Presenter:  Hailey Shanovich, Biologist, Southeast Climate Adaptation Science Center

Date: April 10, 2026

Time: 11:00–11:30am PT / 2:00–2:30pm ET

Across the southeastern United States and the U.S. Caribbean, native bees play a crucial role in maintaining ecosystems, supporting cultural traditions, and sustaining biodiversity. Yet most of these species have never been formally evaluated for their conservation status or for the risks they face from shifting climate conditions and habitat changes.

In this Friday’s Findings webinar, Dr. Hailey Shanovich will share how USGS researchers and partners are addressing this gap through comprehensive conservation status and climate vulnerability assessments. Using NatureServe’s species‑ranking frameworks, specialists from state, territorial, and Tribal Nations across the region are collaborating to identify priority species, evaluate threats, and refine rankings through workshops and expert input.

This work provides urgently needed insights on under‑studied bee species, strengthens partnerships across agencies and Tribal Nations, and builds a science‑based foundation for pollinator conservation and climate adaptation. By integrating these findings into wildlife diversity planning, the project advances the USGS mission to deliver actionable science that protects pollinators and supports biodiversity in a rapidly changing world.