Effects of habitat loss, fragmentation, and alteration on wild bees and pollination services in fragmented Manitoba grasslands
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Date
2017
Authors
Olynyk, Marika
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Abstract
Using bee sampling and cultivated plants, I investigated if habitat loss, habitat fragmentation, and introduced vegetation affect bee abundance and pollination services in fragmented Manitoba grasslands. I ran mixed-effects models analyzing effects of habitat loss using local and landscape scale variables, effects of habitat fragmentation using proximity to habitat edges, and effects of introduced vegetation using canopy cover and open flowers. I found that decreases in landscape-scale habitat resulted in declines in bee abundance and pollination services. Litter depth was also important, with negative effects on ground-nesting bees. Proximity to road edges negatively affected social bees. Introduced vegetation produced mixed effects, with positive effects of introduced canopy cover on bee abundance, but also positive effects of greater percentages of native flowers. My results indicate that habitat loss, and fragmentation have negative impacts on bee abundance in northern prairies, and must be incorporated in management for bee conservation.
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Keywords
Landscape ecology, Pollination, Edge effects, Grasslands, Bees