What is the Nebraska Bumble Bee Atlas?
The Atlas is a community science project aimed at tracking and conserving Nebraska's native bumble bees. "Community science" means anyone is welcome to participate and help contribute to a better understanding of bumble bee needs. The Atlas is a collaboration between the Xerces Society and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and is supported by the Nebraska Environmental Trust.
How does the Atlas work?
Community scientists, like yourself, spread out across Nebraska to survey for bumble bees and are asked to report back whatever you find! We offer workshops, both in-person and online, that provide you with all of the necessary skills, knowledge and confidence to run surveys independently. Surveys can be run on your own or with a group of people! Survey methods are catch-and-release, so no bees are harmed, and data collection can be done on your phone.
To fully understand how Nebraska's diverse landscapes, such as the Sandhills, prairies, wetlands and woodlands, relate to bumble bees we need widespread participation. The success of the Atlas will come from land owners, agencies, scientists and you joining together to understand the needs of bumble bees. Explore the 2019 Highlights to witness the data community scientists collected last season!
Why focus on bumble bees?
Bumble bees are charismatic and easily recognizable pollinators thanks to their large size, loud buzz, and distinctive color patterns. They play an incredibly important role in sustaining the health of our environment by pollinating flowers in natural and urban areas, and by contributing to successful harvests on farms.
Nebraska is home to about 20 different bumble bees, and being near the middle of the country we are lucky to have an overlap of species typically found in the eastern and western United States. However, many of our bumble bees are in trouble and face an uncertain future. Nebraska Game and Parks Commission has identified four of the state’s bumble bees as Species of Greatest Conservation Need: the western bumble bee (Bombus occidentalis), southern plains bumble bee (Bombus fraternus), Suckley’s cuckoo bumble bee (Bombus suckleyi), and variable cuckoo bumble bee (Bombus variabilis). Unfortunately, the bumble bee situation in Nebraska bears out across much of North America. A recent study led by the International Union on Conservation of Nature’s Bumble Bee Specialist Group—supported by studies led by Dr. Sydney Cameron—and a status review by the late Dr. Robbin Thorp and the Xerces Society, demonstrate that one quarter of North America's nearly fifty species of bumble bees are undergoing dramatic population declines.
The causes of these declines are not fully understood, but the following are likely at fault: habitat loss, pesticide use, climate change, low genetic diversity, and the introduction and distribution of pathogens through commercial pollinators. Regardless of the ultimate cause of bumble bee declines, protecting and managing existing habitat or creating new habitat are some of the most immediate and productive steps that can be taken to conserve these important pollinators. That’s where the Atlas comes in.
Why is the Atlas valuable?
In working together, career and community scientists will be able to rapidly grow our understanding of Nebraska's bumble bees! Our team of researchers will be able to use the new information to assess species distribution, population shifts, habitat associations and more. For example, we'll be able to use Nebraska's rich historical dataset, dating back to the 1880s, to understand how bumble bee populations have shifted. Additionally, the data will identify regions in Nebraska that are supporting healthy populations, as well as those in need of restoration or management, and highlight landscape features that are associated with bumble bee habitat. Understanding how species distributions have changed over time, in conjunction with habitat change, will help form accurate predictions as to what we should expect in the future, and aid in the design of effective conservation measures.
With your help, we can quickly cover the entire state, collect scientific-quality data, and contribute to bumble bee conservation. Our effort will help conservation biologists, restoration practitioners, and policy makers do a better job protecting, restoring, and managing effective habitat that support healthy bumble bee populations.
Ready to get involved? See Requirements
The Atlas is a community science project aimed at tracking and conserving Nebraska's native bumble bees. "Community science" means anyone is welcome to participate and help contribute to a better understanding of bumble bee needs. The Atlas is a collaboration between the Xerces Society and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and is supported by the Nebraska Environmental Trust.
How does the Atlas work?
Community scientists, like yourself, spread out across Nebraska to survey for bumble bees and are asked to report back whatever you find! We offer workshops, both in-person and online, that provide you with all of the necessary skills, knowledge and confidence to run surveys independently. Surveys can be run on your own or with a group of people! Survey methods are catch-and-release, so no bees are harmed, and data collection can be done on your phone.
To fully understand how Nebraska's diverse landscapes, such as the Sandhills, prairies, wetlands and woodlands, relate to bumble bees we need widespread participation. The success of the Atlas will come from land owners, agencies, scientists and you joining together to understand the needs of bumble bees. Explore the 2019 Highlights to witness the data community scientists collected last season!
Why focus on bumble bees?
Bumble bees are charismatic and easily recognizable pollinators thanks to their large size, loud buzz, and distinctive color patterns. They play an incredibly important role in sustaining the health of our environment by pollinating flowers in natural and urban areas, and by contributing to successful harvests on farms.
Nebraska is home to about 20 different bumble bees, and being near the middle of the country we are lucky to have an overlap of species typically found in the eastern and western United States. However, many of our bumble bees are in trouble and face an uncertain future. Nebraska Game and Parks Commission has identified four of the state’s bumble bees as Species of Greatest Conservation Need: the western bumble bee (Bombus occidentalis), southern plains bumble bee (Bombus fraternus), Suckley’s cuckoo bumble bee (Bombus suckleyi), and variable cuckoo bumble bee (Bombus variabilis). Unfortunately, the bumble bee situation in Nebraska bears out across much of North America. A recent study led by the International Union on Conservation of Nature’s Bumble Bee Specialist Group—supported by studies led by Dr. Sydney Cameron—and a status review by the late Dr. Robbin Thorp and the Xerces Society, demonstrate that one quarter of North America's nearly fifty species of bumble bees are undergoing dramatic population declines.
The causes of these declines are not fully understood, but the following are likely at fault: habitat loss, pesticide use, climate change, low genetic diversity, and the introduction and distribution of pathogens through commercial pollinators. Regardless of the ultimate cause of bumble bee declines, protecting and managing existing habitat or creating new habitat are some of the most immediate and productive steps that can be taken to conserve these important pollinators. That’s where the Atlas comes in.
Why is the Atlas valuable?
In working together, career and community scientists will be able to rapidly grow our understanding of Nebraska's bumble bees! Our team of researchers will be able to use the new information to assess species distribution, population shifts, habitat associations and more. For example, we'll be able to use Nebraska's rich historical dataset, dating back to the 1880s, to understand how bumble bee populations have shifted. Additionally, the data will identify regions in Nebraska that are supporting healthy populations, as well as those in need of restoration or management, and highlight landscape features that are associated with bumble bee habitat. Understanding how species distributions have changed over time, in conjunction with habitat change, will help form accurate predictions as to what we should expect in the future, and aid in the design of effective conservation measures.
With your help, we can quickly cover the entire state, collect scientific-quality data, and contribute to bumble bee conservation. Our effort will help conservation biologists, restoration practitioners, and policy makers do a better job protecting, restoring, and managing effective habitat that support healthy bumble bee populations.
Ready to get involved? See Requirements
Supported by:
The Nebraska Bumble Bee Atlas is funded through a grant from the Nebraska Environmental Trust. The Trust is funded by proceeds from the Nebraska Lottery and has awarded more than $320 million to more than 2,100 conservation projects across the state of Nebraska since 1994.
The Nebraska Bumble Bee Atlas is funded through a grant from the Nebraska Environmental Trust. The Trust is funded by proceeds from the Nebraska Lottery and has awarded more than $320 million to more than 2,100 conservation projects across the state of Nebraska since 1994.
