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Pollinator Attraction Citizen Science Program. Katie Villano Spellman Christa P.H. Mulder Department of Biology and Wildlife University of Alaska Fairbanks. The Melibee Project. Overarching research goal:
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Pollinator Attraction Citizen Science Program Katie Villano Spellman Christa P.H. Mulder Department of Biology and Wildlife University of Alaska Fairbanks
The Melibee Project • Overarching research goal: Investigate the impact of invasive white sweetclover on the pollination of blueberry and cranberry
Phenology: a geographic mosaic of interactions? Impacts V. vitis-idaeaflowering +, 0 or - Melilotus flowering V. vitis-idaeaflowering Melilotus flowering +
Risk Models for Alaska • Determine the extent of berry plant and sweetclover flowering times overlap in different parts of Alaska • Predict vulnerability of berry harvest to impact by invasive plants in changing climate
The Melibee Project • Our approach: • Historical data from herbarium records • Current data from citizen monitoring Cranberry specimen from the University of Alaska Museum of the North herbarium Monitoring lowbush cranberry in Fairbanks. Label on a herbarium sample dating back to 1881.
Historical Data • Alaska data 1915-2005
Current Data Citizen Science! • Citizens monitor reproductive phenology of focal species across Alaska Teachers from Valdez Melilotusalbus Vacciniumvitis-idaea Vacciniumuliginosum Mary Gregory, Kuskokwim River Watershed Council Elder
Pollinator Attraction Citizen Science Program Attributes: • Aligned with National Phenology Network protocols
Pollinator Attraction Citizen Science Program Attributes: • Recruiting • Science expos and outdoor education fairs • Teacher partners • Conservation and Education Listserves • Facebook • YouTube • Website Science Expo, March 2012 Potter’s Marsh Discovery Days, June 2012
Pollinator Attraction Citizen Science Program Attributes: • Training (Distance delivery webinar and in-person) Fairbanks Training, July 2012 Anchorage Training, June 2012
Pollinator Attraction Citizen Science Program Attributes: • Monitoring supplies package • Protocols • Site Description Form • Data sheets • 5 metal plant tags • Flagging tape • “Research Area” sign • Focal Plant ID Guide • PhenophasePhoto Guide
Pollinator Attraction Citizen Science Program Attributes: • Online access to protocols, research reports, training webinar and data reporting https://sites.google.com/a/ alaska.edu/melibee-project/
Pollinator Attraction Citizen Science Program Attributes: • Communicating results through newsletter • Play with data and interactive map on website
Summer 2012 outcomes: • 89 Volunteers (youth and adults) • 354 observations • 50 monitoring sites Monitoring locations 2012 (white text)and new locations committed for 2013 (yellow text)
Program Outcomes 2012 • 2 rural schools, • 10 educators, • 1 youth camp, • 5 families, • 5 interested individuals, • 6 conservation agencies, • 3 nature centers, • 11 biologists, • 1 tourist program Least plants observed (only one sweetclover is in the whole village!), Innoko River School, Shageluk Most observations (72!), Seth Beaudreault, Toolik Youngest Scientist, FioraGraziano, age 5 Anchorage
More to do… • Recruit more volunteers • Gather more data • Collect climate station data for all herbarium and citizen science location • Create models under different scenarios • Create interaction maps