Progress 10/01/04 to 09/30/05
Outputs
4d Progress report. This report serves to document research conducted under a reimbursable agreement between ARS and USDI-BLM Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. Additional details of research can be found in the report for the parent 5428-21000-010-00D Pollinating Insect-Biology, Management, Systematics Research. A study of the bees of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument was initiated in the spring of 2000 with the goals of documenting the unknown pollinator fauna of the monument and to develop long-term baseline data on bee populations in order to track pollinator health. Results of four years (2000-2003) of sampling across the entire flowering season show unanticipated diversity, very patchy distribution of bees, and low predictability of habitat. The unique nature of the monuments bee fauna is indicated by numerous new species and several bees not previously recorded from Utah. Fifty-six genera and 638 species have been recorded from the monument,
more than were recorded in the San Rafael Desert in 15 years of work, and one of the highest diversities recorded in North America. More than 40 species are undescribed. Bees show a bimodal pattern of seasonality with peaks in late spring and late summer. Most bees are solitary and are active for a short period during one of these peaks of abundance. The exotic honeybee does not appear to be dominant in the monument. Lowland riparian habitats appear to harbor the greatest species richness and abundance of bees. Results so far suggest a very different structure to bee populations between successive years. For example, there was a precipitous decline in bumblebees populations during the four years of drought that were sampled. In the winter of 2004 - 2005, the monument received above average winter precipitation. To determine the impact of precipitation on bee populations we sampled the spring fauna. Samples will be processed, identified, and analyzed during the coming year.
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
- None. Project just initiated.
|
Progress 04/12/00 to 04/12/05
Outputs
Progress Report 4a List the single most significant research accomplishment during FY 2006. Work in the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument has resulted in one of the largest, most complete databases of bees. We developed a data set from continued sampling in the same plots over a period of four years, a data set which can be used to address questions regarding both with- in year and between-year trends in bee population levels and phenologies. Additionally, our dataset includes floral records for most of the bee specimens collected, allowing for the analysis of patterns of specialization and generalization among bee species and guilds, and investigations into the network structure of pollinator communities in an arid and unpredictable desert region. 4d Progress report. This report serves to document research conducted under a reimbursable agreement between ARS and Bureau of Land Management, Department of the Interior. Additional details of research can be
found in the report for the parent CRIS 5428-21000-010-00D Pollinating Insect-Biology, Management, Systematics Research. A survey of the bees of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, southern Utah was conducted over a period of four years. Six hundred and forty three species were discovered within the monument, including numerous range extensions, several new species, and three genera new to the state of Utah. This is the richest bee landscape studied to date; reasons for the high diversity include the large elevation range, the richness of flowering plants, many of which are limited in distribution and require specific pollinators, and low bee dispersal rates. To test the significance of these features on patterns of bee incidence and abundance, several theoretically important landscape variables were measured. Additionally, the role of these same parameters in determining community composition was examined. Landscape factors measured were chosen on the basis of their
importance in previous studies of bee richness and abundance, and their utility to land managers wishing to quickly assess the areas on a large landscape that may be hotspots of bee biodiversity. Specifically, elevation, percent sand, flowering species richness, landscape type, and habitat type were used. Flowering species richness was found to be the most significant predictor of bee richness and abundance, but landscape type also played a substantial role. Reasons for the differences in bee richness between landscape types may include the degree to which type dictates year to year resource predictability. Abundant perennial shrubs may also provide predictable resources. These results indicate the importance of long term, spatially extensive sampling across a broad range of elevations and including numerous landscape types if bee faunas are to be fully documented. 6. What science and/or technologies have been transferred and to whom? When is the science and/or technology likely to
become available to the end- user (industry, farmer, other scientists)? What are the constraints, if known, to the adoption and durability of the technology products? Results of this work was presented to both BLM officials and visitors to the monument. Most recently we presented our findings at the Science Symposium held in conjunction with the opening of the Visitors Center in Escalante, Utah in June, 2006. The new visitors center includes a large display on pollinators in the monument, and their role in ecosystem function. These displays are based on the information we provided. Additionally, land managers in the monument now have a complete and annotated list of bee species within their boundaries, and a database including information on the location, date of capture, floral host, and habitat type for each of the 90,000 specimens collected. 7. List your most important publications in the popular press and presentations to organizations and articles written about your work.
