An opportunity exists with the influx of inflation reduction act (IRA) funds to develop the concept of creating an adaptive learning landscape for pollinators on the prairie (allpop)

Specifically, the idea is that we can develop land management demonstration areas where we can implement targeted research to address specific data gaps, test new innovations for inventorying and monitoring pollinators and their habitats, and strive to synthesize this information in a way that land managers across the prairie pothole region can utilize to improve conservation outcomes. Pesticides are heavily used in agricultural landscapes, yet information gaps exist about the prevalence of pesticides in grassland pollinator habitats and how pesticide residues in soil may affect native plant seed germination, and ultimately, the success of prairie reconstruction efforts. National wildlife refuge system managers lack baseline information to know if there are residues in the soil or if drift is occurring from nearby crop fields. We are looking to assess the residues in the soil that may affect prairie restorations that are usually planted into recently cropped areas. We will take soil samples and have them analyzed for the presence and concentrations of a range of analytes found in agricultural pesticides (herbicides, insecticides, fungicides) and compare this to what we have on record for past pesticide application. Information gathered from this project will help managers begin to understand the impact of residual herbicides on establishing prairie restorations and gain insights into effects on pollinators utilizing the habitat in these areas. IT is expected that sampling protocols will be developed, in addition to identifying remediation options for sites where residues remain. We are collaborating with south dakota state university on a parallel greenhouse study. We will select 10 native plant species to grow in a controlled environment and determine how they respond to varying concentrations of analyte residues. The pioneer heritage conservation trust is partnering with USFWS on this project because of their history of partnering with a variety of conservation partners with diverse missions that are interested in successful prairie reconstructions. The products and information gained from this project will be beneficial to a wide range of federal, state, and local agencies and non-governmental organizations, and the trust will assist with sharing, promoting, and disseminating knowledge gained from this project.