Landscape Ecology of Insects
Hard work by lab post-doc Christina Locke has paid off – the State of Wisconsin Pollinator Protection is complete! This collaborative effort, spearheaded by DATCP and the Gratton lab (Christina and Claudio), suggests best practices for managing for pollinators across the state of Wisconsin. See the Universtiy of Wisconsin feature on this plan, here!
Post by Christina Locke and Claudio Gratton We are often asked about neonicotinoid pesticides, or “neonics”, and their effects on bees. Neonics are the most widely used insecticides globally, and are in the news a lot these days due to concerns about their effects on birds, fish and beneficial insects including pollinators. Some countries, states …
Kiley and Jade are headed off to Virginia for the summer! In partnership with GLBRC, Pheasants Forever, and FDC Enterprises, they are examining how different types of pollinator strips planted along margins of switchgrass fields (e.g., high floral diversity (like the one pictured), low floral diversity, and no strips) influence pollinator communities and pollination services. …
A nice article from our labmate Kaitlin Stack Whitney in the American Scientist about some common misconceptions people have about pollinator health, declines, and conservation. http://www.americanscientist.org/blog/pub/6-misconceptions-about-saving-the-bees
There is good reason to be concerned about reports of worldwide pollinator decline. We owe gratitude to flower-loving birds, bats and bees every time we give a bouquet to a loved one, take a sip of orange juice, or put ketchup and mustard on our hamburgers. The plants that produce most of our favorite flowers, …