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Effects of land use change on bee (Anthophila) community structure and function

Prajzner, Scott P
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1480666062652755

Abstract Details

2016, Doctor of Philosophy, Ohio State University, Entomology.
Bees (Anthophila) worldwide have been experiencing a recent decline in species diversity, abundance, and genetic diversity. There have been many factors implicated in these declines: loss of habitat and resources, urbanization, disease, parasites, pesticides, and heavy metals. I focus here on urbanization, and how the creation of anthropogenically-dominated landscapes influences the structure of bee communities, and heavy metal exposure in bee populations. Derelict habitats within cities are often called vacant lands, areas where previously-built parcels have been repurposed as unbuilt, weedy areas. As local citizens do not fully appreciate the benefits of these habitats, many are transformed by citizen groups into urban gardens, which are valued for local, fresh produce and community revitalization. Pollination services are required in gardens in order to produce fruit of many crops, and depend upon a diverse and abundant bee community to visit flowers. We analyzed bee abundance, diversity, and community structure in order to determine what can be done to maintain or increase pollination services in gardens, as well as the contribution of vacant land to pollinator community stability and pollination services in garden habitats. We found that bee abundance was greater in garden habitats, but this does not necessarily confer pollination services. Bee diversity and pollination services did not differ between habitats in two studies. However, bee visitation behavior and bee community structure differed between habitats, and importance should be given to species-specific interactions to determine what may encourage conservation of bee communities. Another negative legacy of urban areas is a high environmental level of heavy metals. The city of Cleveland has an ecological history of heavy metal deposition due to use of leaded paints and fuels, as well as more specific point sources such as manufacturing sites. Heavy metal contamination is known to be a concern for both plants and animals. While environmental contaminants have been a focus of research studying bee decline, seldom have heavy metals been a focus. We have analyzed the heavy metal contamination found in bumble bees along an urban-to-rural gradient. We found that bumble bees are contaminated with higher concentrations of several metals as the urbanization in the surrounding landscape increased. We also found that the number of larvae present in bumble bee colonies negatively correlated with levels of heavy metal contamination, decreasing colony health.
Mary Gardiner (Advisor)
106 p.
Entomology
Bee; shrinking city; urban garden; vacant land; heavy metals

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Prajzner, S. P. (2016). Effects of land use change on bee (Anthophila) community structure and function [Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1480666062652755

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Prajzner, Scott. Effects of land use change on bee (Anthophila) community structure and function. 2016. Ohio State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1480666062652755.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Prajzner, Scott. "Effects of land use change on bee (Anthophila) community structure and function." Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University, 2016. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1480666062652755

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1480666062652755
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This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.