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Steve Brady Wildlife Technology Development Team Central National Technology Support Center

Steve Brady Wildlife Technology Development Team Central National Technology Support Center Fort Worth, TX Steve.Brady@ftw.usda.gov. Native Pollinator Conservation. Bees, wasps, butterflies, moths, beetles, flies, hummingbirds, bats, etc.

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Steve Brady Wildlife Technology Development Team Central National Technology Support Center

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  1. Steve Brady Wildlife Technology Development Team Central National Technology Support Center Fort Worth, TX Steve.Brady@ftw.usda.gov

  2. Native Pollinator Conservation Bees, wasps, butterflies, moths, beetles, flies, hummingbirds, bats, etc. Thanks to Mace Vaughan (Xerces), Ramona Garner & Doug Holy (NRCS) for some of the photos and information in this presentation.

  3. Insect Pollinators: Beetles Flies Butterflies & Moths Bees Halictus solitary bee on Pacific ninebark (Physocarpus capitatus, photo by Mace Vaughan).

  4. The Forgotten Pollinators,” by S. L. Buchmann and G. P. Nabhan, 1996

  5. Status of Pollinators in North America 2007, National Research Council http://nap.edu/catalog/11761.html Stimulated by NAPPC

  6. Managed Pollinators Status Long-term population trends for honey bee in the United States are demonstrably downward. Similar data are not available for other managed pollinators. U.S. honey bee colonies, 1945-2005. Data compiled from USDA-NASS

  7. “Concern over shortages in the number of pollinators available for agriculture prompted concerns that ecosystems could be disrupted.” “Long-term population data – lacking, knowledge of basic biology/ecology is incomplete”. “Evidence that some pollinators, representing a diversity of taxa, are in decline.”

  8. “Introduced parasites and pathogens clearly have harmed some managed pollinators (i.e., honeybees).” “The development of mgmt. protocols for wild species in agricultural landscapes to sustain wild pollinator populations can create alternatives to honey bees as pollinator demand rises and shortages become likely.”

  9. “Consequences of decline in non-agricultural ecosystems could be increased vulnerability of some plant species to extinction, reduction in ecosystem resiliency.” “Effective conservation or restoration strategies requires comprehensive knowledge of their biology which is currently insufficient.”

  10. “However, many simple and inexpensive practices for pollinator conservation are available. Public outreach is the key.” “In some cases, farmers could find that promoting wild pollinators that can supplement or substitute for managed pollinators could provide greater yields than will complete dependence on rented honey bee colonies.”

  11. “NRCS offices should provide lists of scientifically tested and approved pollinator-friendly practices to farmers participating in programs.” “Environmental Benefits Index (e.g., CRP) should explicitly include pollinator habitat considerations.” “ Conserve existing natural habitat in human- dominated landscapes.” “Target new hires with expertise in biology/ecology”

  12. Major Reasons for Decline of Native Pollinators Introduced pests and pathogens, Pesticide poisoning, Loss and fragmentation of habitats (including migratory corridors), Degradation of existing habitats, Exotic species.

  13. MOU with NAPPC/PP & Xerces Society Net Training – NRCS Biologists SharePoint Site https://nrcs.sc.egov.usda.gov/st/bio/default.aspx Pollinator Conservation Handbook (Xerces), Technical Notes CStP Enhancement – Pollinators Conservation Activity Plan – Pollinators FY2010

  14. CIG – several pollinator projects funded “Improving Wildlife Habitat Through Effective Use of Plants” – The Wildlife Society (9-23-09) Monarch Joint Venture State Offices – EQIP & WHIP rankings Plants for Pollinators – Plant Materials web site: http://www.plant-materials.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/pollinators.html

  15. NRCS Plant Materials Centers

  16. Habitat management for native pollinators is very compatible with management for wildlife, water quality, erosion control, forestry, and most often agriculture.

  17. Some Common Practices that can be made Pollinator Friendly: Field Border - 386 Hedgerow Planting - 422 Conservation Cover - 327 Wildlife Habitat Management – 643, 644, 645, 647 Pasture and Hayland Planting - 512 Range Planting – 550 Riparian Herbaceous Cover - 390 Riparian Forest Buffer – 391 Tree and Shrub Establishment – 612 Windbreak/Shelterbelt – 380 & 650

  18. Diverse species composition – no monocultures Full season blooms (early, mid, and late season blooming plants) Patches of same species (i.e., color) forbs How much? Nesting structures and/or substrate

  19. “Omnivores Dilemma,” “Botany of Desire,” & “In Defense of Food” (M. Pollan, NY Times), “Fast Food Nation” (Eric Schlosser). National epidemics of obesity, type II diabetes, & heart disease linked with environmental degradation, erosion, eutrophication, and hypoxia in the Gulf.

  20. Complex ecological interactions integrated with social, political, and economic factors. Society now expects a broader suite of ecosystem services to be delivered. NRCS role – interpret landscape with the land user in terms of his/her expressed needs. Resource Concern concept ~ engage the land user on our terms, calibrate his needs with our abilities.

  21. Skill set required to be effective is much broader than in the past; deeper understanding of hydrologic, climate, & other drivers of ecosystem function is required to make strategic mgmt. decisions within the context of land use change. (Euliss et al., Smith et al., 2008, Wetlands 28:553-562 + 28:563-577)

  22. More importantly – the goal of conservation treatment ought to be to conserve the capacity of the natural resource base to provide the full suite of ecosystem services. Adoption of an ecosystem process-based perspective is essential (Euliss et al. 2008). “When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world.“ John Muir

  23. Functions performed by Insects: pollination, soil aeration & infiltration, prey, scavengers, consume and recycle organic matter, (e.g., carrion, dung, wood, litter, etc.), pest control, predaceous, parasitoids, indicators*. Provide fish bait, honey, bees wax, silk, food.

  24. 4,500 Mammals 10,000 Birds 12,000 Amphibians & Reptiles 22,000 Fish 400,000 Invertebrates (other than insects) 960,000 Insects 270,000 Plants 70,000 Fungi 4,000 Bacteria 5,000Viruses Alonso, A., F. Dallmeier, P. Granek, and P. Raven. 2001. Biodiversity, connecting with the tapestry of life. Smithsonian Institution. “The first rule of intelligent tinkering is to save all the parts.” Aldo Leopold

  25. Planning conservation treatment: - consistent with regional ecology (i.e., native flora, fauna, & landscape) - retain patches of native vegetation, cover-structure-substrate-geology,

  26. Planning conservation treatment (Cont.): - connect patches together, - retain various successional stages, - avoid monocultures (i.e., increase forbs), - native plant materials are often preferred - plant forbs in clusters or “patches” - Plans need to accommodate both spatial and temporalvariability that emulate critical processes.

  27. "A thing is right when it tends to preserve the integrity, stability, and beauty of the biotic community.  It is wrong when it tends otherwise".  Aldo Leopold

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