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Program: Partnership
Project Title: Northern New England Pollinator Habitat Working Group
Project Type: IPM Working Group
Project Director: Amy Papineau
Co-PDs: Dr. Cathy Neal and Rachel Maccini
Start Date: April 1, 2014
End Date: March 31, 2015
Funding: $17,100
Funds leveraged as a result of this project: 0
Number of People Reached as a result of this project: 26,558
Summary
Pollinators play a key role in the successful production of agronomic crops and are essential to
preservation of biodiversity in our natural lands. Decline of pollinators nationwide has been
linked in part to habitat loss. Declining honeybee populations and increased reliance on native
pollinating bees highlights a need for increased understanding of pollinator populations in our
region and the habitats that support them.
A multi-state, multi-disciplinary working group (WG) was established in 2014 to share
information, assess critical research and outreach needs, and identify emerging issues in
conservation, maintenance and enhancement of pollinator habitat across northern New England
(MA, ME, NH, and VT). The sixteen member group includes researchers, educators, and
stakeholders from across the region. The group’s efforts in this initial project year focus on
evaluating the current state of knowledge regarding pollinator status and habitat needs in the
unique agricultural and ecological environments of northern New England and in assessing the
current availability of regionally-applicable educational and outreach materials. Group meetings
and online communication provide members opportunities to learn from each other, enhancing
each individual’s professional efforts and capacity for extending timely research-based
information to stakeholders. Intended long-term impacts include protection of existing habitat on
farms, roadsides and natural areas and integration of new pollinator plantings on small and large
scales.
Problem and Justification
Pollinators play a key role in the successful production of agronomic crops and are essential to
preservation of biodiversity in our natural lands. Lack of adequate pollination results in
decreases in yield, quality and seed set which translates to revenue loss in agricultural crops and
diminished reproductive capacity in other flowering plants.
The value of animal pollinated crops, including fruits, vegetables and nuts, produced in northern
New England (MA, ME, NH, and VT) in 2012 was approximately $252 million (USDA, 2013).
Much of the crop pollination in the region is carried out by managed populations of honey bees
and bumble bees, but native pollinators are also key players in the region’s agricultural systems.
Many of New England’s small diversified farms rely solely on native pollinators for crop
pollination. Large farms are also recognizing native pollinators as valuable supplements to the
increasingly expensive and fragile state of honeybee pollination.
Decline of pollinators nationwide has been linked in part to habitat loss, largely attributed to
residential and industrial development. While this is likely a contributor to declining populations
in northern New England, specific causes of decline in this region have not been documented.
Additional threats unique to this region may be in play. For example, vast areas of previously
open land have grown up to forest with fewer flowering plants to provide pollinator forage. Bee
keepers have reported increasing difficulty finding sufficient flowering forage to sustain their
colonies.
Bee keepers and farmers have long recognized the need to provide alternate pollinator forage
beyond the agricultural crops being serviced. Bees cannot be nutritionally sustained on a narrow
diet, and crop plants provide forage only during finite windows of bloom. Faced with decreasing
areas of natural pollinator habitat, farmers have increasingly turned to planting wildflowers and
other alternate bee forage on-farm. This practice has the unintended consequence of encouraging
more pollinator activity in areas where risk of exposure to harmful pesticides may be highest.
This fact underscores the importance of promoting pollinator habitat beyond the agricultural
setting to include the larger landscape of northern NE.
Concerns for pollinator decline have been largely focused on potential losses to agriculture and
the food supply, but native pollinators are integral to the complex ecosystems of nature as well.
Declines in keystone species can be expected to have far-reaching impacts throughout their
biological communities. Insect pollinated plants in our natural lands contribute to a myriad of
ecosystem services including erosion control, water infiltration, and food supply for animals and
humans alike.
Protection and enhancement of pollinator populations as a natural resource requires, first an
increased understanding and appreciation for native pollinators, their habits, and their forage and
nesting requirements. This working group brings together researchers, educators, and
stakeholders to share information and to identify areas of research and outreach where impactful
progress can be made in support of pollinators and stable pollination of the region’s flowering
plants.
Objectives and Anticipated Impacts
Objective 1. Assemble a group of interested professionals and stakeholders from New
Hampshire, Vermont, Maine and Massachusetts to share information and develop research and
outreach strategies that contribute to conservation and enhancement of pollinator habitat.
Objective 2. Review the current state of knowledge regarding bee health and pollinator habitat
in northern New England, identify gaps in research-based knowledge and prioritize research
needs.
Objective 3. Identify current educational resources for target audiences and identify areas in
which resources are lacking in scope, quality, regional applicability, or accessibility.
