WIBEE 2.0: AN INNOVATIVE APP-BASED CITIZEN SCIENCE DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEM FOR CROP POLLINATION

With growing concerns about pollinator declines, fruit and vegetable growers want to know if they can rely on wild bees alone to pollinate their crops. However, we lack sufficient data at the farm-scale to assess this question and there are few tools available for growers to assist them in making pollinator-based decisions on their farms. In this integrated research and extension project, we propose to work with growers and agricultural professionals to develop an innovative pollination management tool that provides crop-specific pollination recommendations, building on the WiBee app, a simple smart-phone enabled tool that allows standardized observations of pollinator visitation to flowers.Our project has three objectives:Refine WiBee-based sampling protocols to accurately estimate bee visitation in apple, cranberry, and squash.Assess the relationship between bee visitation rate and crop pollination in apple, cranberry, and squash.Design, build, test and implement WiBee 2.0 as a pollinator/pollination decision-support system for growers of pollinator-dependent crops.Within Objective 1, we willDevelop crop-specific protocols for bee visitation and flower densityWithin Objective 2, we willMeasure single visit pollen deposition and calculate a pollination indexValidate indices of pollination with crop outcomesWithin Objective 3, we willWork with growers and crop professionals to develop and refine the decision support tool to address needs.Incorporate data/knowledge from Obj. 1 and 2 into the WiBee platformIncorporate pesticide risk information into WiBee 2.0Create and disseminate extension materials to inform pollination management and use of WiBee 2.0Together, this work will create an innovative, science-based tool for growers to inform their pollination management practices. We will work closely with our grower and industry collaborators in three of Wisconsin's principal pollinator-dependent specialty crops to ensure that our final tool is useful and effective. This project will help understand and improve agronomic outcomes, farm management, and pollinator conservation.