Elevated extinction risk in over one-fifth of native North American pollinators

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 122(14)

Published: March 24, 2025

Pollinators are critical for food production and ecosystem function. Although native pollinators thought to be declining, the evidence is limited. This first, taxonomically diverse assessment mainland North America north of Mexico reveals that 22.6% (20.6 29.6%) 1,579 species in best-studied vertebrate insect pollinator groups have elevated risk extinction. All three pollinating bat at bees group most (best estimate, 34.7% 472 assessed, range 30.3 43.0%). Substantial numbers butterflies (19.5% 632 species, 19.1 21.0%) moths (16.1% 142 15.5 19.0%) also risk, with flower flies (14.7% 295 11.5 32.9%), beetles (12.5% 18 11.1 22.2%), hummingbirds (0% 17 species) more secure. At-risk concentrated where diversity highest, southwestern United States. Threats vary geographically: climate change West North, agriculture Great Plains, pollution, agriculture, urban development East. Woodland, shrubland/chaparral, grassland habitats support greatest at-risk pollinators. Strategies improving habitat increasingly available, this study identifies habitats, threats need conservation actions state, provincial, territorial, national, continental levels.

Language: Английский

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Bee monitoring by community scientists: comparing a collections-based program with iNaturalist

Annals of the Entomological Society of America, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 117(4), P. 220 - 233

Published: July 1, 2024

Abstract Bee monitoring, or widespread efforts to document bee community biodiversity, can involve data collection using lethal (specimen collections) non-lethal methods (observations, photographs). Additionally, be collected by professional scientists volunteer participants from the general public. Collection-based presumably produce more reliable with fewer biases against certain taxa, while photography-based approaches, such as public natural history platforms like iNaturalist, people and cover a broader geographic area. Few have been made quantify pros cons of these different approaches. We established science monitoring program assess biodiversity across state Pennsylvania (USA) specimen collections nets, blue vane traps, bowl traps. recruited 26 participants, mostly Master Gardeners, sample bees after receiving extensive training on topics methods. The specimens they were identified species, stored in museum collections, added databases. Then, we compared results our research-grade observations iNaturalist during same time period (2021 2022). At county levels, found documented over twice much novel baseline (state records) than iNaturalist. showed strong toward large-bodied non-native species. This study demonstrates value highly trained for collections-based research that aims patterns space time.

Language: Английский

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Insect pollinators: The time is now for identifying species of greatest conservation need

Wildlife Society Bulletin, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 48(3)

Published: July 31, 2024

Abstract Severe declines in the abundance of insects, including economically and ecologically important pollinators, are alarming conservationists public. Yet despite these increasingly well‐documented declines, relatively few pollinating insects other than butterflies, moths, bumble bees have appeared as Species Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) State Wildlife Action Plans, decadal‐scale blueprints for wildlife conservation efforts across United States that require updating 2025. absent from SGCN lists ineligible congressionally appropriated Grants direct millions dollars annually their conservation. In past, knowledge about distribution many insect pollinators was too poor to identify those meeting state guidelines inclusion SGCN. Using case studies 4 northeastern states, we demonstrate sufficient status data now exist bees, beetles, flower flies, at‐risk species meriting on states. Doing so will increase funding surveys, habitat protection enhancement, activities benefit this vitally guild.

Language: Английский

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Fine-Scale Models of Bee Species Diversity and Habitat in New York State

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: July 17, 2024

Abstract Anthropogenic drivers of global change threaten bee diversity and the ecosystem services bees provide. Despite their importance, conservation pollinators is complicated by limited often heavily biased occurrence data. A recent state-wide survey insect across New York, United States generated a large spatial dataset species records from community scientists, historical collections, efforts. Using combination state with data contiguous States, we applied an ensemble modeling approach using balanced random forest small bivariate generalized linear models to predict distributions most state’s species. We predicted distribution richness stacked model climate, land cover, soil covariates. To inform conservation, variation for each groups sharing similar life history traits. also estimated statewide range-size rarity, ecological uniqueness, climate exposure. found that modeled high state, greatest in regions low clay content intermediate cover. The fine scale extent our gridded layers match action providing opportunity incorporate wild into broader planning. Conserving York State’s not straightforward, decisions should be based on priorities biodiversity indicators decision-making. Here, encourage inclusion these vital leveraging best available methods robust sample sizes provide spatially explicit products representing York.

Language: Английский

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A call for standardization in wild bee data collection and curation

Journal of Melittology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 123

Published: Dec. 12, 2024

Standardizing data collection methods is essential for advancing research, monitoring, and conservation efforts on bees. Greater consistency in practices will enable the production of higher-quality, interoperable datasets, fostering a deeper understanding bee populations trends over time. This special issue series Journal Melittology presents six articles outlining standardized protocols standards to support wild efforts, together with this article, which makes general argument greater standardization. These are applicable wide range research maximize quality use occurrence can also be integrated into formal monitoring programs. Here, we first outline need for, an overview of, developed association U.S. National Native Bee Monitoring Research Coordination Network. We provide guidance how decide among achieve different objectives. then summarize key features protocols, including (i) they designed focus collecting only information, while providing additional recommendations; (ii) that intended embedded within whatever broader sampling schemes have been meet individual project or program objectives; (iii) their emphasis standards. Lastly, argue ecological information used contextualize data. supports hypothesis testing better understand causal drivers underlying status

Language: Английский

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