Approach and Procedures
Researchers, educators, and stakeholders from the northern New England states of Maine, New
Hampshire, Vermont, and Massachusetts, each with interest and stake in studying and protecting
pollinators and pollinator habitat, were invited to create the Northern New England Pollinator
Habitat Working Group. Regular communication among the 16 member group fosters
interdisciplinary learning, interagency collaboration, and increased efficiency in research and
outreach efforts. Communication among the group is facilitated by face-to-face meetings,
conference calls, email correspondence and a shared online file repository.
Two sub-groups were formed to focus efforts in 1) a research review of the current state of
knowledge regarding bee health and pollinator habitat in northern New England and 2)
identifying and reviewing outreach materials currently available to stakeholders. Gaps identified
in available research data and outreach materials are the foundation for a current priority list
developed by the group (Appendix A).
2014 Working Group Members
See Appendix B for contact information
Dr. Anne L. Averill, Professor, Dept. of Environmental Conservation, Univ. of Massachusetts,
Amherst. WG lead contact for Massachusetts. Provides expertise as an entomologist and bee
researcher in diversity and abundance of bee pollinators in managed and natural sites and in
impacts of land use on bee populations.
Dr. Lois Berg Stack, Univ. of Maine Cooperative Extension. WG lead contact for Maine.
Provides expertise in landscape plants as bee forage. Liaison to green industry stakeholders.
Dr. Sid Bosworth, Extension Agronomist, University of Vermont Extension. WG lead contact
for Vermont. Provides expertise in forage legumes that are vital to pollinators. Experienced in
working with farmers in the area of forage and pasture management and with beekeepers to
enhance availability of late season forage.
Lionel Chute, Director of Natural Resources, Sullivan County, NH. Provides expertise is in
botany, native plants and natural plant communities and promotion of native bees for
agricultural pollination throughout New Hampshire.
Dr. Alison C. Dibble, Asst. Research Professor of Pollination Ecology, School of Biology and
Ecology, Univ. of Maine. Chair of WG Research Sub-Committee; lead author of WG’s
literature review. Provides expertise in conservation biology, botany, relationships between
native wild bees and their host plants, and forest ecology. Contracts through NRCS to prepare
pollinator habitat enhancement plans for growers in Maine.
Dr. Frank Drummond, Professor of Insect Ecology, School of Biology and Ecology and
Extension Professor of Blueberry Insect Pest Management and Pollination, Univ. of Maine.
Provides expertise in bee taxa, biology, phenology, foraging behaviors, and distribution in the
Northeast. Liaison to Maine blueberry growers and other grower groups.
Gary Fish, Manager of Pesticide Programs. Maine Board of Pesticides Control. Provides
expertise in pesticides and IPM. Coordinator of the Maine YardScaping Partnership.
Jarrod Fowler M.Sc., Stockbridge School of Agriculture, Univ. of Massachusetts. Provides
expertise in sustainable pollinator habitat assessment, design, installation, maintenance, and
monitoring. NRCS certified Technical Service Provider of Pollinator Habitat Enhancement
Plans for New England.
Dr. Aaron Hoshide, Adjunct Asst. Professor, Faculty Associate, School of Economics, Univ. of
Maine. Provides expertise in agricultural economics and economics of pollination value and
estimated costs of alternative pollination strategies.
Rachel Maccini, University of New Hampshire, Cooperative Extension. Pesticide Safety
Program Coordinator. Provides expertise in urban entomology and pesticide education.
Charles Mraz, Beekeeper, Owner Champlain Valley Apiaries, VT. Provides expertise in
honeybee management and issues affecting honeybee industries.
Dr. Cathy Neal, Extension Professor, University of New Hampshire. Project Co-PD. Provides
expertise in landscape and establishment of pollinator habitat.
Jeff Norment, Wildlife Biologist, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Maine.
Provides expertise in pollination conservation. Liaison to USDA NRCS and Xerces Society.
Amy Papineau, Field Specialist, University of New Hampshire, Cooperative Extension. Project
Co-PD. Provides expertise is habitat establishment on and off of farms.
Dr. Sandra Rehan, Asst. Professor of Genome Enabled Biology, Department of Biological
Sciences, Univ. of New Hampshire. Provides expertise in native bee behavior, taxonomy,
molecular phylogenetics, comparative genomics, biodiversity and population genetics.
Annie White, University of Vermont, PhD program. Provides expertise in pollinator ecology,
conservation design, plant selection, and pollinator plant preference.
Progress
The working group’s focus for the past year (first year of funding) was increasing
communication between group members, sharing timely research project updates and outcomes,
and evaluating the current state of knowledge through literature review and evaluating available
outreach materials. At the onset of the project period (April 1, 2014), the working group
consisted of 8 members. The group was expanded to the full roster of 16 funded members after
discussions via teleconference on April 25, 2014, and subsequent submission and review of bios
of potential group members with the goal of building a group with strong expertise in the subject
of pollinators and pollinator habitat and wide representation of stakeholder groups.
