Engaging citizen science: bumble bee conservation at the University of Wisconsin—Madison Arboretum

Native pollinator populations are declining in range and size, with serious implications for native plant pollination and reproduction, ecosystem function and human agricultural systems. Public awareness and concern about... [ view full abstract ]

Native pollinator populations are declining in range and size, with serious implications for native plant pollination and reproduction, ecosystem function and human agricultural systems. Public awareness and concern about pollinator decline has increased. The 1200-acre University of Wisconsin-Madison Arboretum supports and fosters native pollinators, providing varied habitats, diverse native plants, nesting sites and insecticide-free areas in an urban setting. Working in the field and in collaboration with the Xerces Society and other experts, we train and mentor citizen scientists who photograph, document and observe native bumble bees throughout Arboretum gardens and restorations. Our collective findings include seasonal patterns, floral resource use, and behavioral observations for 11 bumble bee species present in the Arboretum, including Bombus affinis, the rare rusty-patched bumble bee. This species is now absent from most of its original geographic range and is imperiled. We describe the key role that citizen scientists play in expanding what we know about bumble bee populations, life history, habitat use and ecology. We present successes and challenges in developing and sustaining an evolving citizen science program that both increases understanding and generates new questions. Integrating native plant gardening, ecological restoration, citizen science and community engagement, photography, expert bee identification and tools for sharing regional data yields critical and immediately useful conservation and education practices to apply well beyond the Arboretum.