The conservation of pollinating species.

Pollinating animals are critically important to the maintenance of virtually all terrestrial ecosystems, yet the population status of most pollinating species often goes unnoticed. Butterflies, moths, bats, birds, bees, beetles, flies, ants, and wasps assist almost all flowering plants in their reproduction, helping them to develop the seeds, foliage, nuts. and fruits that ensure the survival of innumerable wildlife and human populations worldwide. Sadly, many pollinator populations are declining precipitously around the world.

In 1999, scientists and natural resource managers concerned with pollinator conservation founded the North American Pollinator Protection Campaign (NAPPC), administered by the Coevolution Institute to promote the health of resident and migratory pollinating animals. NAPPC has grown to become a partnership of more than 100 organizations, ranging from universities and environmental groups to utility- companies, zoos, and government agencies throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico (http://www. nappc.org/partners2005.html). The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Coevolution Institute, giving the Endangered Species Program access to NAPPC's tri-national network of experts in pollination biology.

Prompted by a NAPPC initiative, the National Academy of Sciences (http:// www.nationalacademies.org) is undertaking a study of the status of pollinating species in North America, the results of which should illuminate some of the most important species of concern.

It is unknown exactly how many federally listed animal species are pollinators, or how many federally listed plant species depend on rare pollinators for reproduction. What we do know is provided in the table. In addition to the federally listed species, there are others that may be of concern. For example, the Xerces Society maintains a Red List of Pollinators (http://www.xerces. org/Pollinator_Red_List_/index.htm) that describes the pollinating butterflies, moths, and bees in need of conservation attention in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. The society identifies 35 additional butterflies, and 58 bees, nearly half of which are Hylaeus species in Hawaii that either need additional study or may need additional conservation measures.

Endangered species biologists can become involved with NAPPC pollinator conservation by:

* Considering plant-pollinator relationships. Management efforts to restore healthy populations of an endangered flowering plant must also consider the animal pollinators that may assist in its reproduction. Likewise, endangered and threatened species of pollinators may have coevolved with a distinct species of flowering host plant.

* Working with NAPPC scientists to plan pollinator conservation projects throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

* Creating pollinator habitats using "Pollinator Friendly Practices" guidelines, a joint project of NAPPC and the Wildlife Habitat Council. The guidelines are available online at: http://www.nappc.org. They focus attention on foraging, nesting, and reproductive requirements of pollinating species.

* Learning more about NAPPC activities at www.coevolution.org and www. nappc.org. To receive links to news articles and publications or to ask collaborating scientists about pollinators or management practices, join the pollinator listserv at: http://lists. sonic.net/mailman/listinfo/pollinator.

* Offering feedback to the National Academy of Sciences Study on the Status of North American Pollinators at: http://www8.nationalacademies. org/cp/projectiview.aspx?key= BLSX-K-02-06-A.

* Contributing to or using the NAPPC conservation database about plant-pollinator relationships, by contacting [e-mail].

Dr. Winter, a wildlife ecologist and International Coordinator for NAPPC can be reached at [e-mail] or 301-405-2666.

Examples of pollinator guilds currently listed under the Endangered
Species Act

Birds          At least some bird species listed as endangered are
               known to be pollinators. Some Hawaiian honeycreepers
               have a highly coevolved relationship with the plants and
               moth pollinators upon which they feed. For example,
               Hawaii's endangered palila (Loxioides bailleui) depends
               upon forests of an endemic legume, the mamane (Sophora
               chrysophylla), for nesting, shelter, and food. Cydia
               (Tortricidae) moth caterpillars also feed upon mamane
               and are an important food resource for palilas,
               demonstrating the intricate interrelationships between a
               pollinating bird, pollinating moth, and flowering plant.

Bats           At least three species of pollinating bats are federally
               listed as endangered, including the lesser long-nosed
               bat (Leptonycteris curasoae), Mexican long-nosed bat
               (Leptjonycteris nivalis), and Mariana fruit bat
               (Pteropus mariannus mariannus). Both long-nosed bats
               migrate north from Mexico to feed on nectar and pollen
               of several species of Agave. These bats leave the U.S.
               for Mexico in late summer or early fall, after the
               blooming period of agaves has passed.

Butterflies    There are 23 federally listed species of butterflies and
               skippers identified as pollinators on the Xerces Red
               List, with 17 recovery plans completed or in draft form.
               Many butterflies are listed because of their coevolved
               relationships with diminishing host plant populations,
               such as the case with the Fender's blue butterfly
               (Icaricia icarioides fender) and Kincaid's lupine
               (Lupinus sulphureus ssp. kincaidii) in the Pacific
               Northwest.

Moths          Two species of sphinx moth are listed, including the
               Kern primrose sphinx moth (Euprserpinus euterpe), which
               uses evening primrose plants (Camissonia sp.) as host
               plants. When this endangered moth lays its eggs on the
               introduced plant, filaree (Erodium spp.), its larvae
               cannot develop and soon perish, prompting its
               populations to decline.

Beetles        At least one of the 17 species of beetles listed as
               endangered may be a pollinator, the valley elderberry
               longhorn (Desmocerus califomicus dimorphus). Its
               emergence coincides with the flowering of its host
               plant, the elderberry (Sambucus spp.), which is visited
               by other pollinators. Elderberries provide an important
               source of fruit for at least 50 species of songbirds and
               other wildlife.