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Sam Droege

Sam is a Wildlife Biologist at the Eastern Ecological Science Center in Laurel, MD.

Sam has coordinated the North American Breeding Bird Survey Program, developed the North American Amphibian Monitoring Program, the BioBlitz, Cricket Crawl, and FrogwatchUSA programs and worked on the design and evaluation of monitoring programs.  Currently he is developing an inventory and monitoring program for native bees, online identification guides for North American bees at www.discoverlife.org, and with Jessica Zelt reviving the North American Bird Phenology Program.  His group maintains high resolution photographs of insects an other macro natural history objects at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/usgsbiml/

Education

  • B.S. from University of Maryland
  • M.S. from State University of New York – Syracus

Science and Products

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Endangered Rusty Patched Bumblebee (Bumbus affinis)

Native Bee Inventory and Monitoring Lab

The USGS Native Bee Inventory and Monitoring Program designs and develops large and small scale surveys for native bees. As part of that program we also develop identification tools and keys for native bee species. One aspect of creating those tools is creating accurate and detailed pictures of native bees and the plants and insects they interact with.
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Ecosystems, Status and Trends Program, Wildlife Program, Eastern Ecological Science Center
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Native Bee Inventory and Monitoring Lab

The USGS Native Bee Inventory and Monitoring Program designs and develops large and small scale surveys for native bees. As part of that program we also develop identification tools and keys for native bee species. One aspect of creating those tools is creating accurate and detailed pictures of native bees and the plants and insects they interact with.
Learn More
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Bumble bee visiting thistle

Bees of the Northeastern U.S.

Declines of pollinators have engendered worldwide concern, but trends in the faunas of most insect pollinators, including bees, remain uncertain. We are studying the bee fauna of southern Rhode Island to provide baseline information about the current fauna, and information about bee-flower interactions.
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Ecosystems, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Native Bee Inventory and Monitoring Lab
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Bees of the Northeastern U.S.

Declines of pollinators have engendered worldwide concern, but trends in the faunas of most insect pollinators, including bees, remain uncertain. We are studying the bee fauna of southern Rhode Island to provide baseline information about the current fauna, and information about bee-flower interactions.
Learn More
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svastra obliqua, female

Quick Background on the Mid Atlantic region's native bees

Bees are tiny, one bush or one clump of perennials is often all it takes to foster native bees in your yard. Within a mile of your yard (urban or rural) there are at least over 100 species of bees looking for the right plants. Attracting and tending these native bees on your property is all about planting the right flowers and flowering bushes.

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Quick Background on the Mid Atlantic region's native bees

Bees are tiny, one bush or one clump of perennials is often all it takes to foster native bees in your yard. Within a mile of your yard (urban or rural) there are at least over 100 species of bees looking for the right plants. Attracting and tending these native bees on your property is all about planting the right flowers and flowering bushes.

Learn More
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Anthophora villosula

Introduced and Alien Bee Species of North America (North of Mexico)

Surveys by the USGS Native Bee Laboratory have uncovered several new alien bee species in the United States. The data we and our collaborators are collecting tracks the spread of these species, at least in a coarse way.  We hope to expand surveys in collaboration with our federal and state land management partners as we detect more invading species. Information on distributions and status of

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Introduced and Alien Bee Species of North America (North of Mexico)

Surveys by the USGS Native Bee Laboratory have uncovered several new alien bee species in the United States. The data we and our collaborators are collecting tracks the spread of these species, at least in a coarse way.  We hope to expand surveys in collaboration with our federal and state land management partners as we detect more invading species. Information on distributions and status of

Learn More
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Halictus ligatus

DNA Barcoding for Identifying Native Bee Species

The Challenge: Traditionally, bee identification has relied on taxonomic methods centered on descriptions of morphological differences between species. However, for many species, separate keys are required for identifying adult males and females and immature life stages. These keys are commonly unavailable. The lack of distinguishing morphological characters useful for separating closely related...
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Eastern Ecological Science Center, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Native Bee Inventory and Monitoring Lab
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DNA Barcoding for Identifying Native Bee Species

The Challenge: Traditionally, bee identification has relied on taxonomic methods centered on descriptions of morphological differences between species. However, for many species, separate keys are required for identifying adult males and females and immature life stages. These keys are commonly unavailable. The lack of distinguishing morphological characters useful for separating closely related...
Learn More
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USGS

North American Bird Phenology Program

The Challenge: The North American Bird Phenology Program (BPP) houses a data set of 6 million historical observations of over 800 bird species, documenting occurrences and migration times from the 1880s through the 1970s -- the longest and most comprehensive legacy data set on bird migration in existence. In an effort to rescue this invaluable data set, the BPP has scanned and are in the process...
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Ecosystems, Status and Trends Program, Eastern Ecological Science Center
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North American Bird Phenology Program

The Challenge: The North American Bird Phenology Program (BPP) houses a data set of 6 million historical observations of over 800 bird species, documenting occurrences and migration times from the 1880s through the 1970s -- the longest and most comprehensive legacy data set on bird migration in existence. In an effort to rescue this invaluable data set, the BPP has scanned and are in the process...
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Filter Total Items: 70

National protocol framework for the inventory and monitoring of bees

This national protocol framework is a standardized tool for the inventory and monitoring of the approximately 4,200 species of native and non-native bee species that may be found within the National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS) administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). However, this protocol framework may also be used by other organizations and individuals to monitor bees in any
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Ecosystems, Science Analytics and Synthesis (SAS), Eastern Ecological Science Center, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Native Bee Inventory and Monitoring Lab

