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TristanBarley_thesis_2020.pdf (564.46 KB)

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The Effects of Flower Patch Density on Pollinator Visitation

Barley, Tristan Alexander
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1605828141532099

Abstract Details

2020, Master of Environmental Science, Miami University, Environmental Sciences.
There is conflicting research regarding how conspecific density can affect pollinator visitation, with some studies indicating dense flower patches will receive more visitors and other studies demonstrating the opposite. This study investigated the effects of conspecific density on pollinator visitation in a restored prairie. Three plant species, Penstemon digitalis, Monarda fistulosa, and Eryngium yuccifolium, were used, with visiting pollinators and their behaviors recorded. Conspecific density did not have an effect on visitation rates for P. digitalis (p = 0.07), M. fistulosa (p = 0.67), or E. yuccifolium (p = 0.07). These results suggest that conspecific density may only be relevant to visitation rates in certain plant species. However, different genera of pollinators did show varying responses to flower density. This suggests that pollinators are not monolithic and that isolation may impact certain pollinators differently than others. Furthermore, a comparison of seed weight demonstrated that E. yuccifolium plants tended to have larger seed sets in isolated individuals (p = 0.0003), indicating that flowers in large patches may be pollinated less effectively and are competing for, rather than facilitating, pollinator visits.
Jonathan Bauer (Advisor)
R. Hays Cummins (Committee Member)
Ann Rypstra (Committee Member)
28 p.
Ecology
Pollinator visitation; prairies; native pollinators

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Barley, T. A. (2020). The Effects of Flower Patch Density on Pollinator Visitation [Master's thesis, Miami University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1605828141532099

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Barley, Tristan. The Effects of Flower Patch Density on Pollinator Visitation. 2020. Miami University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1605828141532099.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Barley, Tristan. "The Effects of Flower Patch Density on Pollinator Visitation." Master's thesis, Miami University, 2020. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1605828141532099

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

miami1605828141532099
275
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This open access ETD is published by Miami University and OhioLINK.