Biology subjects

Goodell, K.

Publications and source records attributed to Goodell, K..

5 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2025

Sensitive and easily democratized environmental DNA methods for low-risk surveillance of at-risk bumble bees

Terrestrial environmental DNA (eDNA) techniques have been proposed as a means of sensitive, non-lethal pollinator monitoring. To date, however, no studies have provided evidence that eDNA methods can achieve detection densities on par with traditional pollinator surveys. Using a large-scale dataset of eDNA and corresponding net surveys, we show that eDNA methods enable sensitive, species-level characterization of whole bumble bee communities, including rare and critically endangered species such as the rusty pathed bumble bee (RPBB; Bombus affinis). All species present in netting surveys were detected within eDNA surveys, apart from two rare species in the socially parasitic subgenus Psithyrus (cuckoo bumble bees). Further, for rare non-parasitic species, eDNA methods exhibited similar sensitivity relative to traditional netting. Relative to flower eDNA samples, sequenced field negative controls resulted in significantly lower rates of Bombus detection, and these detections were likely attributable to high rates of background eDNA on environmental surfaces. Lastly, we found that eDNA-based frequency of detection across replicate surveys was strongly associated with net-based measures of abundance across site visits. We conclude that the method is cost-effective and highly scalable for semi-quantitative characterization of at-risk bumble bee communities, providing a new approach for improving our understanding of species habitat associations.

ecology↗

bioRxiv2025

Soil sanctuaries: Experimental manipulations enhance ground-nesting bee habitat across an urban gradient

O_LIAs evidence of pollinator declines mounts, effective conservation strategies are urgently needed. Current methods focus on planting flowers and frequently overlook nesting habitats, especially for ground nesting bees, which comprise most species. Despite their prevalence, ground-nesting bee habitats remain poorly understood. The lack of evidence-based methods to enhance nesting habitat presents a significant challenge, particularly in environments with limited natural nesting sites, such as urban landscapes. C_LIO_LITo determine whether soil manipulations enhance bee colonization rates, we constructed experimental nesting plots at 21 sites along an urban gradient and implemented five soil surface treatments: bare ground, leaf litter, mounded soil, pebbles, and unmanipulated controls. We collected nesting individuals from experimental plots through observation and emergence traps to investigate preferences for soil surface substrates, and the impact of plot-level and site-level conditions on colonization. C_LIO_LIManipulated treatments significantly increased colonization compared to controls and revealed genus-specific preferences. Treatments also resulted in differences in environmental conditions including temperature, moisture, and soil compaction. C_LIO_LISite-level conditions including slope and urbanization increased colonization while hard soil compaction and bare ground decreased colonization success. Urban and highly vegetated sites were more frequently colonized by ground nesting bees, indicating that our manipulations successfully attracted nest-searching females and may have alleviated limited nesting opportunities. C_LIO_LIPolicy Implications: Simple soil surface manipulations, or soil sanctuaries, represent a practical tool to enhance an essential component of bee habitat and provide a safe nesting location that can improve conservation outcomes for ground-nesting bees across diverse environments. Incorporating ground-nesting bee habitat enhancements into urban planning and land management policies could address habitat limitations for many species. Conservation strategies should prioritize the inclusion of nesting features alongside floral resources to create comprehensive pollinator-supportive landscapes, benefiting both biodiversity and critical ecosystem services. C_LI

ecology↗

bioRxiv2025

Scalable environmental DNA methods reveal associations between landscape-scale forest habitat and insect richness