(NOTE: List your peer reviewed publications below). Messinger, O. J. 2006. A survey of the bees of Grand Staircase- Escalante National Monument, Southern Utah: Incidence, abundance, and community dynamics. M. S. Thesis, Utah State University, Logan. 158 pp.
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
- None. Project just initiated.
|
Progress 10/01/03 to 09/30/04
Outputs
4. What were the most significant accomplishments this past year? This report serves to document research conducted under an interagency reimbursable agreement between ARS and Bureau of Land Management, Department of the Interior. Additional details of research can be found in the report for the parent project 5428-21000-010-00D, Pollinating Insect-Biology, Management, Systematics Research. The study on the native bees of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument (GSENM) has yet to be completed. The field work component has been completed. Processing of some samples and data analysis remain. The student whose thesis this is has been on an extended leave of absence. The GSENM staff granted the student an extension on the due date for the final report. That report will be completed during the next fiscal year.
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
- None. Project just initiated.
|
Progress 10/01/02 to 09/30/03
Outputs
4. What were the most significant accomplishments this past year? This report serves to documentresearch conducted undera a Specific Cooperative Agreement between ARS and Bureau of Land Management, Department of the Interior. (5428-05-00-17565). Additional details of research can be found in the report for the parent project 5428-21000-009- 00D, Biology and Development of Alternative Crop Pollinators. We continued a 5-year collaborative project with USDI-BLM to assess pollinator diversity patterns in the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. This project will provide baseline data for monitoring pollinator health and the information needed to conserve bee pollinators in the Monument. A third year in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument added significantly to known bee diversity. Over 530 species in 55 genera are now known to occur in the Monument with more anticipated to be discovered in the current year. More intensive surveying on the west side of
the monument has resulted in discovery of many additional species including a northeastern extension of the range of the genus Protosmia. Evidence for spatially patchy bee distributions remains strong, but continued collecting in our long-term monitoring plots also suggests that local bee composition is variable between years. We anticipate that analysis of our multi-year data set will shed light on factors relating to large-scale population trends. For example, we wish to explore causes of the significant reductions in isolated bumble bee populations detected over the three previous years of our study. Not only has there been a 10- fold decrease in abundance over the three years, but a precipitous decline in diversity. The number of bumblebee species in a large but isolated high elevation area dropped from six to one. Relationships between bees and flowers also appear to be more fluid than expected. Possibly in response to the fourth year of an extraordinary drought with its
unpredictable bloom, bees appear to `favor' different plants in different years. The exotic Tamarix, which on the basis of data from 2000 appeared to support a large diversity of bees, has in the two subsequent years been poorly visited by bees.
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
- None. Project just initiated.
|
Progress 10/01/01 to 09/30/02
Outputs
4. What was your most significant accomplishment this past year? This report serves to document research conducted under a Specific Cooperative Agreement between ARS and Bureau of Land Management, Department of the Interior. (5428-05-00-17565. Additional details of research can be found in the report for the parent project 5428-21000-009- 00D. Biology and Development of Alternative Crop Pollinators. Results of the second field season (April-October 2001) support the findings from the 2000 of unanticipated diversity, very patchy distribution of bees, and low predictability of habitat within Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. The unique nature of the Monument's bee fauna is indicated by numerous new species and several bees not previously recorded from UT. As of the end of the 2001 season 51 genera and 508 species were recorded from the Monument, more than were recorded in the San Rafael Desert in 15 years of work, and one of the highest diversities
recorded in North America. More than 40 species are undescribed. Bees show a bimodal pattern of seasonality with peaks in late spring and late summer. Most bees are solitary and are active for a short period during one of these peaks of abundance. The exotic honeybee does not appear to be dominant in the Monument. Lowland riparian habitats appear to harbor the greatest species richness and abundance of bees. Results so far suggest a very different structure to bee populations between successive years. For example, populations of bumblebees and small carpenter bees were much reduced in 2001. Sampling in the 2002 season has two aims: 1) to increase geographical coverage to the western parts of the Monument and 2) sample plots in the eastern part of the Monument for a third year. The goal of the latter emphasis is to develop long-term baseline data on bee populations in order to track pollinator health.