Two multi-day face-to-face meetings were held. The group first met June 23-24, 2014 at
Woodman Horticultural Farm in Durham, NH where members presented research summaries and
updates and toured pollinator habitat research plantings. Two sub-groups were formed to focus
efforts on a research literature review and a review of outreach materials. Sub-groups developed
plans of work and assigned tasks for accomplishing these review projects. A second meeting was
held August 13-15, 2014 at The Schoodic Institute, Winter Harbor, Maine. Group members
presented research updates, discussed current issues in pollinator health and protection, toured
pollinator habitat sites, and learned of new research methods from a guest speaker.
The group communicated frequently via email to share and discuss data, observations, literature,
and current issues. Online file-sharing (Google Drive) was used to compile and review research
literature and outreach materials. The literature review sub-group collectively authored a draft
literature review outlining the current state of knowledge in regards to local bee health and
habitat and identifying gaps in current knowledge. The outreach sub-group evaluated available
educational and outreach resources for scope, quality, and regional applicability based on the
facts and gaps outlined in the literature review. A collection of nearly 100 potential priorities for
research, outreach, and policy were developed based on needs identified through the literature
and resource reviews. Group members ranked each potential priority in relation to how critical it
is that each priority by addressed in order to meet the broad objective of protecting, supporting,
and increasing populations of plant pollinators through creation, maintenance, or enhancement of
pollinator habitat. Those priorities identified as most critical are presented in Appendix A.
Breakdown of leveraged funds and people reached
Objectives of the working group during this first year of funding were primarily internal
education, communication, and collaboration. Acquisition of leveraged funds were not reported
by any group members during this first year of funding. Group members do report extending
information gained through involvement with the working group to others through the events
listed below. Through these events and others not listed, members report reaching 26,558 people
with information from the working group in the past year.
Neonicotinoid insecticides and bees. Maine Agricultural Trade Show, Augusta, ME, January
2014; 100 attendees
Farming for pollinators and other beneficial insects. Maine Agricultural Trade Show, Augusta,
ME, January 2014; 35 attendees
What do Bees Want? Flowers for Maine Farms and Gardens. Maine Agricultural Trade Show,
Augusta, ME, January 2014; 50 attendees
Research in Maine, Neonicotinoids and Fungicides. NRCS/ Extension in‐service training
program, Bangor, ME, January 2014; 50 attendees
Pollinators and Neonicotinoids. Annual Maine Potato Growers Meeting, Caribou, ME, February
2014; 100 attendees
Making a Meadow. Kennebunk Garden Club. Kennebunk, ME. March 5, 2014. 25 attendees.
Pollination in Blueberry. Annual Maine Blueberry School, Waldoboro, ME, March 2015; 30
attendees
Pollination in Blueberry. Annual Maine Blueberry School, Ellsworth, ME, March 2015; 60
attendees
Pollination in Blueberry. Annual Maine Blueberry School, Machias, ME, March 2015, 50
attendees
Threats to Native and Managed Pollinators. Maine Pesticide Applicators Training Seminar,
Presque Isle, ME, March 2015, 50 attendees
Threats to Native and Managed Pollinators. Maine Pesticide Applicators Training Seminar,
Brewer, ME, March 2015, 100 attendees
Threats to Native and Managed Pollinators. Maine Pesticide Applicators Training Seminar,
Augusta, ME, March 2015, 150 attendees
Threats to Native and Managed Pollinators. Maine Pesticide Applicators Training Seminar,
Portland, ME, March 2015, 80 attendees
What’s the Buzz about Pollinators? Northern New England Nursery Conference. Rye, NH March
6, 2015. 46 attendees.
Spring Landscape Conference. Native Plants that Support Native Pollinators. Concord, NH.
March 18, 2015. 70 attendees.
Maine’s native bee community. ScienceCafe, Bar Harbor, April 2014, 30 attendees
Wild bees and tame bees...BUT are they healthy bees ? Blue Hill Library, April 21, 2014, 35
attendees
Master Gardener Training, Androscoggin, York and Cumberland Counties, April 11, May 1 and
May 29, 2014. 125 attendees total.
YardScaping. Town of Arrowsic. April 15, 2014. 20 attendees.
YardScaping web site. Pollinator habitat resources added. 500 hits in the first three weeks.
Colony Collapse Disorder, the causes. The Skeptics Society, Orono, ME, May 2015, 8 attendees
Apple Pollination workshop, May 2014, Highmoor Farm, Monmouth, ME, 12 attendees
Blueberry Pollination workshop, May 2014, Warren, ME
Blueberry Pollination workshop, May 2014, Blueberry Hill Farm, Jonesboro, ME, 35 attendees
Blueberry Pollination workshop, May 2014, Waldoboro, ME, 30 attendees
YardScaping. Gardens at Back Cove tour. Portland, Maine. June 10, 2014 18 attendees.
