Episode 029 - What are Pollinators?

Why conserving pollinators helps preserve not just our agricultural lands, but our National Parks as well. An interview with Dr. Sarah Whipple. In this episode, I chat with my friend and colleague, Dr. Sarah Whipple to discuss her pollinator passions! We discuss her plethora of adventures and studies in National Parks across the country and take a deep dive into her approach to assessing pollinator health in the wake of climate change. We cover some pollinator 101, by discussing what is a pollinator and their ecosystem services? What are the differences between indicator and keystone species? We chat about bees, butterflies, beetles, oh my! (also birds, bats, and even bison as pollinators!) Dr. Whipple and I weigh the pros and cons of managed bees, colony collapse disorder and the growing threat towards other native pollinators. We'll meander through the distinction of managed vs. protected lands and conclude with her PhD research in Yellowstone assessing the  pros and cons of climate change on protected areas in respect to pollinators.  You can find and connect with her here:Twitter: @sarahwhipple15Tiktok: @NPSbuggirl