[PCA] Pollinator Week and the National Seed Strategy

[Peter Bernhardt]

As it is Pollinator Week some members might be interested in taking a deeper look at what pollinates some of our native wildflowers. The two papers attached should be seen as contrasts. One paper compares pollination of an early-blooming onion-like bulb compared to an autumn-flowering onion-like bulb. Both species are regionally common here in Missouri, especially in limestone glades. What do these two species also have in common as they don't bloom at the same time?

In contrast, Veratrum virginicum is not doing well over its range based on herbarium records. The literature suggests it has been gradually declining for more than a century. Considering the low seed set do you think its current pollinators are doing a good job? Is it possible there's something in its nectar that isn't good for larger bees? It does belong to a family (Melanthiaceae) with a dark history of causing introduced honeybees to sicken.

Peter

________________________________
From: native-plants <native-plants-bounces at lists.plantconservation.org> on behalf of Carr, Amanda (Mandie) N <ancarr at blm.gov>
Sent: Friday, June 25, 2021 1:06 PM
To: PCA Listserve <native-plants at lists.plantconservation.org>; rwg at lists.plantconservation.org <rwg at lists.plantconservation.org>; apwg at lists.plantconservation.org <apwg at lists.plantconservation.org>
Subject: [External] [PCA] Pollinator Week and the National Seed Strategy


Happy Pollinator Week, everyone!



The National Seed Strategy supports pollinators by developing seed for the restoration of native plant communities pollinators depend on. Between 2015 and 2020, more than 90 National Seed Strategy projects collected native seed, produced native plants, or restored native plant communities for pollinators! Read more about the National Seed Strategy and how it supports pollinators at https://www.blm.gov/seedstrategy<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.blm.gov/seedstrategy__;!!K543PA!bYCbNaqVo-q6tXa4MMNu9FwYlnuR2eElQmsqGp_qZSWwcc10PIFyNv4n43rg1hDO9blR$>. You can also download the National Seed Strategy directly here: https://www.blm.gov/sites/blm.gov/files/docs/2020-12/NationalSeedStrategy_2015-2020.pdf<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.blm.gov/sites/blm.gov/files/docs/2020-12/NationalSeedStrategy_2015-2020.pdf__;!!K543PA!bYCbNaqVo-q6tXa4MMNu9FwYlnuR2eElQmsqGp_qZSWwcc10PIFyNv4n43rg1pHeFgOJ$>



The goals and objectives of the National Seed Strategy are based on scientific evidence that local adaptation is important for restoring plant communities, and recent research suggests that native plants are not one-size-fits-all when it comes to pollinators either. In fact, the provenance (geographic origin) of plants is extremely important for pollinators! In a study by Bucharova et al. (2021), scientists found that the number and diversity of plant-pollinator interactions was as much as two-times higher depending on the source of the plants. You can read the full paper here: https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/share/REV9ZNHKYPFSH6GYSTKB?target=10.1111/1365-2664.13866<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/share/REV9ZNHKYPFSH6GYSTKB?target=10.1111*1365-2664.13866*20__;LyU!!K543PA!bYCbNaqVo-q6tXa4MMNu9FwYlnuR2eElQmsqGp_qZSWwcc10PIFyNv4n43rg1nZhi6Hl$>



Big thanks to all our Plant Conservation Alliance partners for all you do for pollinators!





--

Amanda (Mandie) Carr

Coordinator of Botanical Communication and Outreach

Bureau of Land Management (Contractor)

1387 S Vinnell Way | Boise, ID 83709
Cell (727) 409-4942

Pronouns: she/her/hers



Native Plant Material Development<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.blm.gov/programs/natural-resources/native-plant-communities/native-seed-and-plant-material-development__;!!K543PA!bYCbNaqVo-q6tXa4MMNu9FwYlnuR2eElQmsqGp_qZSWwcc10PIFyNv4n43rg1mTbX2AQ$>

National Seed Strategy for Rehabilitation and Restoration<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.blm.gov/programs/natural-resources/native-plant-communities/national-seed-strategy__;!!K543PA!bYCbNaqVo-q6tXa4MMNu9FwYlnuR2eElQmsqGp_qZSWwcc10PIFyNv4n43rg1madMvaL$>

Plant Conservation Alliance<https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.plantconservationalliance.org/__;!!K543PA!bYCbNaqVo-q6tXa4MMNu9FwYlnuR2eElQmsqGp_qZSWwcc10PIFyNv4n43rg1rThPAOZ$>


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