Pollinator assessment, Summer Blueberry Field Day, July, 2014, Jonesboro, ME, 120 attendees.
YardScaping. Washington Lakes Association, Washington. July 16, 2014. 15 attendees.
Bees in the landscape surrounding wild blueberry fields, Presented by B. Du Clos. Summer
Blueberry Field Day, July 2014, Jonesboro, ME, 120 attendees.
Creating Meadows for Pollinators. Masabessic Audubon. Auburn, NH August 5, 2014. 36
attendees.
Pollination Workshop in wild blueberry, October 2014, Prince Edward Island, Canada, 80
attendees
Research update, Maine State Beekeepers Annual Meeting, October 2014, Hampden, ME, 180
attendees
Status of native bees in Maine, November 2014, Pollinator Protection Symposium, Portland, ME,
135 attendees.
Bee Sustainable, October 2014. Bee Sustainable Pollinator Workshop. Piscataquis Soil and Water
Conservation District, Dover-Foxcroft, ME, 30 attendees
What’s the Buzz About Bees? October 2014. Native Bee Workshop for Kids. Fairmont
Elementary School, Bangor, ME, 17 attendees
What’s the Buzz About Bees? October 2014. Native Bee Workshop for Kids. Stillwater
Montessori School, Orono, ME, 23 attendees
Sullivan County Conservation District Annual Meeting. Unity, NH. November 6, 2014. 65
attendees.
Promoting Pollinator Habitat on Farms. NH Farm Bureau. Lebanon, NH. November 7, 2014. 16
attendees.
Native Bees and Pollination Security. November 2014, Annual Rural Living Day. Waldo County
Extension, Thorndike, ME, 50 attendees
Massachusetts Cranberry Pollination Practices Survey Results, University of Massachusetts
Cranberry Station’s Pesticide Safety Training, East Wareham, MA, 50 attendees.
Native Pollinators, SCCD. Claremont, NH. December 4, 2014. 75 attendees.
Pollinator protection. Maine Agricultural Trade Show, Jan 14, Augusta, ME, 100 attendees.
Pollinator protection. Maine Agricultural Trade Show, Jan 15, Augusta, ME, 80 attendees
Effects on the honeybee of sterol inhibiting fungicide residues on blueberry flowers. Canadian
National Beekeepers Meeting, Jan 30, Moncton, N.B., Canada, 150 attendees
Results of the stationary hive project, 2009-2012. Canadian National Beekeepers Meeting, Jan 30,
Moncton, N.B., Canada, 150 attendees
Pollinator protection in blueberry. Maine Spring Blueberry School, Bangor, ME,170 attendees.
Nutrition of pollen in bee plants. Maine Spring Blueberry School, Bangor, ME, 170 attendees.
Wild blueberry response to thinning. Maine Spring Blueberry School, Bangor, ME, 170
attendees.
Planting for Bees. Concord Area Beekeepers Assn. Concord, NH. February 13, 2015. 82
attendees.
Wildflower Meadows for Pollinators. Concord Garden Club. Concord, NH. February 19, 2015.
27 attendees.
Creating Pollinator Habitat – New Hampshire Technical Institute. Concord, NH. February 27,
2015. 8 attendees.
Planting for Bees – Ossipee Bee School. Ossipee, NH. March 5, 2015. 21 attendees
Bumble bee health. Maine Spring Blueberry School, Bangor, ME, 170 attendees
Beemapper, a web based tool to estimate wild bee density. Maine Spring Blueberry School,
Bangor, ME, 170 attendees.
Status of the European Honey bee. Pollinator Protection Symposium, University of
Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, 230 attendees
Status of wild bees in the Northeast. Pollinator Protection Symposium, University of
Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, 230 attendees
Board update presentation with 20 minutes on Pollinator Protection from Pesticide Applications.
Vermont Commercial Pesticide Applicators Training: Managed Pollinator Protection Plan and
Impact of Neonicotinoinds; Middlebury, VT; 4/2/15; 65 attendees;
Sierra Club of the Upper Valley Bee Conference. 125 attendees.
UVM Extension Across The Fence Television Program (WCAX): Research and Education on the
Vermont Honeybee and Other Pollinators; Burlington, VT; 5/8/15; estimated 20,000 viewers (a
reference website received over 400 hits in May after the program showing)
Continuing education classes for all commodity groups, turf, ornamental, right-of-way, forest,
tick and mosquito, etc. Various locations - April 2,3,10 & 11, October 1,7 & 19, December 10 &
11, January 13, 14, 15 & 21, March 10, 11, 20 & 22. Over 1000 attendees total.
Consultations with private landowners or businesses regarding pollinator habitat/wildflower
establishment. 22 visits.
