Characterizing bumble bee (Bombus) communities in the United States and assessing a conservation monitoring method.

ABSTRACT:

Aim

Bumble bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Bombus) are economically and ecologically important pollinators in agroecosystems and wildland habitats. In the Nearctic region, there are approximately 41 species, of which the IUCN lists twelve species as vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered. We conducted a standardized faunal survey to inform ongoing conservation efforts including petitions under review for the Endangered Species Act. Furthermore, we test the appropriateness of a methodology for accurately sampling bumble bee communities.

Location

The United States of America, including 31 sites in 15 states.

Methods

We surveyed 15 states in the summer of 2015 to assess community composition and relative species abundance at agricultural and seminatural sites

SUBMITTER: Strange JP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6374645 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature