@usgs

It's Pollinator Week! Did you know when a pollinator such as a bee visits a flower, it may leave evidence of the visit behind in the form of environmental DNA, or eDNA? As living or dead organisms interact with their environment, they release eDNA through shed skin or hair, excretions like saliva, or even body parts. Sampling the environment for eDNA and sequencing it can help researchers determine what organisms have used that area without having to observe the organisms themselves. USGS scientists are using funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to test a new approach of detecting pollinators from eDNA extracted from flowers. The results of this study will help researchers better understand which plants best support pollinators and provide information to managers on which native seeds to use for restoration efforts. Learn more here: http://ow.ly/kzrK50JFSz4 (link also in bio) Image shows a Bombyliidae fly or bee fly, a species that imitates bees pollinating a flower. Image credit: Scott Horvath, USGS #USGS #science #pollinatorweek #pollinators #bees #eDNA