Outcomes
The Northern New England Pollinator Habitat working group was established in March 2014
with the goals of bringing together researchers, educators, and stakeholders to address issues of
pollinator health and habitat in the northern New England states of Maine, New Hampshire,
Vermont, and Massachusetts. The working group’s focus for the past year (first year of funding)
was increasing communication between group members, sharing timely research updates and
outcomes, evaluating the current state of knowledge through literature review, and evaluating
available outreach materials. A group of 16 members, representative of a broad range of
stakeholder groups and areas of expertise, was formed to share information, strengthen research
efforts, and to evaluate needs with the long term goal of protecting and supporting local
pollinator populations by creating, enhancing, and protecting quality pollinator habitat in the
region.
Two multi-day face-to-face WG meetings were held in 2014. The group first met June 23-24,
2014 at Woodman Horticultural Farm in Durham, NH. Group members each discussed their
connection to pollinators and pollinator habitat, their research and/or projects, and topics of
interest and/or concern. Presentations from each group member, both in the classroom and in the
field, moved the group toward developing a more thorough understanding of the issues
surrounding pollinator habitat and the work that is being done to address these issues in northern
New England.
A second face-to-face WG meeting was held August 13-15, 2014 at The Schoodic Research
Institute, Winter Harbor, Maine. Group members presented research updates, discussed current
issues in pollinator health and protection, and toured pollinator habitat sites. Guest speaker, Sam
Droege, a bee biologist from the Patuxant Wildlife Research Center in Beltsville Maryland,
discussed methods and considerations for bee survey research, as several group members prepare
to conduct bee survey work throughout the region in the coming year.
The current state of knowledge regarding bee health and habitat in the northern New England
region was reviewed by a sub-group of nine WG members with additional input from colleagues
and graduate students outside of the WG. The sub-group compiled and reviewed research
literature pertaining to pollinator biology, health, and habitat, with a focus on identifying gaps in
regionally-specific knowledge. Priorities for future research were identified. A draft literature
review is currently being authored by the group.
A second sub-group of seven WG members reviewed and evaluated current educational
resources for target audiences. The group compiled a collection of resources available online and
in print, including books, e-books, websites, factsheets, pamphlets, articles, and videos. The
group evaluated these resources based on scope, quality, regional applicability, and accessibility.
Key resources will be promoted in an online directory in 2015. Priorities for filling gaps in
available educational and outreach materials were identified.
A list of 88 suggested priorities was developed by the group based on gaps identified in the
literature review and the resource review. Group members individually ranked each suggested
priority on a scale of 1 to 10 in relation to how critical it is that each priority by addressed in
order to meet the broad objective of protecting, supporting, and increasing populations of plant
pollinators through creation, maintenance, or enhancement of pollinator habitat. Those priorities
identified as most critical, receiving an average rating of 7.0 or higher, are presented in Appendix
A.
Noting the value of continued communication, collaboration, and increased outreach focus, all
group members expressed strong support of continuation of the working group in 2015 and
beyond. The Northern New England Habitat Working Group has received funding from NE-
IPM Centers for an additional two years of work. Having completed a literature and resource
review, the group is now well situated to bring the available quality regionally-applicable
information to stakeholders. Group members will increase external stakeholders’ knowledge and
awareness of pollinators and pollinator habitat through workshops, presentations, and promotion
of online materials and we will work with stakeholders through workshops and consultations to
encourage and assist in adoption of practices which promote pollinator health. The group will
solicit input from stakeholder groups as priority lists are revisited.
Impacts
By bringing together researchers, educators, and stakeholders with a shared interest and concern
for pollinator health and habitat, The Northern New England Pollinator Habitat Working Group
has strengthened the network of professionals, agencies, and citizens working toward protecting
and preserving local pollinator populations in the region. As the group shared their collective
knowledge and experience with each other, each member’s breadth of knowledge has increased,
moving each member toward a more thorough understanding of the issues surrounding pollinator
habitat and the work that is being done to address these issues in northern New England. A
deeper understanding of bee biology, threats to bee health, and strategies for protecting and
supporting pollinators positions each group member to better address issues of bee health
through research and education.
WG members communicate frequently via email, sharing and discussing current literature,
articles, and research updates. Face-to-face meetings, phone conferences, and online
communication have successfully fostered stronger connections and collaboration among the
group, as evidenced by a survey of group members. Fourteen out of fifteen (93%) members
responded to a survey aimed at evaluating progress towards increasing knowledge of pollinator
habitat and enhancing communication between WG members. 93% of respondents reported that
they had increased communication with other members and everyone reported increases in their
knowledge of one or more specific topics through participation in WG meetings. Every WG
member felt that they were contributing to the success of one or both of the sub-groups
(Literature Review and Resource Review). This demonstrates that all WG members are engaged
and valued, across all subject-matter expertise and whether they are researchers,
teachers/educators, extension specialists, and/or service providers.
