[Pollinator] USGS Developing Statistical Tools To Study Pollinator Interactions with Plants

[Elizabeth A Sellers]

>From the USGS Florida Integrated Science Center Highlights <
http://fisc.er.usgs.gov/usgs/highlights/highlights.html>
USGS Developing Statistical Tools To Study Pollinator Interactions with 
Plants
>From 10-13 December 2009, USGS statistician Bob Dorazio (SESC) is 
participating in a meeting of the Binary Matrices Working Group 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. (Bob Dorazio, 352-392-3081, 
bob_dorazio at usgs.gov)

Cheers, Liz

Elizabeth Sellers
Manager, NBII Pollinators Project <http://pollinators.nbii.gov/>

National Biological Information Infrastructure <www.nbii.gov>
National Program Office
United States Geological Survey
12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, Mail Stop 302
Reston, VA 20192  USA
Ph 703.648.4385 | Fax 703.648.4224 | esellers at usgs.gov
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