborators of STEPP-NET:
BRYAN MCLEAN (Lead PI) | University of North Carolina at Greensboro
SALLY KOERNER | University of North Carolina at Greensboro
JASON MALANEY | New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science
JOE COOK | University of New Mexico and the Museum of Southwestern Biology
STEPHEN GREIMAN | Georgia Southern University
KURT GALBREATH | Northern Michigan University
BATSAIKHAN NYAMSUREN | National University of Mongolia
DAVAA LKHAGVASUREN | National University of Mongolia
ERDENE-OCHIR TSEREN-OCHIR | Mongolian University of Life Sciences

Funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation