USGS biologist Stacy Simanonok captures a bumble bee in a net during a pollinator survey in the grasslands of the North Dakota plains. Researchers are testing environmental DNA sampling methods to determine if this less invasive way to survey for pollinators generates similar results as traditional netting methods.
Using Pollinator Environmental DNA to Assess the Ecological Resilience of America’s Grasslands
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By Pacific Northwest Environmental DNA Laboratory
June 2, 2023
Scientists from six USGS science centers are collaborating with USDA, university, and Tribal partners, and Department of the Interior land managers, to assess the status of pollinator communities and the distribution of species of conservation concern using environmental DNA. These methods will be used to improve assessments of habitat quality and pollinator responses to restoration, including across the imperiled grasslands of the Midwest and shrublands of the western United States.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Why Pollinators?
Pollinators contribute substantially to the economy and food stability of the United States by pollinating fruit, nut, and vegetable crops. Nearly 85% of all flowering plants benefit from the pollination services they provide. There have been significant losses of pollinator species over the past few decades due to threats such as habitat loss, pesticides, and pathogens, threatening the foundation of terrestrial food webs worldwide. As a result, there is a growing need to keep tabs on these vulnerable and valuable animals.
Why Environmental DNA?
Researchers traditionally studied pollinator biodiversity by trapping or netting and identifying species using morphological characteristics visible under a microscope. Not only is this method lethal to the animal, but it requires specialized identification skills and considerable amounts of time. Environmental DNA sampling is an alternative, non-lethal method that has the potential to reduce the cost and difficulty of pollinator surveys relative to traditional methods. When a pollinator, such as a bee or butterfly, visits a flower during foraging, it leaves behind trace amounts of DNA from its skin, hair, saliva, or feces. Scientists collect this eDNA and use it to identify which pollinator species are present.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Progress, Goals, and Impact
With funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and as part of a larger effort aimed at assessing ecological resilience of restored grasslands, the grassland pollinator team launched the project in 2022. During the first year, our team collected and processed nearly 2,000 flower samples from grasslands in national parks, wildlife refuges, Bureau of Land Management lands, and other public lands in eight states. We are establishing standards, protocols, and molecular resources for using pollinator eDNA to solve real-world natural resource problems. Department of the Interior partners are interested in applying our methods to:
-
Improve native seed selection strategies through a better understanding of plant-pollinator interactions
-
Quantify the success of grassland restoration investments by documenting pollinator communities
-
Improve predictions for how pollinator communities may respond to climate change in America’s grasslands
-
Document the distribution of rare or at-risk pollinators to inform management agencies assessing listed species or making pre-listing decisions
Pollinator Species We Study
The species below are important members of grassland communities and are in decline across the United States. Our team is using eDNA to learn more about their distribution, what can be done to protect them, and how they are linked to ecological resilience of America's grasslands.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Sources/Usage: Some content may have restrictions. View Media Details
Sources/Usage: Some content may have restrictions. View Media Details
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Click the links below to learn more about pollinator research at the USGS.
Dakota Skipper Surveillance, Monitoring, and Assessment
The Dakota Skipper is a small butterfly that once lived throughout the grasslands of the north-central U.S. and south-central Canada but is now listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.
Bipartisan Infrastructure Law: Ecosystem Restoration Activity 9
Bipartisan Infrastructure Law: Ecosystem Restoration Activity 9
Bipartisan Infrastructure Law: Ecosystem Restoration
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and Ecosystem Restoration
Determining the dietary preferences and population genetics of an endangered bumble bee, Bombus affinis, by maximizing the use of museum specimens
Bombus aff inis, the rusty patched bumble bee, was federally listed as an endangered species in 2017 and has been identified as one of the top priority species for recovery nationally. Shortly after listing the species, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services and other partners prioritized the research needed to prevent the extinction of B. affinis . Some of the top research needs that were identified...
Western Bumble Bee and Native Pollinator Research
The western bumble bee was historically one of the most common bumble bees across the western U.S. and Canada. However, our research and others found it has declined substantially across its range and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is considering it for listing under the Endangered Species Act. Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, and other land managers need information to inform...
The pollinator library: a decision-support tool for improving national pollinator conservation efforts
Pollinator declines have emphasized the need for a greater understanding of plant-pollinator networks and land management activities that improve pollinator habitat. At the request of USDA and FWS partners, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center created the Pollinator Library for managers and researchers interested in improving pollinator forage on federal and private lands. The aim of the...
USGS Biologist Captures a Bumble Bee
USGS biologist Stacy Simanonok captures a bumble bee in a net during a pollinator survey in the grasslands of the North Dakota plains. Researchers are testing environmental DNA sampling methods to determine if this less invasive way to survey for pollinators generates similar results as traditional netting methods.
Rusty Patched Bumble Bee Visiting Butterfly Milkweed
An endangered rusty patched bumble bee visiting a butterfly milkweed flower at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum.
An endangered rusty patched bumble bee visiting a butterfly milkweed flower at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum.
Hillside at Arrowwood, North Dakota
A Northern Great Plains grassland in North Dakota photographed during a survey for bees and flowers.
A Northern Great Plains grassland in North Dakota photographed during a survey for bees and flowers.
Surveying for Bees and Flowers in the Midwest
USGS technicians preparing to sample a grassland for bees and flowers in the North Dakota plains. The technicians are counting the number of blooming flowers in a transect.
USGS technicians preparing to sample a grassland for bees and flowers in the North Dakota plains. The technicians are counting the number of blooming flowers in a transect.
Purple Prairie Clover in North Dakota
A sea of purple prairie clover in the Northern Great Plains of North Dakota, photographed during a survey for bees and flowers on private property enrolled in a USDA conservation program.
A sea of purple prairie clover in the Northern Great Plains of North Dakota, photographed during a survey for bees and flowers on private property enrolled in a USDA conservation program.
Bumblebee on Phacelia flower
Bumblebee feeding on Phacelia flower found in an established Pollinator Plot at Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, Jamestown, North Dakota.
Bumblebee feeding on Phacelia flower found in an established Pollinator Plot at Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, Jamestown, North Dakota.
Rusty Patched Bumble Bee Visiting a Prairie Dock Flower
An endangered rusty patched bumble bee visiting a prairie dock flower on conservation lands in Illinois. The rusty patched bumble bee is the first pollinator species to be listed as Endangered under the Endangered Species Act in the continental United States.
An endangered rusty patched bumble bee visiting a prairie dock flower on conservation lands in Illinois. The rusty patched bumble bee is the first pollinator species to be listed as Endangered under the Endangered Species Act in the continental United States.
Collecting western bumble bee samples in eastern Montana
USGS scientist Tabitha Graves collects western bumble bee samples in eastern Montana.
USGS scientist Tabitha Graves collects western bumble bee samples in eastern Montana.
Bumble bee on Scarlet Globemallow
To investigate whether insects could be used as bioindicators of climate change, USGS researchers studied insect community composition along an elevation gradient in semi-arid shrublands of eastern Oregon.
To investigate whether insects could be used as bioindicators of climate change, USGS researchers studied insect community composition along an elevation gradient in semi-arid shrublands of eastern Oregon.
Scientists from six USGS science centers are collaborating with USDA, university, and Tribal partners, and Department of the Interior land managers, to assess the status of pollinator communities and the distribution of species of conservation concern using environmental DNA. These methods will be used to improve assessments of habitat quality and pollinator responses to restoration, including across the imperiled grasslands of the Midwest and shrublands of the western United States.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Why Pollinators?
Pollinators contribute substantially to the economy and food stability of the United States by pollinating fruit, nut, and vegetable crops. Nearly 85% of all flowering plants benefit from the pollination services they provide. There have been significant losses of pollinator species over the past few decades due to threats such as habitat loss, pesticides, and pathogens, threatening the foundation of terrestrial food webs worldwide. As a result, there is a growing need to keep tabs on these vulnerable and valuable animals.
Why Environmental DNA?
Researchers traditionally studied pollinator biodiversity by trapping or netting and identifying species using morphological characteristics visible under a microscope. Not only is this method lethal to the animal, but it requires specialized identification skills and considerable amounts of time. Environmental DNA sampling is an alternative, non-lethal method that has the potential to reduce the cost and difficulty of pollinator surveys relative to traditional methods. When a pollinator, such as a bee or butterfly, visits a flower during foraging, it leaves behind trace amounts of DNA from its skin, hair, saliva, or feces. Scientists collect this eDNA and use it to identify which pollinator species are present.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Progress, Goals, and Impact
With funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and as part of a larger effort aimed at assessing ecological resilience of restored grasslands, the grassland pollinator team launched the project in 2022. During the first year, our team collected and processed nearly 2,000 flower samples from grasslands in national parks, wildlife refuges, Bureau of Land Management lands, and other public lands in eight states. We are establishing standards, protocols, and molecular resources for using pollinator eDNA to solve real-world natural resource problems. Department of the Interior partners are interested in applying our methods to:
-
Improve native seed selection strategies through a better understanding of plant-pollinator interactions
-
Quantify the success of grassland restoration investments by documenting pollinator communities
-
Improve predictions for how pollinator communities may respond to climate change in America’s grasslands
-
Document the distribution of rare or at-risk pollinators to inform management agencies assessing listed species or making pre-listing decisions
Pollinator Species We Study
The species below are important members of grassland communities and are in decline across the United States. Our team is using eDNA to learn more about their distribution, what can be done to protect them, and how they are linked to ecological resilience of America's grasslands.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Sources/Usage: Some content may have restrictions. View Media Details
Sources/Usage: Some content may have restrictions. View Media Details
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Click the links below to learn more about pollinator research at the USGS.