The degree to which involvement in the WG strengthened connections and increased
communication among working group members was measured by a Social Network Analysis
(SNA) conducted by Northeast IPM Center’s evaluation specialist, Keoki Hansen. Group
members were surveyed near the start of the project period in June 2014, and again near the end
of the project year in February 2015. Members were asked how often they communicated with
each other member regarding pollinators and pollinator habitat. The analysis revealed both new
connections and substantial increases in strength of existing connections. (Appendix D)
Although not measured in this analysis, group members also report increased collaboration
within the group and increased network connections outside of the group.
Outreach and dissemination of information from the working group is a focus of the group’s
2015 and 2016 efforts, however, group members have already presented information at events
across the region. WG members report sharing information from the WG with at least 26,558
people, including professional colleagues, decision-makers, trade associations and other groups
and individuals. Group members have educated stakeholders about the critical importance of
local pollinators to agriculture and natural ecosystems, threats to bee health, and strategies for
protecting and creating bee habitat.
As strategies for protecting pollinators are increasingly adopted, local pollinators are expected to
become more abundant. An abundance of healthy pollinators may translate to increases in yield
and quality for agronomic crops, decreased risk and costs of reliance on imported crop
pollinators, and increased sustainability of natural ecosystems. As public awareness of the need
for quality flowering forage habitat increases, opportunity exists for the green industry to benefit
from sales of “bee-friendly” plants and marketing of themselves as “bee-friendly” companies.
Appendices
A) Priorities
B) Group Member Contact Information
C) Meeting Agendas
D) Social Media Analysis
E) Logic Model
Appendix A
Northern New England Pollinator Habitat Working Group
Priorities – 2014
Knowledge Gaps and Research Needs
Rank Priority
Score (10 = highest
priority) 1 Role of insecticides in population dynamics, bee mortality. 9.19
2 Causes of bee mortality and population decline. 9.16
3 What are the native bee species and population numbers and trends for our native bees? 9.13
4 What is the limiting factor on building bee populations? (nest sites, forage, habitat, etc.) 8.76
5 How to assign/compare the “value” of plants for pollinators? 8.64
6 Role of non-insecticide pesticides in population dynamics, bee mortality 8.58
7 Economics and management of pollinator plantings 8.33
8 Need for plant lists for NNE for providing a succession of blooms over the season 8.21
9 Better information on site preparation techniques - smothering, tillage, herbicides, solarization. 8.21
10 What determines bee feeding preference? Visual cues, patterns, chemistry of pollen/nectar, diversity and density of flowers? 8.19
11 Is (perceived) decline only in honeybees or in native bee populations as well in the northeast? 8.18
12 How diverse a diet do bees really need? 8.16
13 If pollinator habitats are created for bees and other pollinators, will the populations of these animals increase as a result? 8.10
14 Work with local nurseries and regional suppliers to make sure the best floral resources are available locally. 8.10
15 Do flowers in bloom at same time as crop compete for pollinators or support increase in pollinators? 8.04
16 What floral resources will attract or support bees identified as major pollinators of specific crops? 7.91
17 What causes variation in bee populations from year to year? 7.91
18 Are there specific endangered (plant) species that would be lost if certain bee relationships were lost? 7.70
19 Assess the dependence of native plants in NNE on native bees and pollinators 7.61
20 To what extent are diseases and pests transmitted between honeybees or commercial bumblebees and native bees? 7.55
21 How consistent are plant-pollinator relationships from site to site? 7.54
22 What are the life cycles for specific native bees – when/where do they nest and lay eggs, emerge and feed? 7.53
23 How effective are right of way or median wildflower plantings? How to manage them for most positive impact? 7.47
24 Are collected bumble bees from other places crossing with native bumbles and diluting the genetics? 7.34
25 How important is on-farm pollinator habitat in relation to the larger landscape beyond the farm? 7.33
26 Understanding plant-pollinator interactions across the board. 7.30
27 Beyond crop pollination, how do bees matter to the ecosystem and what services do they provide? 7.28
28 What is the ideal shape and size of meadow plantings? 7.19
29 What is the economic benefit of pollinator meadows per acre of flowering meadow? 7.18
30 Determining which plants are important to each bee species in the Northeast. 7.10
31 Value of and methods for providing bee boxes/nesting sites 7.09
32 How does climate change affect synchronicity of plant-pollinator interactions as climate changes alter phenologies, pest pressures, etc.? 7.05
33 Do exotic bees displace native bees? 7.00
Outreach and Training Needs
Rank Priority
Score (10 = highest
priority) 1 Train the trainers on pollinators and habitat (DOT, master gardeners, natural resource stewards, etc). 9.27
