Project Details

Current studies of pollinator-plant interactions in conservation and restoration rely on data obtained 1) over short periods of time as compared to the plant's reproductive phenology, 2) at times of the day that are often convenient for the observer, rather than matching the full activity of pollinators or the floral display, 3) by observers whose very presence can impact pollinator visitation rates and behaviors, 4) when multiple insects arrive simultaneously at a plant, overwhelming the observer 5) without a reviewable, permanent record other than a notebook, and 6) with limited or no ability to simultaneously record pollinators on replicate plants or at multiple sites.  Furthermore, the endurance and visual acuity of the observer, as well as the errors introduced by multiple observers, are never assessed. Consequently, our understanding of pollination constraints on plant reproduction that is critical to rare plant conservation, are often statistically weak, incomplete, biased, lacking quality control and artificially limited.  Conservation and restoration decisions based upon these datasets can be fraught with error, unrealistic and easily challenged scientifically (Potts et al. 2016, Barlow and O'Niell 2020).

Rana technology (Tumbling Dice Ltd, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK)  uses programmable, motion-sensitive video to objectively record pollinator visitation and behavior over extended periods of time under field conditions (Barlow et al. 2017; Sarah E. Barlow YouTube channel for examples).  Conventional observation periods last 30-40 hours at best, whereas Rana periods can exceed 1000 hours, 24 hrs/day if necessary, covering the entire duration of the floral display. All visitation events are captured (within the focal field) and time-stamped, eliminating observational error and temporally condensing the observation period by 80-90% and providing a permanent video record that can be reviewed for data quality control. There is no apparent effect of the presence of the unit or camera on pollinator visitation or behavior (including insects, birds and mammals). When multiple units are deployed it is possible to make these objective records simultaneously across multiple replicate plants at a single location or across multiple locations.  In short, Rana can improve studies of pollinator-plant interaction by several orders of magnitude.

The combination of a) large data gaps regarding distribution, abundance and trends of pollinators on the USFWS listing workplan, b) declining pollinator populations nationally that will likely lead to more listing petitions,  and c) tight inter-relationships between some of Utah's listed and sensitive plants and specific pollinators points to the need for more widespread use of Rana Technology in Utah. This technology can provide important answers on both pollinator distribution and abundance for priority pollinator species as well as provide needed details about pollinator interactions with listed and rare plants. This can be critical information for Species Status Assessments, potential conservation needs, and play a part in listing decisions.

The USFWS listing workplan provides states the opportunity to complete some data gathering and conservation efforts for several years for species on the workplan to have useful information on the species and where possible to identify and limit threats, so the status of these species can improve without an ESA listing. It will be important for additional biologists in Utah to learn this technology and use it within their programs when needed as it can help address pollinator data gaps/pollinator concerns for sensitive or ESA listed plants as well as help identify pollinators distribution and habitat use for species on the USFWS listing workplan like the western bumblebee.

We have already deployed Rana technology in Utah for 1) evaluating plant species used to restore pollinator services (Pavlik & Barlow 2016), 2) understanding the pollination of a federally listed plant Astragalus holmgreniorum (Barlow & Pavlik 2017), 3) understanding how native forbs and their pollinators form networks in vegetation that supports Greater Sage Grouse (Barlow & Pavlik 2018), and 4) measuring effects of disturbance on reproductive success for two rare Uinta Basin penstemons currently under a formal Conservation Agreement (Barlow & Pavlik, in prep.).

Given the large number of listed and rare plants in Utah and the need for managing native plants and their pollinator networks, it is imperative that Rana be made more generally available.  The hardware expenses are nominal (<$420/unit) and the software is licensed and supported ($200/yr/unit), well-within costs associated with these kinds of research projects.  We propose to train five Utah biologists (possibly ten in teams of two from the same institution if there is demand), whose research focusses on pollinator-plant interactions, to build, program, operate and extract data from their own Rana unit.  The training will take place with experts from Tumbling Dice Ltd (software developer), University of Newcastle (operations expert) and Red Butte Garden (pollination ecologist) presenting online using the ZOOM platform, with attendees gathered at Red Butte Garden.  It will include an overview on Rana and its applications, sourcing and assembling hardware components (each will assemble their own unit), power supply options (including solar), programming the software to include insect body size, color, and flight speed variables, deployment in the "field" (Red Butte Garden), video conversion, data extraction and archiving.  Each trainee will become thoroughly familiar with the technology and able to incorporate it into their own conservation research.

Provide evidence about the nature of the problem and the need to address it. Identify the significance of the problem using a variety of data sources. For example, if a habitat restoration project is being proposed to benefit greater sage-grouse, describe the existing plant community characteristics that limit habitat value for greater sage-grouse and identify the changes needed for habitat improvement.