O_LIWhile aquatic environmental DNA (eDNA) methods have reached relative maturity, terrestrial eDNA methods are nascent and have yet to reach widespread use. Field-ready applications require eDNA survey methods where samples are easy to collect by inexperienced practitioners, easy to transport between the field and lab, and easy to process thereafter. Here, we demonstrate methods that satisfy these requirements and show strong potential for characterizing diverse terrestrial eDNA samples collected from flower and leaf surfaces. C_LIO_LIWe used novel methods to collect and process 236 flower eDNA samples and 21 leaf surface eDNA samples, obtaining 2,228 Arthropoda eDNA detections spanning 175 families using amplicon sequencing of two genetic markers. C_LIO_LIDetected taxa were diverse and included numerous groups of conservation concern, such as bees (Hymenoptera; Anthophila, 32 genera spanning 5 families) and Lepidoptera (209 genera from 21 families). Data reveal strong associations between insect community richness and remotely sensed measures of forest habitat, providing a quantitative perspective of relevance to insect conservation. C_LIO_LIIt is increasingly clear that a variety of organisms readily disperse eDNA throughout the environment, supporting the notion that eDNA will be a powerful tool for characterizing species distributions and monitoring at-risk species. However, we conclude that researchers seeking to characterize fine-scale habitat associations or plant-pollinator interactions using eDNA will need to carefully design studies with appropriate field controls, such as the leaf surface eDNA samples collected here. C_LI

ecology↗

bioRxiv2024

Short-term persistence of foliar insecticides and fungicides in pumpkin plants and their pollinators

To minimize the risk to bees and other beneficial insects, plant protection chemicals are typically applied to pollinator-dependent crop plants when flowers are absent or unopened. However, this approach does not entirely remove the risk of pollinator exposure. Much research has focused on negative effects of systemic insecticides (e.g., seed treatments) on pollinators, but less is known about the level of hazard posed by translocation of non-systemic foliar-applied pesticides to pollen and nectar that bees consume. In this study we assess the frequency and persistence of six foliar-applied pesticides in pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo) tissues and in their bee visitors. We analyzed residues of three insecticides (carbaryl, lambda-cyhalothrin, permethrin) and three fungicides (chlorothalonil, quinoxyfen, triflumizole) in pumpkin leaves, pollen, and nectar collected from five farms in the north-central USA, one day before a spray event, and one, three, and seven days after. Bees foraging on pumpkin flowers were collected one day before and one day after spray and screened for the same pesticides. Overall, insecticides were present in 56% of leaf samples. Compared to leaves, fewer pollen (insecticide detected in 16%, fungicide in 16%) and nectar samples (14%, 0%) contained pesticides. We detected one insecticide (carbaryl) in two out of 69 samples of foraging bees, and only in male squash bees (not in bumble or honey bees), which have life history traits that bring them into prolonged close contact with the sprayed crop plants. The persistence of some agrochemicals in leaves, pollen, and nectar up to a week following application merits consideration when managing pollinator-dependent crops. Even pesticides that are traditionally considered contact-based and applied when flowers are unopened can reach pollen and nectar and produce measurable risk to bees.

ecology↗

bioRxiv2023

Montane Central Appalachian Forests Provide Refuge for the Critically Endangered Rusty Patched Bumble Bee (Bombus affinis)

The mountains of Central Appalachia are rich with environmental variance and host a wide variety of community types and diverse flora and fauna. The once common Rusty-Patched Bumble Bee (RPBB, Bombus affinis) has experienced widespread declines and was believed to have been extirpated throughout the Lower Midwest, Northeast and Appalachian regions of the United States (U.S.). We document the occurrence and environmental associations of a contemporary population within Central Appalachia using a dataset of 274 observations spanning nine years and over 2,000 surveys. We show that Appalachian RPBB are strongly associated with high elevation, heavily forested landscapes, especially those with West to Northwest facing aspects. Measures of forest species composition are also associated with RPBB observations. While only 38 percent of surveys occurred on U.S. National Forest lands, 84 percent of observations occurred in these areas, suggesting distinct forest habitat conditions associated with U.S. Forest Service lands play a role in the persistence of this species. The Appalachian region is rugged and difficult to systematically survey, and our analysis represents the first assessment of the species presence and habitat associations within the region. Appalachian RPBB populations are likely geographically and genetically isolated from Upper Midwest populations and additional research is needed to prioritize future conservation efforts across the current and potential range of the species.

ecology↗