2019-2020 Project Highlights
First and foremost, thank you to all project participants who have helped collect this valuable information over the past two seasons! We are so grateful for this community that is clearly eager to take action on conserving pollinators: from 2019 to the 2020 season, the number of participants nearly doubled. In light of the many adverse conditions each of us have faced, or continue to face, we were happy to learn in the post-season evaluation that the Atlas served as a safe, outdoor, and purposeful activity for many of you.
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Seeing the photos and stories many of you shared on social media was fantastic! Whether you were surveying for the first time, observing different species, or exploring one of Nebraska's many beautiful landscapes, we were glad to see and learn more about your experience.
We invite you to stay connected and keep sharing using #NEBBAtlas!
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Summary by Grid Cell
From 2019 to 2020, the time and effort of more than 100 participants were able to make a much greater impact during a full survey season, June-September, than the half-season we began with in 2019! Along with participation numbers doubling, we witnessed a huge increase in the number of bumble bees observed, and the number of habitat surveys increased by nearly four times that of 2019.
The map below depicts data collected during formal surveys (roadside or point surveys) over the last two seasons, and the base color remains the same in representing the number habitat surveys conducted in each cell (darker = more surveys).
The map below depicts data collected during formal surveys (roadside or point surveys) over the last two seasons, and the base color remains the same in representing the number habitat surveys conducted in each cell (darker = more surveys).
- Number of Surveys Conducted per Grid Cell: The total number of surveys increased from 61 (2019) to 268 (2020) – a four-fold increase!
- Number of Bees Observed per Grid Cell: The total number of bee observations increased from 207 (2019) to 1980 (2020) – an eight-fold increase! The average number of bees observed during a survey was 9 individuals, though the highest number of individuals observed during a single survey was 68!
- Number of Species Detected per Grid Cell: The number of species detected increased from 7 (2019) to 10 (2020)! The grid cells with the highest number of species detected include NE_37, NE_59, NE_80, all with at least 6 species so far.
Bumble Bee Diversity
When incidental observations are included amongst those gathered during a formal survey, the total number of bee observations increases to 2,899 bees. The total number number of species also increased by one, bringing the total to 11 species, thanks to a couple of happenstance observations of the Lemon Cuckoo Bumble Bee (Bombus citrinus)!
The pie chart below breaks down all observations submitted in 2019 and 2020 by species and the list of names on the right is in order from most-to-least observed. For example, the Brown-belted bumble bee (B. griseocollis) was the most commonly observed species, making up 43.7% of all observations submitted in 2019-2020.
It's no surprise that the majority of observations are made up of the Brown-belted and Common Eastern bumble bees, these are both common and abundant in many parts of their range. What is surprising, however, was seeing that the American bumble bee (B. pensylvanicus) was the third most commonly observed species, making up nearly 20% of all observations. While Nebraska has historically been a stronghold state for this species, high levels of decline have been detected in other parts of it's range (see here) and thus was petitioned on February 1, 2021 to be protected under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service now has 90 days to review the petition and decide if the document warrants substantial evidence or not (see full process). Stay tuned!
The pie chart below breaks down all observations submitted in 2019 and 2020 by species and the list of names on the right is in order from most-to-least observed. For example, the Brown-belted bumble bee (B. griseocollis) was the most commonly observed species, making up 43.7% of all observations submitted in 2019-2020.
It's no surprise that the majority of observations are made up of the Brown-belted and Common Eastern bumble bees, these are both common and abundant in many parts of their range. What is surprising, however, was seeing that the American bumble bee (B. pensylvanicus) was the third most commonly observed species, making up nearly 20% of all observations. While Nebraska has historically been a stronghold state for this species, high levels of decline have been detected in other parts of it's range (see here) and thus was petitioned on February 1, 2021 to be protected under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service now has 90 days to review the petition and decide if the document warrants substantial evidence or not (see full process). Stay tuned!
Species Detection Maps
The map below shows where each species has been observed in 2019-2020, and the list of species corresponds with the numbered thumbnails on the left side of the map. This type of information will allow us to update species distribution maps and make comparisons to historical records to assess range growth or decline. For example, thanks to effort by Atlas participants, the Southern Plains Bumble Bee (B. fraternus) has been detected in 13 counties for the first time!
