IABIN Pollinator Thematic Network: Overview Washington, DC 28 October 2008 Michael Ruggiero Smithsonian Institution, USA

IABIN PTN Partners Coevolution Institute University of Sao Paulo Integrated Taxonomic Information System National Biological Information Infrastructure (NBII)

IABIN PTN Architecture

IABIN PTN Vision A Pollinators Thematic Network for the Americas which will facilitate integration of information about pollinators in an efficient retrieval system

Information Needs Assessment INFORMATION NEEDS ASSESSMENT

Content Scientific and common names Experts Specimens and observations Pollinator-plant relationships Literature

Scientific and Common Names

Checklists of Bees and other Pollinating Species: –Bees, Bats, and Birds Complete –Flies, beetles, others underway

Experts Database

Specimens and Collections 82 Major collections of bee specimens for the Americas –32 in South America –30 in North America –2 in Central America –18 in Europe 2.8 Million bee specimens in the Americas –0.8 Million databased –2.0 Million not databased

Specimens and Collections IABIN Content Grants –Brazil –Colombia –Peru –+ 5 (Round 2) GBIF Grants –York University (Canada) –CRIA (Brazil) –USU - Logan (US) –UC - Riverside (US)

Specimens and Collections

Specimens and Observations Portal

Plant-Pollinator Relationships

Literature Catalogue of Hymenoptera in America North of Mexico Catalogue of Bees in the Neotropical Region

Next Content Grants: Round 3 Training

Sustainability of PTN PTN needs IABIN in order to have a political framework and for coordination of certain issues. PTN needs a new central focus, e.g., a regional role in a Global Pollinator Assessment. PTN needs a new name (Pollinator Information Network of the Americas) for marketing purposes and a marketing strategy (like NAPPC). PTN needs to determine its appropriate sustainability level commensurate with support.

Vulnerability of Agricultural Exports in OAS Member States to Loss of Pollinators Not an OAS State % Pollinator Dependent % Pollinator Dependent >10 % Pollinator Dependent >50 % Pollinator Dependent Total Agricultural Exports (2005) = $172 Billion

50 – 74% % < 25% >75% IMPORTANCE OF POLLINATORS TO U.S. AGRICULTURAL CROPS: VALUE OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION (2007)

Marketing - Outreach Academic Associations Natural History Museums Foundations Ecological Societies Government EMBRAPA Coffee Growers Associations Association of Coffee (Peru) Bee Researchers Plant Enthusiasts (e.g. orchid societies) Conservation Organization APACAME – Association of Apiculture Association of Apiculture in Peru Brazilian Oil Company (Petrobras) Conservation Commons IUCN Country Committees UN Organizations

Sustainability Levels and Costs LEVEL OF SUPPORTIIIIIIIVV Maintenance Level XXXXX Host and Maintain Internal Interactions XXXX Interface with Other Providers XXXX Code Updates and Content Facilitation (Automatic) XXXX Data Quality Checks XXX Marketing/Training for Content Input XXX Marketing/Training for Users XX Automatic Harvest & Updates of Content X Develop Collateral Products and Tools X ESTIMATED COST ?????

THANK YOU

SWOT Analysis Strengths –Community of pollinator experts –Infrastructure –Unique Content (Assessment defined) –Partnership (national, regional, local) –Importance/urgency of issue (food security, political stability, conservation)

SWOT Analysis Weaknesses –Time zones –Late start/playing catchup –Name (need to change)

SWOT Analysis Opportunities –Part of Global Pollinator Assessment –Link to other major programs, e.g., food security, trade, etc. –Use data for new applications –Regional strategies, mapping applications

SWOT Analysis Threats –Funding –Incomplete involvement of member States –Communication –“Red tape”