2 Develop web portal with links to comprehensive resources appropriate to NNE. 9.24
3 Publish fact sheet for northern NE: Enhancing Habitat for Native Pollinators. 9.03
4 Publish fact sheet for northern NE: Planting for Pollinators. 9.03
5 Educate growers, master gardeners, garden clubs, beekeeper associations and others about how to protect managed and wild bees from pesticides. 9.00
6 Increased awareness of native bees: biology, habitat, value. 9.00
7 Engage stakeholder groups in education and outreach efforts. 8.94
8 Engage stakeholder groups in identifying outreach and research needs. 8.90
9 Develop social marketing tools that will help convince growers, gardeners and homeowners to add pollinator habitat resources to their properties. 8.84
10 Publish fact sheet for northern NE: Pollinators of NNE. 8.73
11 Educate policy makers about poll habitat protection. 8.69
12 Work with other agencies/stakeholder groups to conduct state or regional pollinator conferences. 8.61
13 Work with DOT, municipalities and other public entities to encourage conserving, planting and/or better management of pollinator habitat. 8.57
14 Develop training for state landscape and grower groups. 8.56
15 Publish fact sheet for northern NE: Protecting Pollinators from Pesticides (all applications including lawns, trees, right of way, gardens, crops, etc). 8.54
16 Provide regional recommendations for planting and managing wildflower plantings for bee habitat. 8.51
17 Contribute to development of statewide pollinator management plans. 8.27
18 Work with land trusts and other non-profits that have open land that could be planted into pollinator habitat. 8.09
19 Develop citizen science network for monitoring across northern New England. 8.06
20 Better connect the NNEPHWG with state pesticide control officials. 7.69
21 Develop checklists - things people can do to protect pollinators. 7.57
22 Develop and train us to use simple monitoring techniques that allow non-entomologists to assess pollinator activity, plant preferences, etc. 7.53
23 Redefine clover in lawns as an important companion plant to grasses as opposed to it being seen as a weed. 7.43
24 Work with other agencies/stakeholder groups to plant pollinator gardens. 7.27
Group members ranked each of 88 proposed priorities on a scale of 1 (low) to 10 (high) indicating how critical it is that each priority
by addressed in order to meet the broad objective of protecting, supporting, and increasing populations of plant pollinators through
creation, maintenance, or enhancement of pollinator habitat. Priorities assigned an average ranking of 7.0 or greater are reported here.
Appendix B
Northern New England Pollinator Habitat Working Group
Group Member Contact Information – 2014
Dr. Anne L. Averill
Dept.of Environmental Conservation Holdsworth Hall, Rm 301A University of Massachusetts 160 Holdsworth Way Amherst, MA 01003-9285
413-545-1054 [email protected]
Dr. Lois Berg Stack
Extension Specialist, Ornamental Horticulture University of Maine 495 College Ave., Orono, ME 04469
207-581-2949 [email protected]
Dr. Sid Bosworth
Plant and Soil Science Department University of Vermont 208 Jeffords Hall 63 Carrigan Drive Burlington, VT 05405-0082 802-656-0478 [email protected]
Lionel Chute
Director of Natural Resources Sullivan County Conservation District Sullivan County NH 95 County Farm Rd. Unity, NH 03743 603-542-4891 [email protected]
Dr. Alison Dibble
School of Biology and Ecology University of Maine 5722 Deering Hall Orono, ME 04469 207-359-4659 [email protected]
Dr. Frank Drummond
School of Biology and Ecology Univ. of Maine 305 Deering Hall Orono, ME 04469 207-581-2989 [email protected]
Gary Fish
Manager of Pesticide Programs Maine Board of Pesticides Control 28 State House Station Augusta, ME 04333-0028 207-287-7545 [email protected]
Jarrod Fowler M.Sc.
Sustainability Science University of Massachusetts Amherst 508-274-1094 [email protected]
Dr. Aron Hoshide
Adjunct Assistant Professor, Faculty Associate School of Economics The University of Maine Orono, ME 04469 207-945-6830 [email protected]
Rachel Maccini
Pesticide Education Program Coordinator UNH Cooperative Extension 329 Mast Road, Suite 115 Goffstown, NH 03045 603-351-3831 [email protected]
Charles Mraz
Owner Champlain Valley Apiaries 504 Washington St. Ext. PO Box 127 Middlebury, VT. 802-388-7724 [email protected]
Dr. Cathy Neal
Extension Professor Spaulding Hall 38 Academic Way Durham, NH 03824-2617 603-862-3208 [email protected]
Jeff Norment
NRCS State Biologist 967 Illinois Ave, Suite #3 Bangor, ME 04401 207-990-9571 [email protected]
Amy Papineau
Univ. of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension 315 Daniel Webster Highway Boscawen, NH 03303 603-796-2151 [email protected]
Sandra M. Rehan
Assistant Professor Department of Biological Sciences Rudman Hall, Room 191 Durham, NH 03824 603-862-5310 [email protected]
Annie S. White
Department of Plant & Soil Science The University of Vermont [email protected]
Appendix C
Northern New England Pollinator Habitat Working Group
~ June Meeting ~ June 23 - 24, 2014
At Woodman Horticultural Research Farm, UNH, Durham
June 5, 2014
Dear Working Group Members,
The time for our first face-to-face meeting of the Northern New England Pollinator Habitat Working Group is near. We will be meeting in Durham, NH on the campus of the University of New Hampshire on Monday, June 23 and Tuesday June 24.
