Budburst Nativars
Budburst Nativars
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Data collected from the Budburst Nativars Campaign (2018-2021) will help understand the health of the pollinator relationship with various “nativars.”
Data collected from the Budburst Nativars Campaign (2018-2021) will help understand the health of the pollinator relationship with various “nativars.”
"Nativars" are native plants (plants that have been a part of the ecosystem for hundreds or more years) that we breed to survive tougher conditions or produce more flowers.
"Nativars" are native plants (plants that have been a part of the ecosystem for hundreds or more years) that we breed to survive tougher conditions or produce more flowers.
Goals of Budburst Nativars Research:
Goals of Budburst Nativars Research:
- Investigate the flower preferences of native bees, butterflies, and other pollinators.
- Learn if pollinators visit/prefer nativars.
- Monitor pollinator visits to each flower
Why should you care?
Why should you care?
Pollinators are essential for life!
Pollinators are essential for life!
Pollinators are organisms that transport pollen from plant to plant, as they feed on nectar.
Pollinators are organisms that transport pollen from plant to plant, as they feed on nectar.
Pollination is necessary for plant reproduction and ensures that new plants will grow.
Pollination is necessary for plant reproduction and ensures that new plants will grow.
Bees, wasps, beetles, butterflies, moths, birds, bats, and other animals can act as pollinators.
Pollinators allow for the production of ALL plant-based food through pollinating flowers!
Pollinators allow for the production of ALL plant-based food through pollinating flowers!
Climate change, pollution, deforestation, and invasive species have disrupted the lives of pollinators.
Climate change, pollution, deforestation, and invasive species have disrupted the lives of pollinators.
Bees are one of the most well known pollinators. They have been dying off in large numbers due to Colony Collapse Disorder.
Bees are one of the most well known pollinators. They have been dying off in large numbers due to Colony Collapse Disorder.
Bees and other pollinators are responsible for pollinating 1/3 of all the food you eat!
Bees and other pollinators are responsible for pollinating 1/3 of all the food you eat!
Did you know?
Did you know?
75% of the world's flowering plants and about 35% of the world's food crops depend on animal pollinators to reproduce!
75% of the world's flowering plants and about 35% of the world's food crops depend on animal pollinators to reproduce!
Natives and Nativars
Natives and Nativars
Native plants are plants that have been growing in one place for thousands of years and is part of a healthy ecosystem.
Native plants are plants that have been growing in one place for thousands of years and is part of a healthy ecosystem.
Nativars are cultivated by selective breeding, meaning they are grown in gardens and often different from their wild cousin.
Nativars are cultivated by selective breeding, meaning they are grown in gardens and often different from their wild cousin.
Color, scent, blooming time, and size of flowers are very important to pollinators.
Color, scent, blooming time, and size of flowers are very important to pollinators.
This means that nativars might be more, or less, attractive to pollinators than the wild species!
This means that nativars might be more, or less, attractive to pollinators than the wild species!
Northwest Indiana Spring Budburst Nativars
Northwest Indiana Spring Budburst Nativars
These are the two nativars you would observe in this project.
These are the two nativars you would observe in this project.
Red Columbine
Foxglove Beardtongue
Who Runs Budburst Nativars?
Who Runs Budburst Nativars?
Budburst citizen scientists work together making careful observations of the timing of plant life cycle events.
Budburst citizen scientists work together making careful observations of the timing of plant life cycle events.
The Nativars Campaign is a subproject that researches how nativars differ from one another and from their parent species in seasonal changes and pollinator attractiveness.
The Nativars Campaign is a subproject that researches how nativars differ from one another and from their parent species in seasonal changes and pollinator attractiveness.
How Do I Participate?
How Do I Participate?
Students will plant red columbine and foxglove beardtongue. They must grow the plant and observe the pollinators visiting their blooming nativars.
Students will plant red columbine and foxglove beardtongue. They must grow the plant and observe the pollinators visiting their blooming nativars.
Data collection is the same whether you are observing plants in your backyard or at a partner institution.
Data collection is the same whether you are observing plants in your backyard or at a partner institution.
You will need:
You will need:
Data sheet and writing implement OR mobile device
Data sheet and writing implement OR mobile device
Timing device (e.g. wristwatch, phone, etc.)
Timing device (e.g. wristwatch, phone, etc.)
Measuring device
Measuring device
Approximation of the temperature (e.g. phone weather app, outdoor thermometer, etc.)
Approximation of the temperature (e.g. phone weather app, outdoor thermometer, etc.)
What do you do?
What do you do?
~Measure the flowers on your plant.
~Measure the flowers on your plant.
~Sit still about 5 feet away from the plant.
~Sit still about 5 feet away from the plant.
~Record what pollinator bugs visit your flower
~Record what pollinator bugs visit your flower
~You will need to identify the type of pollinator, but we have digital guides to help.
~You will need to identify the type of pollinator, but we have digital guides to help.
~Record how many times the pollinators visit each flower.
~Record how many times the pollinators visit each flower.
You must record pollinator visits for ten minutes for each plant survey, but there is no frequency requirement.
You must record pollinator visits for ten minutes for each plant survey, but there is no frequency requirement.
How is my data used?
How is my data used?
The data can help to learn more about the preferences of local pollinators, so hopefully we can help to save their populations.
The data can help to learn more about the preferences of local pollinators, so hopefully we can help to save their populations.
Budburst data are freely available for anyone to download and use and have been used by scientists, horticulturists, and educators in the Budburst network to address current research questions. Visit the Publications page for examples of research that includes Budburst data.
Budburst data are freely available for anyone to download and use and have been used by scientists, horticulturists, and educators in the Budburst network to address current research questions. Visit the Publications page for examples of research that includes Budburst data.
Project Perks
Project Perks
Budburst Nativars gives you the opportunity to tend to flowers outside.
Budburst Nativars gives you the opportunity to tend to flowers outside.
This project gives vital data to scientists that are helping study the relationship between pollinators and plants.
This project gives vital data to scientists that are helping study the relationship between pollinators and plants.
You will observe bees and other pollinators at a comfortable distance.
Data can be entered easily-even on a smartphone.
You will observe bees and other pollinators at a comfortable distance.
Data can be entered easily-even on a smartphone.
Fast Notes
Fast Notes
- Many different species of pollinators can be seen in Northwest Indiana.
- Climate change, pollution, deforestation, and invasive species have disrupted the lives of pollinators.
- The Nativars Campaign is a subproject that researches how nativars appeal to pollinator.
- Students will need to grow red columbine or foxglove beardtongue plants. They must observe the pollinators visiting these blooming nativars.
- Ten minutes for each plant survey, but no frequency requirement.
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