Dakota Skipper Surveillance, Monitoring, and Assessment
The Dakota Skipper is a small butterfly that once lived throughout the grasslands of the north-central U.S. and south-central Canada but is now listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.
Bipartisan Infrastructure Law: Ecosystem Restoration Activity 9
Bipartisan Infrastructure Law: Ecosystem Restoration Activity 9
Bipartisan Infrastructure Law: Ecosystem Restoration
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and Ecosystem Restoration
Determining the dietary preferences and population genetics of an endangered bumble bee, Bombus affinis, by maximizing the use of museum specimens
Bombus aff inis, the rusty patched bumble bee, was federally listed as an endangered species in 2017 and has been identified as one of the top priority species for recovery nationally. Shortly after listing the species, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services and other partners prioritized the research needed to prevent the extinction of B. affinis . Some of the top research needs that were identified...
Western Bumble Bee and Native Pollinator Research
The western bumble bee was historically one of the most common bumble bees across the western U.S. and Canada. However, our research and others found it has declined substantially across its range and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is considering it for listing under the Endangered Species Act. Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, and other land managers need information to inform...
The pollinator library: a decision-support tool for improving national pollinator conservation efforts
Pollinator declines have emphasized the need for a greater understanding of plant-pollinator networks and land management activities that improve pollinator habitat. At the request of USDA and FWS partners, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center created the Pollinator Library for managers and researchers interested in improving pollinator forage on federal and private lands. The aim of the...
USGS Biologist Captures a Bumble Bee
USGS biologist Stacy Simanonok captures a bumble bee in a net during a pollinator survey in the grasslands of the North Dakota plains. Researchers are testing environmental DNA sampling methods to determine if this less invasive way to survey for pollinators generates similar results as traditional netting methods.
USGS biologist Stacy Simanonok captures a bumble bee in a net during a pollinator survey in the grasslands of the North Dakota plains. Researchers are testing environmental DNA sampling methods to determine if this less invasive way to survey for pollinators generates similar results as traditional netting methods.
Rusty Patched Bumble Bee Visiting Butterfly Milkweed
An endangered rusty patched bumble bee visiting a butterfly milkweed flower at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum.
An endangered rusty patched bumble bee visiting a butterfly milkweed flower at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum.
Hillside at Arrowwood, North Dakota
A Northern Great Plains grassland in North Dakota photographed during a survey for bees and flowers.
A Northern Great Plains grassland in North Dakota photographed during a survey for bees and flowers.
Surveying for Bees and Flowers in the Midwest
USGS technicians preparing to sample a grassland for bees and flowers in the North Dakota plains. The technicians are counting the number of blooming flowers in a transect.
USGS technicians preparing to sample a grassland for bees and flowers in the North Dakota plains. The technicians are counting the number of blooming flowers in a transect.
Purple Prairie Clover in North Dakota
A sea of purple prairie clover in the Northern Great Plains of North Dakota, photographed during a survey for bees and flowers on private property enrolled in a USDA conservation program.
A sea of purple prairie clover in the Northern Great Plains of North Dakota, photographed during a survey for bees and flowers on private property enrolled in a USDA conservation program.
Bumblebee on Phacelia flower
Bumblebee feeding on Phacelia flower found in an established Pollinator Plot at Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, Jamestown, North Dakota.
Bumblebee feeding on Phacelia flower found in an established Pollinator Plot at Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, Jamestown, North Dakota.
Rusty Patched Bumble Bee Visiting a Prairie Dock Flower
An endangered rusty patched bumble bee visiting a prairie dock flower on conservation lands in Illinois. The rusty patched bumble bee is the first pollinator species to be listed as Endangered under the Endangered Species Act in the continental United States.
An endangered rusty patched bumble bee visiting a prairie dock flower on conservation lands in Illinois. The rusty patched bumble bee is the first pollinator species to be listed as Endangered under the Endangered Species Act in the continental United States.
Collecting western bumble bee samples in eastern Montana
USGS scientist Tabitha Graves collects western bumble bee samples in eastern Montana.
USGS scientist Tabitha Graves collects western bumble bee samples in eastern Montana.
Bumble bee on Scarlet Globemallow
To investigate whether insects could be used as bioindicators of climate change, USGS researchers studied insect community composition along an elevation gradient in semi-arid shrublands of eastern Oregon.
To investigate whether insects could be used as bioindicators of climate change, USGS researchers studied insect community composition along an elevation gradient in semi-arid shrublands of eastern Oregon.