The purpose of this meeting is for group members to become acquainted with each other, learn about our individual areas of expertise and past and current projects in the area of pollinators and pollinator habitat, and to develop a plan of action for meeting our project objectives.
We will meet at UNH’s Woodman Horticultural Farm at 12:30 pm on Monday, June 23rd. Lunch will be provided at the farm. Watch for an email from Cathy Neal with lunch choices.
We will begin by meeting in the farm classroom where group members will each have the opportunity to discuss their connection to pollinators and pollinator habitat, their research and/or projects, and topics of interest and/or concern. A computer and projector will be available for short presentations. It is my hope that through these discussions and presentations, we will all develop a more thorough understanding of the issues surrounding pollinator habitat and the work that is being done to address these issues in northern New England. This is the first step in meeting our objectives of reviewing the current state of knowledge and identifying gaps. The afternoon will also include a tour of the UNH Wildflower Meadow plots where Cathy Neal and Amy Papineau will discuss the research they are doing in this area. We will also see the traps and survey work being done by Sandra Rehan.
Six double rooms have been reserved at the Holiday Inn Express in Durham for the night of June 23. Breakfast is included. If you need a single room, or are bringing a family member, please let us know so we can adjust accordingly. You can check-in in late afternoon, while we prepare for a social picnic dinner back at the Woodman Farm.
We will continue our meeting at Woodman Farm on Tuesday morning from 8:30 a.m. til noon. This time will be dedicated to working group business - developing a plan of action for meeting our project objectives, establishing roles and tasks for group members, and developing an agenda for our August meeting in Winter Harbor, Maine. We will wrap up the meeting at 12:00pm to allow time for return travel.
Please feel free to call or email me with any questions.
I look forward to meeting everyone and getting this project underway!
See you in NH on June 23rd.
Amy Papineau
Amy Papineau UNH Cooperative Extension – Merrimack County Field Specialist – Food & Agriculture 315 Daniel Webster Highway Boscawen, NH 03303 603-796-2151
Northern New England Pollinator Habitat Working Group
~ August Meeting ~ August 13 - 15, 2014
At The Schoodic Institute at Acadia National Park, Winter Harbor, Maine
Agenda (times are approximate)
Wednesday, August 13
1:00 – 2:00 pm Check-in
2:00 pm Meeting begins. Room 114 , Wright Hall
2:30 – 4:30 pm Presentation by guest speaker, Sam Droege, followed by discussion.
Considerations for bee surveys
4:30 – 4:45 pm Snack break
4:45 – 6:00 pm Presentations and research updates by group members
6:00 – 7:00 pm Dinner at Schooner Commons
7:30 – 9:00 pm Wine & Cheese social. Viewing of Dr. Lisa William’s webinar.
Thursday, August 14
6:30 – 8:00 am Breakfast at Schooner Commons
(Continental breakfast served 6:30-7am. Hot breakfast served 7-8am)
8:00 – 10:00 am Presentation and discussion re. neonicotinoids (led by Gary Fish and Lois
Berg-Stack) Wright Hall, room 114
10:00 – 10:15 am Break, gather bag lunches from Schooner Commons
10:15 am – 5 pm Carpool fieldtrip, including stops at Blueberry Hill Farm, Bee Module
Experiment, Pollinator Strip Experiment, The Blueberry Barrens, and
more…
After returning Free time; Dinner at Schooner Commons
(Dinner served 6-7pm)
Friday, August 15
6:30 – 8:30 am Breakfast at Schooner Commons; check-out
8:30 – 10:30 am Presentations by group members. Wright Hall, room 114
10:30 am – 12 pm Sub-group meetings, with time to report back to the group. Wright Hall,
room 114.
12:00 pm Bagged lunch provided at Schooner Commons; Depart
Appendix D
Northern New England Pollinator Habitat Working Group
Social Network Analysis - Draft
Graphics indicate the amount of communication working group members reported having with
other group members near the start of the project period (June 2014) and near the end of the first
project year (February 2015). Increase in the number of connecting lines and changes in color of
lines shows substantial increases in communication among group members since the group’s
inception.
Social Network Analysis performed by Northeastern IPM Center.
