<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif">From the USGS Florida Integrated Science
Center Highlights <</font><a href=http://fisc.er.usgs.gov/usgs/highlights/highlights.html><font size=2 face="sans-serif">http://fisc.er.usgs.gov/usgs/highlights/highlights.html</font></a><font size=2 face="sans-serif">></font>
<br><font size=4><b>USGS Developing Statistical Tools To Study Pollinator
Interactions with Plants</b></font>
<p><font size=3>From 10-13 December 2009, USGS statistician <b>Bob Dorazio</b>
(SESC) is participating in a meeting of the </font><a href=http://www.nimbios.org/workinggroups/WG_binary_matrices.html><font size=3 color=blue><u>Binary
Matrices Working Group</u></font></a><font size=3> at the University of
Tennessee. Sponsored by the National Institute for Mathematical and Biological
Synthesis (NIMBioS), the meeting will focus on developing a statistical
framework that can help overcome the current statistical constraints and
challenges of analyzing pollinator networks. Dorazio’s research will address
methods for overcoming the shortcomings of current statistical tools, which
do not account for the ecological traits of pollinators. For example, the
timing of the pollinator visit must occur while a plant is in bloom (a
challenge in statistically defining the probability of pollination events)
and consider highly complex pollinator networks and food webs. Analysis
ideally should also factor in genetics of pollinators, which tend to evolve
over short time periods in conjunction with local plants, and account for
the specific sampling procedures that are being used to gather data.</font><font size=2>
<i>(Bob Dorazio, 352-392-3081, bob_dorazio@usgs.gov)</i></font>
<br>
<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif">Cheers, Liz<br>
<br>
Elizabeth Sellers</font>
<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif">Manager, NBII Pollinators Project <</font><a href=http://pollinators.nbii.gov/><font size=2 face="sans-serif">http://pollinators.nbii.gov/</font></a><font size=2 face="sans-serif">><br>
<br>
National Biological Information Infrastructure <</font><a href=www.nbii.gov><font size=2 face="sans-serif">www.nbii.gov</font></a><font size=2 face="sans-serif">><br>
National Program Office<br>
United States Geological Survey<br>
12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, Mail Stop 302<br>
Reston, VA 20192 USA<br>
Ph 703.648.4385 | Fax 703.648.4224 | esellers@usgs.gov</font>