U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service U.S. Department of the Interior National Wildlife Refuge System National Protocol Framework for the Inventory and Monitoring of Bees SAM DROEGE JOSEPH ENGLER ELIZABETH SELLERS LEE O’BRIEN ON THE COVER Bumble bee (Bombus sp.) foraging on purple cone flower (Echinacea purpurea) Photograph by: Ryan Hagerty NWRS Survey Protocol Signature Page 1 Version is a decimal number with the number left of decimal place indicating the number of times this protocol has been approved (e.g., first approved version is 1.0.; prior to first approval all versions are 0.x; after first approval, all minor changes are indicated as version 1. x until the second approval and signature, which establishes version 2.0, and so on). 4 Signature by Regional I&M Coordinator signifies approval of a protocol framework to be used at multiple USFWS stations within a Region. 5 Signature by National I&M Coordinator signifies approval of a protocol used at multiple USFWS stations from two or more Regions. i Survey Protocol Summary This national protocol framework is a standardized tool for the inventory and monitoring of the approximately 4,200 species of native and non-native bee species that may be found within the National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS) administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). However, this protocol framework may also be used by other organizations and individuals to monitor bees in any given habitat or location. Our goal is to provide USFWS stations within the NWRS (NWRS stations are land units managed by the USFWS such as national wildlife refuges, national fish hatcheries, wetland management districts, conservation areas, leased lands, etc.) with techniques for developing an initial baseline inventory of what bee species are present on their lands and to provide an inexpensive, simple technique for monitoring bees continuously and for monitoring and evaluating long-term population trends and management impacts. The latter long-term monitoring technique requires a minimal time burden for the individual station, yet can provide a good statistical sample of changing populations that can be investigated at the station, regional, and national levels within the USFWS’ jurisdiction, and compared to other sites within the United States and Canada. This protocol framework was developed in cooperation with the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the USFWS, and a worldwide network of bee researchers who have investigated the techniques and methods for capturing bees and tracking population changes. The protocol framework evolved from field and lab-based investigations at the USGS Bee Inventory and Monitoring Laboratory at the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center in Beltsville, Maryland starting in 2002 and was refined by a large number of USFWS, academic, and state groups. It includes a Protocol Introduction and a set of 8 Standard Operating Procedures or SOPs and adheres to national standards of protocol content and organization. The Protocol Narrative describes the history and need for the protocol framework and summarizes the basic elements of objectives, sampling design, field methods, training, data management, analysis, and reporting. The SOPs provide more detail and specific instructions for implementing the protocol framework. A central database, for managing all the resulting data is under development. We welcome use of this protocol framework by our partners, as appropriate for their bee inventory and monitoring objectives. Suggested citation: Droege, S, JD Engler, E Sellers and LE O’Brien. 2016. U.S. National Protocol Framework for the Inventory and Monitoring of Bees. Inventory and Monitoring, National Wildlife Refuge System, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Fort Collins, Colorado. This protocol is available from the USFWS Service Catalog (ServCat): http://ecos.fws.gov/ServCatFiles/reference/holding/47682 ii Acknowledgments The authors acknowledge the numerous and generous contributions of countless researchers, students, and volunteer citizen scientists throughout the U.S. and other countries to the testing and refinement of the techniques and tools described in this protocol; specifically Jim Labonte, Dave Smith (USFWS), Tracy Zarrillo (Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station), and Zak Gezon (Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory and Dartmouth College). We also acknowledge John Ascher (National University of Singapore), Harold Ikerd (USDA Agricultural Research Service), Gretchen LeBuhn (San Francisco State University, Department of Biology), Jack Neff (Central Texas Melittological Institute), and Karen Wright (University of New Mexico) for their valuable additions to the “Stereo or Dissecting Microscope” section. iii Contents NWRS Survey Protocol Signature Page ...................................................................................... i Survey Protocol Summary ........................................................................................................... ii Acknowledgments ........................................................................................................................ iii List of Figures ................................................................................................................................ v List of Tables ................................................................................................................................. v Narrative ........................................................................................................................................ 1 Element 1: Introduction ........................................................................................................... 1 Background .............................................................................................................................. 1 Objectives ................................................................................................................................ 3 Who Will Use The Protocol Framework? ............................................................................... 4 Element 2: Sampling Design .................................................................................................... 4 Sample design: inventory versus monitoring .......................................................................... 4 Design considerations .............................................................................................................. 5 Sampling units, sample frame, and target universe ................................................................. 8 Sample selection and size ........................................................................................................ 9 Survey timing and schedule ................................................................................................... 10 Sources of error ..................................................................................................................... 11 Element 3: Field Methods and Sample Processing .............................................................. 11 Establishment of sampling units ............................................................................................ 11 Equipment .............................................................................................................................. 12 Data collection procedures (field, lab) .................................................................................. 12 Processing of collected materials .......................................................................................... 12 End-of-season procedures ...................................................................................................... 13 Element 4: Data Management and Analysis ........................................................................ 13 Bee identification ................................................................................................................... 13 Data entry, verification and editing ....................................................................................... 13 Data security and archiving ................................................................................................... 14 Analysis methods ................................................................................................................... 15 Element 5: Reporting .............................................................................................................. 15 Objectives and methods ......................................................................................................... 15 Implications and application ................................................................................................. 15 Reporting schedule ................................................................................................................ 15 Report archiving .................................................................................................................... 16 iv Element 6: Personnel Requirements and Training.............................................................. 16 Roles and responsibilities ...................................................................................................... 16 Qualifications......................................................................................................................... 18 Training ................................................................................................................................