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THE IMPACT OF WILDFLOWER HABITAT ENRICHMENTS ON BOOSTING THE WILD BEE ABUNDANCE IN AGRICULTRIAL AREAS

Abstract

Healthy wild bee populations are essential for successful crop pollination, but many bee populations decline when farmland doesn’t provide the flowers and habitat they need. In this study, we introduced wildflower habitat enrichment plots to offer a potential approach to increase bee abundance and diversity. We observed how implementing different wildflower species into agricultural plots impacts wild bee populations over time. The study was conducted in the coastal plain of eastern Georgia, where the soil is very sandy and of poor quality. The study used 3 experimental plots and 3 control plots separated by a forest. Experimental plots had wildflower enrichment strips inside the plots and on the edge of the plots. Over 20 species of wildflowers (e.g. Monarda punctata, Gaillardia aristata, Coreopsis lanceolata) were used and investigated for their potential to recruit wild bees. Plots were sampled 10-12 times a year using passive traps (pan traps, vane traps, and malaise traps) and active sampling (e.g. sweep netting). The number of bees sampled in year 1 was 590, in year 2 was 510, in year 3 was 1161, and in year 4 was 913. Sweat bees declined in pollinator make-up (89.5%- year 1, 58.2% - year 2, and 50.4% year 3, 55.7% year 4). However, larger-size native bees (Andrenidae and Apidae) increased in abundance and diversity. Although the sweat bee population declined over time, the overall pollinator community became more balanced and resilient. These results further indicate the value of targeted wildflower planting as an effective tool for supporting pollinator populations in agricultural spaces.

Acknowledgements

Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) grants # OS22 -150 and OS 24 -172.

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