Characterization of the bee community and pollination network in a southeastern U.S. pine savanna

Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 12

Published: May 14, 2024

Although the fire-maintained pine savannas of southeastern U.S. Coastal Plain are recognized for their plant diversity, pollinators associated with these ecosystems remain comparatively understudied. Here we present results from a season-long effort to record bee-flower interactions at single site in Florida. We collected 93 bee species (out an estimated 117) 79 flower species, total 446 unique interactions. Bee richness and number exhibited bimodal pattern, dipping mid-summer before peak October. The most important floral resources changed throughout season as did composition bees, spring fall periods being particularly distinct. found that pollen specialists (that collect family plants) generalists accounted similar proportion over entire season. However, outnumbered summer reversing fall. Pollen visited significantly fewer families than many were exclusively host family. This was case aster active only during estimate between 18.3-25.8% local fauna depends directly on overstory trees nesting habitat including dead wood resin. Two management recommendations can be made based results. First, because is period abundance richness, late-season specialists, it probably least favorable time prescribed fire. Second, considering significant native bees depend nesting, retain standing fallen whenever possible.

Language: Английский

Local factors influence the wild bee functional community at the urban-forest interface

Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 12

Published: May 13, 2024

Introduction Urban forests provide necessary habitat for many forest-associated bee species amidst development and fragmentation. These forest fragments a variety of important floral non-floral resources bees that encompass diversity functional guilds characterized by size, diet breadth, nesting, sociality, origin, seasonality. The relative importance edge vs. interior habitats to these organisms is not well understood. Methods Here, we compare communities between locations at eight in Athens, GA, USA. We also explore the effects stand structure, tree composition, ground cover type, presence snags downed wood on organisms. Results found abundance richness be higher than with distinct community compositions both locations. Canopy cover, invasive shrub influenced observed composition. determined most impactful traits influencing structure urban were nesting substrate, origin (native or exotic North America), breadth. Discussion Our findings will help establish local characteristics diversity, wild further our knowledge conservation value preserving communities.

Language: Английский

Spatiotemporal patterns of forest pollinator diversity across the southeastern United States

Diversity and Distributions, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 30(8)

Published: June 3, 2024

Abstract Aim Efforts to understand how pollinating insect diversity is distributed across large geographic areas are rare despite the importance of such work for conserving regional diversity. We sought relate bees (Hymenoptera: Apoidea), hover flies (Diptera: Syrphidae), and butterflies (Lepidoptera) ecoregion, landscape context, canopy openness, forest composition southeastern U.S. forests. Location Nineteen experimental forests nine states in Methods established 5–7 plots on each forest. In each, we sampled pollinators monthly (March–September) using coloured pan traps, collected data local characteristics. used National Land Cover Database (NLCD) quantify surrounding landcover at different spatial scales. Results Bee richness was negatively correlated with both amount conifer (pine) extent wetlands but positively openness. Hover were less sensitive context stand conditions. Pollinator communities differed considerably among ecoregions, those Central Appalachian Coastal Plain ecoregions being particularly distinct. abundance peaked 2 months earlier Appalachia than Southeastern Mixed Forest ecoregions. Main Conclusions Our findings reveal ecoregional differences pollinator highlight conditions this diverse fauna. The closed broadleaf open conifer‐dominated support distinct contrasting seasonality. results suggest pine may reduce regions historically dominated by However, efforts create more canopies can help improve planted Research exploring associations between tree taxa needed better anticipate impacts various management activities.

Language: Английский