The Great Bee Quest

In September 2020, Cabrillo National Monument—San Diego’s only national park—participated in the  2020 Parks for Pollinators  BioBlitz organized by the National Recreation and Park Association.  Parks for Pollinators  is a national campaign to raise awareness and community involvement in the pollinator crisis through local parks and recreation and like-minded organizations. The association organized events from coast to coast, with 25 states represented from Hawaii to New York. A total of 73 park and recreation agencies participated by promoting the importance of pollinators and habitat to their communities. These groups recorded nearly 23,000 observations, documenting thousands of species of both pollinators and pollinator-supporting plants. Nearly 3,000 people participated in the national BioBlitz to record these findings, and more than 3,000 experts helped identify the findings using the community science platform  iNaturalist . 

It was during this month-long, concentrated, species documentation effort that park naturalist Patricia Simpson made the original discovery of the red-and-black bee with which she was unfamiliar. This observation spurred a community-wide effort to locate and identify the elusive red bee.

Photo Observation: Additional specimen found - this time on coastal goldenbush (Isocoma menziesii). Individual appears to be female and is collecting pollen, which indicates nesting or reproductive behavior.

Entry Date: September 9, 2020

Researcher: Patricia Simpson (iNaturalist:  @patsimpson2000 ), Vegetation Technician – Cabrillo National Monument, San Diego, CA

Photo Observation: After the initial sightings, and Dr. Michael Orr’s and Dr. James Hung's confirmations, community scientists knew they were looking for the unusual red bee from San Clemente Island (Anthophora urbana clementina). Critical to the scientific process, it was important that additional observations and reports be confirmed and collected. 

Entry Date: September 10 & 13, 2020 

Researchers: Tom Barnes (iNaturalist:  @tom_barnes_ ) and Cindy Pencek (iNaturalist:  @carrotpeople ), Community Scientists – Cabrillo National Monument, San Diego, CA

Park scientists knew, for such a small specimen, they wouldn’t be able to locate it again on their own. So, they enlisted the support of local community members through the community science program iNaturalist and student research teams from the nearby community colleges and universities.

The Cabrillo Pollinator Biodiversity Survey trained and supported student interns from underrepresented backgrounds to lead field surveys and collection sampling during the 2020 field season. Armed with their insect nets and specimen collection kits, these students were able to collect data that will inform our understanding of park biodiversity for many years to come. 

“Some of the best discoveries are done through community science. I have always wanted to create an opportunity to combine my passions for studying insect biodiversity with providing underrepresented minority (URM) students a chance to gain research experience in ecology. Inclusion is important because it provides perspectives from individuals with different backgrounds. To critically and creatively think through problems, everyone is able to bring something to the table.”

 _{Researcher: Ashley Kim, Principal Investigator, Cabrillo Pollinator Biodiversity Survey – University of California, San Diego} 

The story of the urbane digger bee from San Clemente is a testament to the power of collaboration between community scientists and professional biologists. Prior to Patricia’s important discovery, she and Dr. Hung had been working with bee biologist Dr. John Ascher to document bee biodiversity throughout San Diego County. Besides having identified the vast majority of iNaturalist bee records from San Diego, Dr. Ascher had also identified most iNaturalist records of the urbane digger bee (of which there are now over 1,000), and virtually all iNaturalist bee records from the California Channel Islands. Through this connection with professional biologists, the community scientists were able to rapidly verify both the identity of the red bee and its unprecedented presence outside of San Clemente Island. This collaboration and the Cabrillo Pollinator Biodiversity Survey will continue over the next few years to continue to understand changes in species richness and abundance. A list of floral species associated with the bees are also being recorded within the park.

Community science offers wonderful opportunities for anyone to learn more about the environment they live in or visit. Everyone can participate at their own pace and every observation made and published is great information that pushes our understanding of these environments forward. Community science is an increasingly vital way for scientists to crowdsource data they need to understand trends in our fast changing landscapes.

For more information about how you can get involved, both in your backyard or in your National Parks, please visit:  https://www.nps.gov/cabr/planyourvisit/pollinatorpalooza.htm 

Photo Observation: September 26th was the final observation made of the species this season, after a bee had been collected for genetic analysis. That was a confirmation that the bee we collected wasn't the only individual present.

Entry Date: September 26, 2020

Researcher:  Patricia Simpson (iNaturalist:  @patsimpson2000 ), Vegetation Technician -- Cabrillo National Monument, San Diego, CA

About the Great Bee Quest’s Naturalists, Scientists, and Artists

  _{Patricia Simpson  is a naturalist and insect enthusiast. Through The Great Basin Institute, she works at Cabrillo National Monument as a Vegetation Technician, where she leads native plant propagation efforts and habitat restoration projects.} 

  _{Dr. James Hung  is an assistant professor at the University of Oklahoma. He has studied native bee diversity and conservation in San Diego's endangered scrub ecosystem, pest control in Ohio's pumpkin farms, and pollination service delivery in Ontario's apple orchards. Current research in his lab includes documenting the native bee species of Oklahoma, examining the impacts of climate change on plant-pollinator mutualisms, and learning the best ways to restore native habitat.}  

  ^{Samantha Wynns  is a AAAS If/Then Ambassador, scientist, and educator at Cabrillo National Monument where she oversees the translation and integration of the park’s scientific programs for the public. Samantha is a fierce advocate for community science and engaging the next generation of park stewards in scientific endeavors.} 

  ^{Ashley Kim  is a graduate student in Ecology, Behavior, and Evolution at the University of California, San Diego. Ashley serves as the Principle Investigator of the Cabrillo Pollinator Biodiversity Survey and oversees student participants in a collaboration between the National Park Service and the San Diego Natural History Museum - called the Cabrillo Biodiversity Internship. Students from local community colleges and state universities, such as Min Han (UC Irvine), participated in this opportunity to survey native bees twice a month from April to the end of September for the 2020 field season.} 

  ^{Michael Ready  is a wildlife photographer based in San Diego, California. His work reveals the hidden diversity of life in the margins, particularly its smaller and lesser-known forms. Michael's compelling visuals have been widely utilized by the  Southern California Research Learning Center  and others to advance conservation objectives, promote science communication, and celebrate the limitless wonder of the natural world. All photos unless otherwise noted  © Michael Ready.} 

  ^{Dr. John Ascher  is an assistant professor at the National University of Singapore. He is a renowned expert in global bee taxonomy, biogeography, and natural history, and has identified more photographs of bees than anyone in the world. Current research in his lab focuses on bee biodiversity, molecular diagnosis, and population genomics; as well as applying data from specimen collections and community science records for solving conservation challenges.} 

Reference: M.C. Orr, K.LJ. Hung, E.E. Wilson Rankin, P.M. Simpson, D. Yanega, and J.S. Ascher. First mainland records of an unusual island bee (Anthophora urbana clementina) highlight the value of community science for adventive species monitoring. Open Science Framework. [Preprint]. 16 June 2021. Available from:  doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/C53TS