ASSESSING THE IMPACT OF INVASIVE ANNUAL GRASSES AND WILDFIRE ON NATIVE POLLINATORS WITHIN THE SAGEBRUSH STEPPE BIOME”

Project ID: F24AC00454

Federal Agency: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Partner Institution: Oregon State University

Fiscal Year: 2024

Initial Funding: $312,817

Total Funding: $312,817

Principal Investigator: Creighton, Jennifer

Agreement Technical Representative: Creighton, Jennifer

Abstract: PROJECT: ASSESSING THE IMPACT OF BROAD-SCALE THREATS TO NATIVE POLLINATORS IN THE SAGEBRUSH-STEPPE ECOSYSTEMINSECT POLLINATORS PARTICULARLY NATIVE BEES ARE CRITICALLY IMPORTANT IN THE MAINTENANCE OF TERRESTRIAL PLANTAND ANIMAL COMMUNITIES, YET OUR UNDERSTANDING OF HOW CONTEMPORARY THREATS INFLUENCE THIS GROUP AND THEPOLLINATION SERVICES THEY PROVIDE IS VIRTUALLY UNSTUDIED WITHIN THE SAGEBRUSH BIOME. OUR INVESTIGATION WILLQUANTIFY HOW BEE COMMUNITIES RESPOND TO WIDESPREAD THREATS TO SAGEBRUSH WILDFIRE AND INVASIVE ANNUAL GRASSES AND PROVIDE FOUNDATIONAL KNOWLEDGE NEEDED FOR UNDERTAKING INFORMED MANAGEMENT DECISIONS TO IMPROVE THE RESILIENCE OF THE BIOME. GIVEN CURRENT KNOWLEDGE GAPS, OUR RESEARCH HAS GREAT POTENTIAL TO DELIVER INFORMATION ON TOPICS NEEDED FOR IMPLEMENTING LANDSCAPE-SCALE MANAGEMENT FOR POLLINATOR POPULATIONS AND ECOSYSTEM SERVICES.