The Bees of Algonquin Park: A Study of their Distribution, their Community Guild Structure, and the Use of Various Sampling Techniques in Logged and Unlogged Hardwood Stands by Erika Nardone A Thesis presented to The University of Guelph In partial fulfilment of requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Environmental Biology Guelph, Ontario, Canada © Erika Nardone, January, 2013 ABSTRACT THE BEES OF ALGONQUIN PARK: A STUDY OF THEIR DISTRIBUTION, THEIR COMMUNITY GUILD STRUCTURE, AND THE USE OF VARIOUS SAMPLING TECHNIQUES IN LOGGED AND UNLOGGED HARDWOOD STANDS Erika Nardone Advisor: University of Guelph, 2012 Professor Peter G. Kevan This study investigates the distribution and functional guild structure of the bee community in hardwood stands of Algonquin Provincial Park under different logging regimes, assessing both the role of different aspects of the habitat in affecting this distribution and structure, as well as the use of different sampling techniques. The distribution of bee individuals and species was most dependent on the abundance of raspberry (Rubus strigosus), an important floral and nesting resource. Also of importance were total floral resources, microclimate, and habitat heterogeneity. The functional guild structure of the bee community, which was relatively resilient to habitat variation, was related to a greater variety of factors, reflecting wide-ranging behaviours and requirements of different guilds. Malaise traps, pan traps and nets varied in their effectiveness at collecting different bee genera and a high percentage of species were collected only with one trap type. Malaise traps performed relatively poorly in forested environments, though very well in more disturbed, open habitats. Pan traps and nets performed better in forested environments. Trap nests were an inefficient sampling technique in forests, but were effective at collecting some species of cavity-nesting bees. These findings underline the importance of raspberry for bee communities of northern hardwood forests, and the importance of heterogeneity, both of habitat types and sampling techniques, to attain the highest species richness of bees. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I need to start by thanking my supervisor, Dr. Peter Kevan, for his advice, support and encouragement throughout this project, which he made possible. I would also like to thank Dr. Erica Nol, Dr. Cory Sheffield and Dr. Madhur Anand for their guidance and assistance as my advisory committee. I am greatly indebted to Dr. Cory Sheffield, as well as Dr. Jason Gibbs, who identified all of my bees to species for me. Thank you also to the staff of the Wildlife Research Station, who were responsible for housing and feeding me during my field seasons, and without whom this project would not have been possible. I am also very grateful for the work of my field assistants, Andrew Morse, Kelly Grieg and Eleanor Proctor, for their help with data collection. Lastly, I thank my parents, Hilde and Gary Nardone, and my boyfriend, Damian Douglas, who have kept me going though this experience with their love and support. Funding for this project was provided by the Canadian Pollination Initiative (NSERC- CANPOLIN), the National Science and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) and Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS). Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (OMNR) also provided funding to assist with transportation costs in 2010. Thank you to the Algonquin Forestry Authority (AFA) for the initial experimental set-up of the group-selection and control stands (funded by an NSERC collaborative grant with Canadian Forest Service), and for assistance with selection of the single-tree selection stands. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract ........................................................................................................................................... ii Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................................ iii Table of Contents ........................................................................................................................... iv List of Figures ............................................................................................................................... vii List of Tables ................................................................................................................................. ix CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................1 1.1 What is Pollination? .............................................................................................................1 1.2 Bees and Pollination ............................................................................................................1 1.3 Guilds of Bees ......................................................................................................................3 1.3.1 Nesting Guilds ............................................................................................................3 1.3.2 Social Guilds ...............................................................................................................4 1.3.3 Pollen Specificity Guilds ............................................................................................5 1.3.4 Flight Season Guilds ...................................................................................................5 1.3.5 Overwintering Guilds..................................................................................................6 1.4 Bees and Anthropogenic disturbance...................................................................................7 1.5 Bees and Habitat Heterogeneity...........................................................................................9 1.6 Logging in Hardwood Stands of Algonquin Park..............................................................11 1.7 Bee Sampling Techniques..................................................................................................14 1.7.1 Malaise Traps ............................................................................................................14 1.7.2 Pan Traps ..................................................................................................................15 1.7.3 Trap Nests .................................................................................................................15 1.7.4 Netting.......................................................................................................................16 1.8 Summary of Objectives......................................................................................................16 CHAPTER 2. THE DISTRIBUTION AND COMMUNITY STRUCTURE OF BEES IN LOGGED AND UNLOGGED HARDWOOD FOREST STANDS ........................................18 2.1 Abstract ..............................................................................................................................18 2.2 Introduction ........................................................................................................................19 2.3 Methods..............................................................................................................................27 2.3.1 Study Sites ................................................................................................................27 2.3.2 Site Conditions and Characteristics ..........................................................................31 2.3.2.1 Plot Geography and Parameters .......................................................................31 2.3.2.2 Microclimate ....................................................................................................32 2.3.2.3 Canopy Cover ..................................................................................................32 2.3.2.4 Deadwood Volume ..........................................................................................32 iv 2.3.2.5 Soil Texture ......................................................................................................33 2.3.2.6 Habitat Diversity ..............................................................................................33 2.3.3 Vegetation Surveys ...................................................................................................33 2.3.4 Bee Sampling ............................................................................................................35 2.3.4.1 Malaise Traps ...................................................................................................35 2.3.4.2 Pan Traps .........................................................................................................37 2.3.4.3 Trap Nests ........................................................................................................38 2.3.4.4 Netting..............................................................................................................40 2.3.5 Bee Processing and Identification .............................................................................41 2.3.6 Statistical Analysis ....................................................................................................41 2.3.6.1 Stand-level Variables .......................................................................................41 2.3.6.2 Habitat Variables Used in Analysis .................................................................43 2.3.6.3 Comparison of Habitat Variables