Forest Bee - Plant Network Assessment at Great Lakes (GLKN) Parks- MWRO | NPS NOIP17AC01093

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the "Forest Bee - Plant Network Assessment at Great Lakes (GLKN) Parks - MWRO" opportunity?

This is a National Park Service (NPS) cooperative agreement focused on studying how native bees use forest habitats in the Great Lakes region. The project is designed to fill a key knowledge gap, especially about early-spring conditions when floral resources are limited and forests may provide critical support for spring-active bees and long-season species such as bumblebees.

Which federal agency is offering this opportunity?

The opportunity is offered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service (NPS).

What type of funding instrument is being used?

The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, not a standard grant. This means NPS is expected to be actively involved throughout the project.

Why is this project focused on forests instead of meadows and open habitats?

The project is built around the idea that many pollinator restoration efforts have historically emphasized open, meadow-like habitats with summer-blooming plants. Forest habitats provide different resources, and they may be especially important in early spring when fewer flowers are available, as well as for long-season bees that depend on forest resources during key parts of their life cycle.

What main knowledge gaps is the project trying to address?

Two major gaps are highlighted: (1) there are few published studies that clearly identify which forest plants are most important to forest bees, and (2) the effects of deer density on bee communities are not well documented. This project aims to directly measure bee-plant relationships in forest ecosystems and connect results to park management decisions.

Where will the study take place?

The study will be conducted across 4 to 8 National Parks in the Great Lakes region (GLKN parks). Study locations will intentionally span a range of deer densities using NPS data.

How will deer density relate to site selection?

Study sites are intended to cover a range of deer densities (based on NPS information). The project anticipates the findings may support discussion of deer-density impacts, since deer browsing can strongly shape understory plant communities and potentially alter pollinator resources.

What field methods will be used to collect bee data?

Researchers will conduct field sampling by net-collecting bees at each site.

Will the project identify bees to species?

Yes. Collected bee specimens will be curated and identified to the species level.

How will the project determine which plants bees are actually using?

A key feature of the project is pollen analysis. Pollen carried by individual bees will be removed from the scopa (the pollen-carrying structures on a bee) and identified to plant species. This is intended to reveal which specific forest plants bees use, rather than relying only on what is blooming or present in the habitat.

What is the scopa?

The scopa refers to the pollen-carrying structures on a bee. In this project, pollen will be removed from the scopa of individual bees for plant-species identification.

What will be analyzed after field sampling and lab work?

After bee identification and pollen identification are complete, the project will analyze combined bee and pollen data to determine which forest plant species are most relied upon by native bees during the spring season.

What are the expected outputs or deliverables?

The intended outputs are explicitly management-relevant and include: a practical plant list of forest trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants most used by forest bees; identification of key plant species that support bees during early spring when few plants are blooming (a critical bottleneck period); and identification of clusters or groups of pollinator-important plants that bloom at similar times.

How will the results be used by parks?

The project is intended to produce actionable guidance for Great Lakes parks by connecting measured bee-plant relationships to practical management decisions. The findings may also inform discussions related to deer management because browsing pressure can alter understory plant communities and therefore change pollinator resources.

Is the work intended to be publishable research or strictly applied management work?

It is described as both applied and scientific. The intent is to produce actionable guidance for parks while also generating publishable results that expand understanding of forest pollinator ecology and encourage follow-on research.

Who is responsible for carrying out the work under this cooperative agreement?

The recipient listed is Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, under Cooperative Agreement P17AC01093. The recipient is responsible for overseeing project development and implementation, consulting with NPS to set up study sites, conducting bee net-collection, curating and identifying bees to species, removing and identifying pollen to plant species for each individual bee, analyzing results, and delivering analyses and summaries that can inform future management options.

What role will NPS play during the project?

NPS is expected to be actively involved. NPS commits to supporting site selection and study design; sharing relevant information or existing data where available (including deer density information); providing staff expertise to assist with field and analysis work when staffing allows; helping with scheduling, permits, and logistical coordination with parks; offering housing or government vehicle assistance when available; and reviewing and approving reporting to meet NPS technical report standards.

What is the funding opportunity number for this listing?

The funding opportunity number is NPS NOIP17AC01093.

What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity is associated with CFDA 15.945.

What categories does this opportunity fall under?

It falls under agriculture, environment, natural resources, and research and development categories.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is limited to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education.

What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?

The award ceiling listed is $150,000.

How many awards are expected?

The opportunity indicates an expectation of one award.

When was the opportunity originally posted and when did it close?

The original posting date was July 27, 2017, and the original closing date was August 14, 2017.

What makes this project "management-relevant" rather than purely descriptive?

The project is designed to directly measure bee-plant relationships in forest ecosystems and translate those findings into practical outputs like plant lists and bloom-time groupings. These outputs are intended to help parks make decisions about managing or supporting forest pollinator resources, including during early spring bottleneck periods.

Does the project look only at what plants are present and blooming?

No. While the study occurs in forest ecosystems and considers the spring period, the project emphasizes identifying the specific plants bees use by identifying pollen carried by individual bees to plant species, rather than relying only on observations of what is blooming or present.

Will the project include trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants?

Yes. One of the intended outputs is a practical plant list covering forest trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants most used by forest bees.

Is early spring a specific focus of the study?

Yes. The project highlights early spring as a time when floral resources are limited and when forest resources may be especially important to native bees.