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.

1) Conduct the training session at Red Butte Garden between November 2021 and April 2022, building and using Rana units for conservation studies 2) Evaluate the training session 3) Require each trainee (or team of two) to submit a short report on a pilot project they performed using their Rana unit to demonstrate competence

Management plans and conservation agreements for federally listed and rare plants often require an assessment of pollinator support in relation to fecundity, as these are critical components of population viability studies that are used in the USFWS Species Status Assessments and ultimately listing decisions. Efforts to restore plant diversity and/or pollinator networks in natural vegetation require knowing which plant species support pollinators with pollen and nectar resources. Both of these kinds of management are specific to a given study area or vegetation type, so Rana can be field-deployment to address these site-specific issues.

not applicable - we will be training on plants in the garden

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.

In the sense this is a training course, it will be "monitored" (evaluated) by the trainees and the instructors.

Dr. Mark O'Neill , Tumbling Dice LTD, Newcastle, United Kingdom Dr. Sarah Barlow, Red Butte Garden and Newcastle University, United Kingdom

not applicable

07/01/2021

06/30/2022

2022

We conducted a three day workshop on the use of automated pollinator monitoring technology ("Rana") for quantifying insect visitation to flowers. A total of five Rana units, along with Rana software, web cameras and power supplies, were given (free of charge) to primary participants. The workshops provided hands-on instruction on how to build and maintain Rana hardware, use Rana software, download video data, edit pollinator "movies" and extract pollinator visitation and identification data.

The Rana workshops were attended by 5 primary participants (those who received Rana hardware, software and power supplies) and 7 secondary participants (who would have access to the technology from the primary participants). In all, 6 government institutions (DNR Utah, Forest Service - Vernal, USDA, National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management and Idaho Department of Fish and Game were represented.

The primary participants have already incorporated Rana into their projects and will hopefully implement its many features for quantifying pollinator behavior in the lab and field.