Additional Opportunities to Support Pollinator Research
Dear AIG Team,
Thank you for your continued contributions to the Global Pollinator Watch project! Through your efforts, we are kicking-off 2023 on the right foot with 442 observations, of which 72% are research grade – those observations which are most valuable for scientific research and conservation. We encourage you to continue contributing your high-quality insect pollinator observations, and as the weather warms in the Northern Hemisphere, we hope even more of you will head back outside to observe pollinators in your communities.
In addition to Global Pollinator Watch, Earthwatch scientists are supporting pollinator research and conservation around the world. These scientists rely on volunteer “citizen scientists” to support their research, collect valuable data, and help in protecting pollinator species. In addition to directing their own pollinator research in the field, these Earthwatch scientists support Global Pollinator Watch, as members of the Global Pollinator Watch science advisory team. Keep reading to learn more about their research below.
Jackie Grant, Ph.D. and Associate Professor of Biology at Southern Utah University is studying pollinator and plant interactions in Utah on her project, “Cracking the Code: the Mysteries of Native Bees in Utah”. With a changing ecosystem in Southern Utah and the introduction of non-native species of Bees, Dr. Grant is working to build a database of native bee genetics in one of the planet's "bee diversity hotspots”. Dr. Grant's research is helping decision makers and scientists to better understand pollinator-plant interactions as they make conservation management decisions.
You can read more about her research here: https://earthwatch.org/expeditions/cracking-code-mysteries-native-bees-utah
Lee Dyer, Ph.D. and Professor of Biology at the University of Nevada Reno and his team are researching caterpillar biodiversity in the tropical rain forests of Costa Rica on his project, “Tracking Caterpillars in Tropical Forests”. To help preserve caterpillar populations and ecosystem stability – Dr. Dyer is studying the complex relationships between caterpillars, the plants they eat, and the parasitoids that eat them, as climate change, ecosystem degradation, and shifts in phenology impact the health and diversity of these pollinator species.
You can read more about his research here: https://earthwatch.org/expeditions/tracking-caterpillars-tropical-forests
Dr. Valerie Peters, Ph.D. and Assistant Professor of Biology at Eastern Kentucky University is working to better understand how to protect pollinators and the ecosystem services that they provide amidst a changing climate and the loss of natural habitat on her project, “Conserving Wild Bees and Other Pollinators of Costa Rica”. Recognizing that humans derive significant benefits from pollinator services, namely the fact that three-quarters of the worlds’ crops depend on pollinators – Dr. Peters is studying how to mitigate the loss of pollinator populations and provide livelihoods for people, as pollinator populations are threatened in Costa Rica and worldwide.
You can read more about her research here: https://earthwatch.org/expeditions/conserving-wild-bees-and-other-pollinators-of-costa-rica
