Projects

Fragmentation of Palouse Prairie

Invertebrate Ecology (IE) is involved in a multiyear study with the University of Idaho, USDA-Agricultural Research Service, and local conservation groups concerning habitat fragmentation effects on pollinators and pollinator-plant interactions in Palouse Prairie. The Palouse Prairie is an endangered ecosystem with less than 1.0% of the original prairie remaining (http://palouseprairie.org/).

Remnant patches of Palouse Prairie are remarkably diverse, providing habitat for rare plant species (e.g. spalding’s catchfly, Jessica’s aster, Palouse thistle, Palouse milkvetch, Palouse goldenweed, etc.), amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals and many invertebrate species (http://palouseprairie.org/ppfdb.html). In Phase I of this project, IE is working with its partners to survey the bee fauna of five prairie remants. Thus far approximately 10,000 bees comprised of 18 genera, five families and 61 species have been identified. Of the Apidae species captured, approximately 500 are bumble bees comprised of 12 species. More information from this important study will be forthcoming. In Phase II, IE will work with partners to elucidate specific plant-pollinator interactions.

Bibliography of Insect-related Studies

Invertebrate Ecology (IE) continues to provide pro bono assistance to non-profit organizations working to conserve rare or endangered ecosystems on the Palouse. To this end, IE prepared for the Palouse Prairie Foundation a 19-page bibliography of insect-related studies in prairie ecosystems including Palouse Prairie. The bibliography is posted on the Palouse Prairie Foundation’s website at the following link: http://palouseprairie.org/literature/