Translating bumblebee dialect…
This research description proposes two projects for the summer 2026 field season. The first project aim to investigate hummingbird pollination of Ipomopsis aggregata and Delphinium nelsonii, with a focus on quantifying the interaction outcomes for both the birds and the plants in these interaction. Specifically, this project will measure the per-visit seed set affected by Broad-tailed and Rufous hummingbirds, as well as the per-visit energy gain hummingbirds receive from consuming floral nectar. Additionally, this project will investigate whether these per-visit measures of interaction benefit are correlated with floral shape, specifically length and width. The second project aims to investigate passive acoustic monitoring as a tool for monitoring pollination visits from different pollinator guilds. Also focused on Ipomopsis aggregata and Delphinium nelsonii, this second project will deploy acoustic monitors into the field to collect recordings of pollinator visits. We will then use machine learning to determine the accuracy with which acoustic recordings can be indicative of pollinator guild (e.g., hummingbird, bee, fly).