The Native Bees of the Black Hills
Biodiversity in the Black Hills Ecoregion

Responding to increasing demand for knowledge on native bees as pollinators of natural and cultivated plants, the Severin-McDaniel Insect Research Collection through its Dakota Biodiversity Program began a survey and inventory of the native bees of the Black Hills.  This project has stimulated a multi-institutional and interagency effort to gather, comprehend and use information on the native pollinating insects of the Black Hills Ecoregion.  Through survey, inventory, documentation, vouchering, and publication the BHBP will develop basic biological knowledge on the occurrence, distribution, habitats, host plants, geospatial data, and other ecological attributes of the native pollinators.  This knowledge will be used for database development, for inquiries and detailed research on the existence and extinction of species, and landuse effects and climate-related changes to native pollinator populations and relationships.	Contact the Project
Principal Investigator Dr. Paul J. Johnson Severin-McDaniel Insect Research Collection, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD 57006 Graduate Research Assistant Mr. David Drons Severin-McDaniel Insect Research Collection, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD 57006		Collaborators and Cooperators South Dakota Department of Game, Fish & Parks [Mr. Doug Backlund]; Custer State Park [Mr. Gary Brundige]; U.S. Forest Service, Black Hills National Forest [Ms. Patrice Lynch, Ms. Stefanie Wacker, Mr. Kerry Burns, Mr. Rick Hudson]; Bee Biology and Systematics Laboratory  [Dr. Terry Griswold, Dr. James Strange]; U.S. Geological Survey, Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS)  [Dr. Alisa Gallant]; Charlie Taylor Herbarium, South Dakota State University [Dr. Gary Larson]; Black Hills State University Herbarium  [Dr. Mark Gabel]; Black Hills area Master Gardener's  [Dr. Rhoda Burrows]; Great Plains Native Plant Society [Ms. Cindy Reed]; University of Arkansas, Fayetteville [Dr. Allen Szalanski]; Ms. Lusha Tronstad, Wyoming Natural Diversity Database.
	Native Bee Resources Bee Biology and Systematics Laboratory Xerces Society      Bumblebees in Decline      Pollinators in Natural Areas:  A Primer on Habitat Management North American Pollinator Protection Campaign     Pollinator Partnership U.S. Forest Service Pollinators
Citizen Scientist Collaboration This project depends upon a volunteer effort to provide essential data, specimens, records, and observations on the native bees occurring in urban, suburban, and rural areas of the Black Hills ecoregion.  Volunteers can help collect specimens, monitor species, record flower visitations, and provide insights on the activities of bees that they observe in their gardens, parks, and other areas.  Please contact the Black Hills Bee Project to learn about participation.
		Webpage updated 20 November 2009