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
- None. Project just initiated.
|
Progress 10/01/00 to 09/30/01
Outputs
1. What major problem or issue is being resolved and how are you resolving it?
2. How serious is the problem? Why does it matter?
3. How does it relate to the National Program(s) and National Component(s)?
4. What were the most significant accomplishments this past year?
D. Progress Report: This report serves to document research conducted under a Specific Cooperative Agreement between ARS and Bureau of Land Management, Department of the Interior.(5428-05-00-17565). Additional details of research can be found in the report for the parent project 5428-21000-009-00D, Biology and Development of Alternative Crop Pollinators. Results of the first field season (April-October 2000) demonstrate unanticipated diversity, very patchy distribution of bees, and low predictability of habitat. The unique nature of the monument's bee fauna is indicated by numerous new species and several bees not previously recorded from Utah. As of the end of the 2000 season 51 genera and 411 species were recorded from the monument, more than were recorded in the San Rafael Desert in 15 years of work, and one of the highest diversities recorded in North America. Thirty-nine species are undescribed. Bees show a bimodal pattern of seasonality with peaks of abundance. The exotic
honey bee does not appear to be dominant in the monument. Lowland riparian habitats appear to harbor the greatest species richness and abundance of bees. Sampling is being conducted throughout the 2001 season. Preliminary results suggest a very different structure to bee populations. For example, there appears to be much reduced populations of bumblebees and small carpenter bees.
5. Describe the major accomplishments over the life of the project including their predicted or actual impact.
6. What do you expect to accomplish, year by year, over the next 3 years?
7. What science and/or technologies have been transferred and to whom? When is the science and/or technology likely to become available to the end user (industry, farmer, other scientists)? What are the constraints if known, to the adoption & durability of the technology product?
8. List your most important publications in the popular press (no abstracts) and presentations to non-scientific organizations and articles written about your work (NOTE: this does not replace your peer-reviewed publications which are listed below)
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
- None. Project just initiated.
|
Progress 10/01/99 to 09/30/00
Outputs
1. What major problem or issue is being resolved and how are you resolving it?
This survey of native bees is supported by funds received from the Bureau of Land Management. Virtually nothing is known about the native bees of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument (GSENM), a group vitally important to ecosystem function in their role as pollinators. A rich and diverse bee fauna is expected for two reasons. This region is known for its rich flora including a strong component of endemic plants. Because of their close connection to plants bees might be expected to have a similarly rich fauna. GSENM is situated between two regions of known bee diversity, the eastern Mojave with nearly 600 species in Clark County, Nevada alone and the San Rafael Desert, Utah (333 species). Inventories of bees are difficult because they are small, vagile, ephemeral organisms with small home ranges particularly on large landscapes such as GSENM. The twin goals of this project are to provide baseline data on native bees in GSENM and to determine the most effective sampling
regime for inventorying bees which can be applied in conservation efforts on other large landscapes. GIS referenced stratified random sampling based on vegetation will be conducted across the entire flowering season. Data on these plots will be compared with soil and vegetation attributes to determine predictive indicators of such biodiversity attributes as endemism, rarity, and hotspots of diversity.
2. How serious is the problem? Why does it matter?
3. How does it relate to the National Program(s) and National Component(s)?
4. What were the most significant accomplishments this past year?
5. Describe the major accomplishments over the life of the project including their predicted or actual impact.
6. What do you expect to accomplish, year by year, over the next 3 years?
7. What science and/or technologies have been transferred and to whom? When is the science and/or technology likely to become available to the end user (industry, farmer, other scientists)? What are the constraints if known, to the adoption & durability of the technology product?
8. List your most important publications in the popular press (no abstracts) and presentations to non-scientific organizations and articles written about your work (NOTE: this does not replace your peer-reviewed publications which are listed below)
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
- None. Project just initiated.
|
|