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Smokey Mountain Species Estimates of the number of species living in the Great Smoky Mountains run in the hundreds-of-thousands, but scientists have only identified a small percentage. The National Park Service and a group of scientists are now conducting a survey called the All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory. It's an attempt to find out what's out there, with a emphasis on the tiniest of creatures, like insects and fungi. NPR's John Nielsen visited the Smokies and met with several of the scientists searching out the unknown.

All Things Considered

Smokey Mountain Species

Heard on All Things Considered

Smokey Mountain Species

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Estimates of the number of species living in the Great Smoky Mountains run in the hundreds-of-thousands, but scientists have only identified a small percentage. The National Park Service and a group of scientists are now conducting a survey called the All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory. It's an attempt to find out what's out there, with a emphasis on the tiniest of creatures, like insects and fungi. NPR's John Nielsen visited the Smokies and met with several of the scientists searching out the unknown.