National Science Foundation grant -- Ascher et al. -- Public Abstract |
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Natural history collections contain millions of bee specimens
documenting the geographic ranges, temporal patterns, and floral
associations of the 20,000 described bees species. This project will
digitize and consolidate specimen records from 10 bee collections across
the United States. We will make or verify species identifications,
capture full label data, georeference and error-check localities, and
upload this information to publicly accessible databases. We will use
web-based tools to capture data across collections efficiently, validate
bee and plant names through automated comparison with taxonomic authority
files, and synthesize data on species pages with images, digitized
literature records, and other information about bees and their host
plants. We will upload data to the Global Biodiversity Information
Facility and to Discover Life (www.discoverlife.org), a website that
features customizable global maps for all world bee species and dynamic
identification keys for North American species. To obtain information
needed to conserve and manage pollinators, we will work with ecologists
to model geographic and temporal trends in bee populations in relation to
environmental variables.
Bees are the most important pollinators of the approximately 1/3 of human crops that require animal pollination. Recent declines in honey bee populations highlight the need to better understand the roles of native bees in agricultural and natural systems. This project will help predict risks to bees and their pollination services from climate change, habitat loss, and other factors. The outreach program Bee Hunt (www.discoverlife.org/bee) will educate the public, including students in under-served communities, about bee diversity and the importance of pollination services. With digital photography and rigorous research protocols, Bee Hunt will empower people at biological field stations, nature centers, parks, schools, and other sites to collect high-quality data to augment information from specimen records. |
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