Provide an overall goal for the project and then provide clear, specific and measurable objectives (outcomes) to be accomplished by the proposed actions. If possible, tie to one or more of the public benefits UWRI is providing.

LOCATION: Justify the proposed location of this project over other areas, include publicly scrutinized planning/recovery documents that list this area as a priority, remote sensing modeling that show this area is a good candidate for restoration, wildlife migration information and other data that help justify this project's location.

TIMING: Justify why this project should be implemented at this time. For example, Is the project area at risk of crossing an ecological or other threshold wherein future restoration would become more difficult, cost prohibitive, or even impossible.

List management plans where this project will address an objective or strategy in the plan. Describe how the project area overlaps the objective or strategy in the plan and the relevance of the project to the successful implementation of those plans. It is best to provide this information in a list format with the description immediately following the plan objective or strategy.

If applicable, detail how the proposed project will significantly reduce the risk of fuel loading and/or continuity of hazardous fuels including the use of fire-wise species in re-seeding operations. Describe the value of any features being protected by reducing the risk of fire. Values may include; communities at risk, permanent infrastructure, municipal watersheds, campgrounds, critical wildlife habitat, etc. Include the size of the area where fuels are being reduced and the distance from the feature(s) at risk.

Describe how the project has the potential to improve water quality and/or increase water quantity, both over the short and long term. Address run-off, erosion, soil infiltration, and flooding, if applicable.

Description of efforts, both completed and planned, to bring the proposed action into compliance with any and all cultural resource, NEPA, ESA, etc. requirements. If compliance is not required enter "not applicable" and explain why not it is not required.

1) We will solicit for interest in attending a multi-day training session in Rana during fall 2021.  Potential applicants at University of Utah, Utah State University, Weber State University, federal and state agencies and local consulting firms will be thus informed of the session and can send their statement of interest and resumes to Red Butte Garden in advance of funding (that caveat to be made clear).
2) We will select and notify the top five (ten) applicants based upon their academic background, research experience with pollinators and plant reproduction and track record with respect to productivity (i.e. publications, reports, grants) and/or experience with respect to policy, regulation or administration have to do with pollinators.
3)  A two-part Instruction manual was produced in 2021: 1. Technical instructions explaining Rana interface/programming options, wifi connection and data download; power supply etc; 2. Practical field set-up with images and example video links.
4)  We have planned the training session and basically it consists of the following:
      a) Rana overview and examples from our research, introduction to components 
                         (Odroid, voltage regulator, power supply options)
      b) Software tutorial + trouble shooting, each trainee assembles their own Rana unit, 
                         uploads software, tests
      c) Garden deployment to obtain and download video data - each team sets up 	    
                           their unit on different plants to demonstrate to the group how to vary the 
                           camera position depending on plant size/flower morphology/likely visitors/ 
                           aspect & shadow/ aim of study, etc.)
      d)  Data handling and analysis -- sharing videos and building datasets
5)  We will develop a parts and suppliers list for Rana hardware and a user-friendly operation manual for Rana software, as well as a distillation of existing studies that have successfully used Rana for pollinator-plant research.  These will be distributed to the five trainees.
6)  We will order the hardware components, software and tools that trainees need to assemble and operate their units
7)  We will conduct the training session and require that trainees return home with their Rana units and perform a simple pilot project, analyze the data and submit a report in order to register their one-year software license.
8)  We will submit a report to ESMF that includes an evaluation of the training by the trainees, our own evaluation and the five pilot reports.

Describe the actions, activities, tasks to be implemented as part of the proposed project; how these activities will be carried out, equipment to be used, when, and by whom.

Describe plans to monitor for project success and achievement of stated objectives. Include details on type of monitoring (vegetation, wildlife, etc.), schedule, assignments and how the results of these monitoring efforts will be reported and/or uploaded to this project page. If needed, upload detailed plans in the "attachments" section.

List any and all partners (agencies, organizations, NGO's, private landowners) that support the proposal and/or have been contacted and included in the planning and design of the proposed project. Describe efforts to gather input and include these agencies, landowners, permitees, sportsman groups, researchers, etc. that may be interested/affected by the proposed project. Partners do not have to provide funding or in-kind services to a project to be listed.

Detail future methods or techniques (including administrative actions) that will be implemented to help in accomplishing the stated objectives and to insure the long term success/stability of the proposed project. This may include: post-treatment grazing rest and/or management plans/changes, wildlife herd/species management plan changes, ranch plans, conservation easements or other permanent protection plans, resource management plans, forest plans, etc.

Potential for the proposed action to improve quality or quantity of sustainable uses such as grazing, timber harvest, biomass utilization, recreation, etc. Grazing improvements may include actions to improve forage availability and/or distribution of livestock.