Native Pollinators in Managed Ecosystem Forest Fragments
| Author(s) | McDevitt, Bonnie | |
| Date Accessioned | 2012-10-04T19:38:16Z | |
| Date Available | 2012-10-04T19:38:16Z | |
| Publication Date | 2012-05 | |
| Abstract | Due to the increasing ecological importance of native pollinators as honey bee populations continue to decline, this study sought to inventory and compare native bee abundance, richness, and diversity in 13 northeastern Delaware forest fragments. The main objectives of this research were to understand relationships between native bees and the plant community and apply any findings to better manage habitat fragments in the area. Native bees were collected from March to September 2011 using bowl traps and netting techniques. Specimens collected were identified to family and Apidae specimens were identified to genus. Vegetation data and ArcGIS 100m buffers were used to characterize fragments within, and landuse surrounding fragments, specifically assessing the percent human development, impervious surface, and agriculture. Results revealed a temporal significance between specimen numbers collected before and after May 1st. Andrenidae represented close to half of the composition of total bee families, and the cleptoparasitic genus Nomada dominated Apidae composition at 88 and 80.21%. The regression results showed weak trends suggesting that native bees may utilize human disturbed habitats and tolerate certain levels of disturbance more than previously thought. Possible reasons for this tolerance could be the supply of consistent forage and nesting sites within and around fragments. The study helps build baseline data for native bee families in future urban fragment research. | en_US |
| Advisor | Deborah Delaney | |
| Program | Wildlife Conservation | |
| URL | http://udspace.udel.edu/handle/19716/11549 | |
| Language | en_US | en_US |
| Publisher | University of Delaware | |
| Keywords | honey bee populations | en_US |
| Keywords | native pollinators | en_US |
| Keywords | habitat fragments | en_US |
| Keywords | plant community | en_US |
| Keywords | ecosystem forest fragments | en_US |
| Title | Native Pollinators in Managed Ecosystem Forest Fragments | en_US |
| Type | Thesis | en_US |