Over the past few decades, bees and other critical pollinator species have been experiencing a rapid decline in population. Natural ecosystems depend on these critters to pollinate roughly 85% of flowering species, which in turn provide habitat and nourishment for other wildlife. By gathering pollen and nectar from hundreds of flowers, pollinator species like bumble bees, mason bees, hummingbirds, butterflies, and moths help diversify ecological communities and cultivate the lush landscapes that surround our built environments.
BLA Student Daniella Slowik received funding from the Campus Sustainability Fund to pursue this project investigating pollinators on UW Campus. You can learn more about the project by viewing Dani’s presentation from the Mary Gates Leadership event in Spring 2021.