BUMBLE BEE ATLAS

Gardeners can help scientists understand bumble bee populations

- MEGHAN SHINN

IN PARTICIPATORY SCIENCE, people from all walks of life contribute to research projects that build toward a better understanding of the natural world. Usually designed and managed by professional scientists, these programs allow an organization to gather a larger amount of data, perhaps over a bigger area or time period, than would be possible for a small team to collect, and at a lower cost. Meanwhile, participants learn more about the subject at hand, gain experience in the scientific process and put their passions and efforts toward a bigger cause.

In the United States, there are hundreds of participatory-science opportunities, with programs designed to work on a local, regional or national level. Many can be found in the searchable catalog at the website citizenscience.gov. This year in Horticulture we're spotlighting a few widely accessible projects that may be especially interesting and convenient for gardeners.

BUMBLE BEE ATLAS

The Bumble Bee Atlas is a program run by the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation in partnership with several universities plus state and federal agencies. The goal is to track bumble bee populations and observe their habitat, producing data that can inform conservation efforts.