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1. American Bumble Bee
2. Black and Gold Bumble Bee 3. Brown-belted Bumble Bee |
4. Common Eastern Bumble Bee
5. Half-black Bumble Bee 6. Hunt's Bumble Bee |
7. Lemon Cuckoo Bumble Bee
8. Nevada Bumble Bee 9. Southern Plains Bumble Bee |
Species of Greatest Conservation
Of Nebraska's four Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN), the Southern Plains bumble bee (B. fraternus) is the only one to have been detected thus far. This SGCN was observed 15 times in 2019 and 70 times in 2020, totaling 85 observations! After 2021's survey season is complete, the 2.5 years worth of habitat data will be used to increase our understanding of this species' needs and serve as guidance for stronger conservation practices.
Moreover, Atlas participants observed this species in 13 counties where it hadn't been observed prior to 2019 which is fantastic! The map below displays the new and existing county records, and links to the observation are below along with the Bumble Bee Watch username of the observer.
Moreover, Atlas participants observed this species in 13 counties where it hadn't been observed prior to 2019 which is fantastic! The map below displays the new and existing county records, and links to the observation are below along with the Bumble Bee Watch username of the observer.
Burt (MarlaGrier), Custer (cody.drier), Dakota (MarlaGrier), Fillmore (TheWxMoth), Jefferson (ruralroots), Kimball (MicRohde), Merrick (SarahMBailey),
Phelps (Sherok50), Polk (teachsci), Scotts Bluff (klamke), Sheridan (5mayflower), Washington (thebirbadook), York (pslatin)
Phelps (Sherok50), Polk (teachsci), Scotts Bluff (klamke), Sheridan (5mayflower), Washington (thebirbadook), York (pslatin)
Plant Information
Plant-pollinator interactions are crucial when it comes to understanding the foraging needs of bumble bees. These interactions allow for inquiry as to what plants bumble bees are utilizing in different parts of the state and across the growing seasons. For example, the dataset being built by Atlas participants can be used to ask: what are bumble bees foraging on in western Nebraska in June opposed to eastern Nebraska in June? Answering these types of questions allows us to form evidence-based plant lists that may serve as guidance for land managers hoping to conserve pollinators.
The graphic below depicts the plants that were most frequently visited during habitat surveys conducted in 2019 and 2020. The blue bars represent the percentage of total bee visitation made to each particular plant. For example, the first bar on the left shows that roughly 9% of all recorded bumble bees were observed on sunflower (Helianthus sp.). The orange dot represents the number of bumble bee species that were observed visiting each particular plant, as to say 5 different species were observed on sunflower (Helianthus sp.) during the 2019 and 2020 seasons.
The graphic below depicts the plants that were most frequently visited during habitat surveys conducted in 2019 and 2020. The blue bars represent the percentage of total bee visitation made to each particular plant. For example, the first bar on the left shows that roughly 9% of all recorded bumble bees were observed on sunflower (Helianthus sp.). The orange dot represents the number of bumble bee species that were observed visiting each particular plant, as to say 5 different species were observed on sunflower (Helianthus sp.) during the 2019 and 2020 seasons.
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One of the reasons we suggest Atlas participants conduct in natural areas, opposed to urban or developed parks, is to gain insight on the native plants bumble bees are interacting with. Along with knowing the region and season of a plant-pollinator interaction, it helps to know whether the interactions were to native or nonnative plants in order to design the most effective plant lists or seed mixes.
The pie chart to the right is a breakdown of the 89 plant genera that bumble bees visited during a formal survey, 77% of which were native to Nebraska. Plants classified as "NA" were not submitted with enough information for us to assign a native or nonnative label (i.e. "Thistle (Cirsium)" may be native or nonnative). Following the 2021 survey season, we will have a large enough dataset, containing 2.5 years worth of information, to begin forming plant lists and habitat management guidance. |
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2021 Survey Priorities
Whether you're gearing up for round 3 or jumping in for your first survey season, we are happy to have you participating in the third season of the Nebraska Bumble Bee Atlas! This project would not be possible without the help of all of you – Your time and effort are truly invaluable. As with the last two seasons, we have prioritized a set of grid cells based on the following:
- Detecting the Western Bumble Bee (B. occidentalis), one of Nebraska's western SGCN species that has been actively sur
