Flower species use by bumble bees in lowbush blueberry agroecosystems
LE3 .A278 2018
2018
Shutler, Dave
Acadia University
Bachelor of Science
Honours
Biology
Insect pollination is crucial to meet global food demands, with the European honey bee (Apis mellifera) being a primary pollinator. Increases in hive mortality jeopardize global food security for crops dependent on insect pollination. Promoting native pollinators, such as bumble bees, Bombus spp., would reduce risks associated with relying on honey bees. In Atlantic Canada, lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium), is a native species that has been developed into an important horticultural crop, with nine native bumble bee species being important pollinators. The objective of this study was to determine if bumble bees use flowering plants equally, by describing the flowering plant communities of key foraging habitats for bumble bees within the blueberry agroecosystem, and linking bee abundance and diversity to flower species. Sampling occurred on a biweekly basis on Prince Edward Island, for a variety of habitats surrounding lowbush blueberry systems. The bee and flowering plant communities for the habitats were described using traps, and by performing floral surveys. Foraging bees were opportunistically sampled, hand-netting bees from flowers, to investigate floral preferences. Each site supported flowering plant communities with highly varied phenologies. Neither flower diversity nor abundance were clear drivers of bee diversity or abundance. When bumble bee species were grouped by tongue length there were some differences in observed versus expected number of visits to a flower species. This research shows that floral diversity is an important component of maintaining diverse bumble bee communities, securing the pollination of this crop. These results may be useful in making recommendations to growers to promote bee communities for crop pollination.
The author retains copyright in this thesis. Any substantial copying or any other actions that exceed fair dealing or other exceptions in the Copyright Act require the permission of the author.
https://scholar.acadiau.ca/islandora/object/theses:2665