Knowledge Gleaned From the First Great Georgia Pollinator Census

Griffin, Becky; LaTora, A.G.; Bhattarai, Upendra Raj; Braman, S. Kristine

doi:10.18474/jes21-05

Cited by 4 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 64 publications

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“…Methods for recording visual observations of pollinator visitation used in this study lend themselves well and have been used in citizen science initiatives to promote awareness, increase pollinator spaces, and gather useful data via "the Great Georgia Pollinator Census, " now in its fourth year Braman, 2018, 2021;Griffin et al, , 2022. Observation and recording of broad taxonomic categories loses taxonomic resolution, but provides opportunity for citizen engagement by large numbers of samplers/observers who can be trained to recognize the broader taxonomic categories.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pollinator cultivar choice: An assessment of season-long pollinator visitation among coreopsis, aster, and salvia cultivars

Braman

Pennisi

Fair

et al. 2022

Front. Sustain. Cities

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Documented pollinator declines have encouraged the installation of pollinator plantings in residential, commercial and agricultural settings. Pollinator visitation among cultivars of coreopsis, salvia and asters was compared on 40 dates in a 2-year study resulting in 6,911 pollinator observations across all plant taxa with bees, butterflies and syrphids well-represented. Diversity of insect visitors was represented differently within the broad plant taxa salvia, coreopsis and asters. The most frequent visitors to coreopsis were the small bees with over 77% of visitors falling into this category. Salvia was most frequently visited by honey bees (36.4%) and carpenter bees (24%), although all the groups were represented. Syrphids were the group most commonly observed on asters (58.5%) with nearly 40% of the visitors being bee species. Nectar analysis was performed on salvia cultivars. However, differential attraction of pollinators to salvia cultivars could not be explained by volume of nectar produced per plant. Results from our cultivar comparisons provide data-based information to assist consumers in plant choice and present opportunities for future plant-specific pollinator census initiatives across a broader geographic range.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pollinator cultivar choice: An assessment of season-long pollinator visitation among coreopsis, aster, and salvia cultivars

Braman

Pennisi

Fair

et al. 2022

Front. Sustain. Cities

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Training, e.g., through (online) instruction videos or workshops and interactions with campaign staff, and using photo and expert identification, could further improve both data quality and reporting frequency and allow the study of more complex research questions (e.g., Deguines et al, 2016;MacPhail and Colla, 2020). Training participants using multimedia, and using social media to promote citizen science projects and help participants with insect identifications, has been shown to be successful both in terms of project outreach and an increased interest and awareness of the benefits provided by insects (Griffin et al, 2021(Griffin et al, , 2022.…”

Section: High Engagement In Biodiversity Among Participantsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Citizen science initiatives increase pollinator activity in private gardens and green spaces

Persson¹,

Hederström²,

Ljungkvist³

et al. 2023

Front. Sustain. Cities

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Wild insect pollinators are essential to cultivated and natural ecosystems globally. Today, many pollinator species are declining. One reason is a general lack of flowering habitats at landscape scales. However, urban areas, including private gardens, may provide flowers, and constitute beneficial habitats for pollinators. Here, we evaluate the ecological outcomes of a citizen science campaign run by the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation (SSNC) (called “Operation: Save the bees”), encouraging citizens to incorporate interventions beneficial to wild pollinators (garden meadows, flower plantings, and bee hotels) in their gardens. Data on insect observations and flowering plants were collected through online questionnaires at the end of the growing season. In total, we received 3,758 responses for the three interventions. We found that participants were more likely to observe many pollinators (as opposed to few or none) in more species rich garden meadows, and in larger and older plantings. The surrounding environment also affected pollinator abundance: fewer pollinators were observed in plantings in dense urban areas. Direct counts of pollinators during 10-min surveys correlated strongly to the simplistic abundance assessment (none, few, or many insects seen over the summer season). Bee hotel occupancy was positively related to local flower availability and bee hotel age. Smaller nest holes (<10 mm) were more occupied than larger holes (11–15 mm) and hotels in rural gardens and natural/semi-natural sites were more occupied than those in urban gardens. This study demonstrates that flower-rich private gardens provide integral habitat for wild pollinators and that citizen science programs can provide a tool for implementing and evaluating conservation practices. However, longer lasting commitment resulting in older interventions are preferable and should be encouraged in future campaigns.

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Opportunities for and Impediments to Pollinator Conservation in Urban Settings: A Review

Braman

Griffin

2022

Journal of Integrated Pest Management

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Urban plants and the design and maintenance of urban landscapes play a critical role in pollinator conservation and the preservation of essential ecosystem services. Effective conservation decisions and planning require careful assessment of the consequences of land use change, and the effects of local and landscape scale factors on bees, butterflies, flies, and other pollinators. Understanding and not under-estimating the needs of the various pollinator functional guilds to inform conservation strategies are critical to success. Research indicates that diverse pollinator assemblages can be enhanced and conserved in urban areas through local and landscape scale efforts. Education and communication are key elements needed to engage policy makers to move conservation forward at the accelerated pace required to address current (rapid urbanization) and impending (climate change and invasive species) challenges. Conservation and protection of urban pollinators and the ecosystem services that they provide require that we move from reactive to proactive activities that tie together regional efforts. Citizen science initiatives can be effective ways to communicate essential information, garner public support, and acquire valuable data concerning pollinators in a cost-effective manner. Improving our knowledge of bee life history, phenology, and nesting sites is essential. Understanding the role and lifecycles of lesser-known pollinators like flies (Diptera) and wasps (Hymenoptera) is vital while there is a critical need to expand our available taxonomic expertise. In this review, we discuss case studies integrating elements of pest and pollinator management through plant selection, landscape and recreational area design, and community engagement with the goal of pollinator conservation. Decision-making resources are included.

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Knowledge Gleaned From the First Great Georgia Pollinator Census

Cited by 4 publications

References 64 publications

Pollinator cultivar choice: An assessment of season-long pollinator visitation among coreopsis, aster, and salvia cultivars

Pollinator cultivar choice: An assessment of season-long pollinator visitation among coreopsis, aster, and salvia cultivars

Citizen science initiatives increase pollinator activity in private gardens and green spaces

Opportunities for and Impediments to Pollinator Conservation in Urban Settings: A Review

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