Exotic plant infestation is associated with decreased modularity and increased numbers of connectors in mixed-grass prairie pollination networks

The majority of pollinating insects are generalists whose lifetimes overlap flowering periods of many potentially suitable plant species. Such generality is instrumental in allowing exotic plant species to invade pollination networks. The particulars of how existing networks change in response to an invasive plant over the course of its phenology are not well characterized, but may shed light on t
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Ecosystems, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, Native Bee Inventory and Monitoring Lab

Bees: An up-close look at pollinators around the world

While we eat, work, and sleep, bees are busy around the world. More than 20,000 species are in constant motion! They pollinate plants of all types and keep our natural world intact. In Bees, you'll find a new way to appreciate these tiny wonders. Sam Droege and Laurence Packer present more than 100 of the most eye-catching bees from around the world as you've never seen them: up-close and with stu
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Ecosystems, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Native Bee Inventory and Monitoring Lab

Using a network modularity analysis to inform management of a rare endemic plant in the northern Great Plains, USA

1. Analyses of flower-visitor interaction networks allow application of community-level information to conservation problems, but management recommendations that ensue from such analyses are not well characterized. Results of modularity analyses, which detect groups of species (modules) that interact more with each other than with species outside their module, may be particularly applicable to ma
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Ecosystems, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, Native Bee Inventory and Monitoring Lab

Detecting insect pollinator declines on regional and global scales

Recently there has been considerable concern about declines in bee communities in agricultural and natural habitats. The value of pollination to agriculture, provided primarily by bees, is >$200 billion/year worldwide, and in natural ecosystems it is thought to be even greater. However, no monitoring program exists to accurately detect declines in abundance of insect pollinators; thus, it is diffi
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Ecosystems, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Native Bee Inventory and Monitoring Lab

Spatial patterns of bee captures in North American bowl trapping surveys

1. Bowl and pan traps are now commonly used to capture bees (Hymenoptera: Apiformes) for research and surveys. 2. Studies of how arrangement and spacing of bowl traps affect captures of bees are needed to increase the efficiency of this capture technique. 3. We present results from seven studies of bowl traps placed in trapping webs, grids, and transects in four North American ecoregions (Mid-At
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Ecosystems, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Native Bee Inventory and Monitoring Lab

Recent population trends of the eastern bluebird

North American Breeding Bird Survey data for the period 1966-1987 indicate that Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis) populations declined during the 1970s, primarily in association with either severe winters or severe spring storms. In recent years, bluebird populations have increased to levels similar to those observed during the first year (1966) of the survey. Survey results suggest that climate
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Ecosystems, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center

Distribution, abundance, and habitat affinities of the Coastal Plain Swamp Sparrow

We examined the distribution and abundance of the Coastal Plain Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana nigrescens) at previously occupied sites and points within potential habitat. We found Swamp Sparrows throughout their formerly documented range except in southern Chesapeake Bay. Swamp Sparrows were most common in the Mullica River region of New Jersey where we detected individuals at 78% of syste
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Ecosystems, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center

Distribution and abundance of birds wintering in Maryland, 1988-1993

A winter bird survey was conducted throughout Maryland, primarily by volunteers, during the 6 winters of 1988 to 1993 between the dates of 10 Jan and 10 Feb. The state of Maryland is covered by 1231 blocks (9.5 sq. miles each), each comprising one-sixth of the standard U.S.G.S. 7.5 minute topographic quadrangle, and 548 of these blocks (44.5%) were surveyed for winter birds. Blocks were chosen i
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Ecosystems, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Chesapeake Bay Activities, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center

Tidal marshes: A global perspective on the evolution and conservation of their terrestrial vertebrates

Globally, tidal marshes are found in small pockets or narrow bands totaling only approximately 45,000 square kilometers. The combination of salinity, low floristic and structural complexity, and regular tidal inundation, as well as unpredictable catastrophic flooding, provides a unique selective environment that shapes local adaptations, including those that are morphological, physiological, demo
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Ecosystems, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center

The potential conservation value of unmowed powerline strips for native bees

The land area covered by powerline easements in the United States exceeds the area of almost all national parks, including Yellowstone. In parts of Europe and the US, electric companies have altered their land management practices from periodic mowing to extraction of tall vegetation combined with the use of selective herbicides. To investigate whether this alternate management practice might pr
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Ecosystems, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center

Forty-fourth breeding bird census. 61. Beech-spruce-maple forest

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Ecosystems, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center

Native Bee Inventory and Monitoring Lab (BIML)

Species occurrence records for native and non-native bees, wasps and other insects collected using mainly pan, malaise, and vane trapping; and insect netting methods in Canada, Mexico, the non-contiguous United States, U.S. Territories (specifically U.S. Virgin Islands), U.S. Minor Outlying Islands and other global locations.

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Energy & Wildlife, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Eastern Ecological Science Center
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Patuxent Scientist interviewed by Daily Emerald

A hive of knowledge
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How the Bees You Know are Killing the Bees You Don’t

Patuxent Scientist Sam Droege interviewed for "Inside Science" about how commercially managed bumblebees and honey bees may be contributing to wild...

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Pollinators Get a National Strategy to Restore Their Health

Small bees that don’t bother or sting us can remain unstudied despite their abundance. 

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