Testing the Relative Importance of Local Resources and Landscape Connectivity on Bombus Impatiens (Hymenoptera, Apidae) Colonies

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Testing the Relative Importance of Local Resources and Landscape Connectivity on Bombus Impatiens (Hymenoptera, Apidae) Colonies Apidologie Original article * INRA, DIB and Springer-Verlag France, 2017 DOI: 10.1007/s13592-017-0499-1 Testing the relative importance of local resources and landscape connectivity on Bombus impatiens (Hymenoptera, Apidae) colonies 1,2,3 4 5 John D. HERRMANN , Nick M. HADDAD , Douglas J. LEVEY 1Department of Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195-1800, USA 2Department of Plant Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA 3Department of Landscape Ecology, University of Kiel, Olshausenstr, 75, 24118, Kiel, Germany 4Department of Applied Ecology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695-7617, USA 5Division of Environmental Biology, National Science Foundation, Arlington, VA 22230, USA Received 19 November 2015 – Revised 24 November 2016 – Accepted 18 January 2017 Abstract – Bee populations are decreasing worldwide. The underlying causes are likely determined by factors at different scales. We tested the relative importance of local resources and landscape connectivity on 64 bumblebee (Bombus impatiens ) colonies in experimentally isolated and connected habitat fragments. We used colony mass, no. of workers, and no. of gynes to estimate colony performance. Landscape connectivity did not significantly affect colony performance, but local floral resources had a significantly positive effect, especially in isolated fragments. These results suggest that bumblebee colonies encountered sufficient floral resources within the local 1.4 ha habitat fragments to support colony growth, making long-distance foraging trips to neighboring fragments unnecessary. From a conservation perspective, we suggest that efforts to improve colony performance should prioritize boosting local floral resources over manipulation of large-scale landscape features. agri-environment scheme / foraging distance / landscape connectivity / habitat fragmentation / floral resources 1. INTRODUCTION on the Status of Pollinators in North America 2007, Daily 1997,Kremenetal.2002). A first step is to Insect pollinators are suffering sharp declines in identify and assess potential causes of population abundance and richness, worldwide (Potts et al. declines. 2010). These declines have led to a simultaneous Habitat loss has been identified as one of the most decrease of ecosystem services that pollinators pro- important drivers of pollinator declines (Potts et al. vide (Cunningham 2000) and may have triggered a 2010). Decreasing habitat connectivity, which typi- global pollination crisis (Steffan-Dewenter et al. cally accompanies habitat loss, is also thought to 2005). Reduced pollination is a concern because of negatively affect pollinator populations, but positive its importance for conservation of global biodiversi- as well as negative effects of connectivity on polli- ty (Bodin et al. 2006) and human food production nator populations have been observed (e.g., Schüepp (Potts et al. 2010). Conservation strategies are ur- et al. 2011, Steffan-Dewenter & Tscharntke 1999). gently needed to counteract ongoing pollinator de- The contrasting conclusions reached by differ- clines and sustain pollination services (Committee ent studies on connectivity effects may have two main causes. First, results might be artifacts of study design, particularly when some designs fail Corresponding author: J. Herrmann, to separate effects of habitat loss from those of [email protected] habitat connectivity (Hadley & Betts 2012). This Handling editor: Yves Le Conte almost inevitable link between habitat loss and J.D. Herrmann et al. connectivity continues to generate controversy spatial scales, such as flower density in a habitat among landscape ecologists regarding their inde- fragment (Rundlof et al. 2008). Offspring produc- pendent effects and the importance of separating tion of solitary bees nesting in high-quality habi- them (Bailey et al. 2010, Doerr et al. 2011, Fahrig tat, for instance, was buffered against negative 2013, Hodgson et al. 2009, 2011). Second, struc- isolation effects by switching to local floral re- tural connectivity (i.e., physical contiguity of sources when other resources were too distant landscape elements) and functional connectivity (Williams & Kremen 2007). The importance of (i.e., behavioral responses that vary among spe- local resources, however, might be contingent cies and result in different probabilities of travel upon accessibility and amount of additional re- between landscape elements) may not be synony- sources in the surrounding landscape. mous for some organisms. This distinction be- Within a large-scale landscape experiment comes important when an organism’s movement composed of seminatural savanna fragments, we is not confined to its preferred habitat, which is tested the effects of landscape connectivity and common (Kuefler et al. 2010,Haddad& local floral resources on bumblebee (Bombus im- Tewksbury 2005, Tischendorf & Fahrig 2000). patiens ) colonies. We established bumblebee col- Structural connectivity can be increased through onies in fragments, which were either isolated or landscape corridors, strips of habitat that connect connected to neighboring fragments via a corri- otherwise isolated fragments of the same habitat dor. By simultaneously measuring corridor and (Hilty et al. 2006). Increased structural connectivity local resource effects on different parameters of may lead to increased functional connectivity by colony growth, we avoided pitfalls associated facilitating movement between otherwise isolated with visual surveys of pollinators and gained di- habitat fragments (Haddad et al. 2015). Insect pol- rect estimates of colony performance (Heard et al. linators have been observed to use habitat strips 2007). Measuring multiple metrics of colony per- and landscape features (e.g., hedgerows) as corri- formance is important, as conservation measures dors (Cranmer et al. 2012), and it has been exper- need to be based on both short-term fitness pa- imentally demonstrated that corridors increase pol- rameters (e.g., colony mass and number of len transfer between habitat fragments that they workers) and long-term fitness parameters (e.g., connect (Townsend & Levey 2005), leading to number of virgin queens produced to establish increased reproductive success of plants (Cranmer new colonies). We hypothesized that (i) colony et al. 2012,Tewksburyetal.2002). However, this performance is higher in connected than in uncon- observed increase in pollinator movement via cor- nected fragments, (ii) local floral resources in- ridors does not provide evidence that habitat con- crease colony performance, and (iii) colony per- nectivity also benefits the pollinators (Hogdson formance depends more on local floral resources et al. 2011). Although it is thought that pollinator in unconnected than in connected fragments. fitness will increase with structural connectivity (Hopfenmüller et al. 2014), it remains untested 2. MATERIAL AND METHODS whether increased structural connectivity increases pollinator fitness through functional connectivity 2.1. Study sites (Hadley & Betts 2012). In addition to large-scale effects such as con- We tested our hypotheses in a large experimen- nectivity between fragments, population dynam- tal landscape at the Savannah River Site (SRS) in ics of many species are determined by processes South Carolina, USA (Figure 1a). Eight replicate occurring at smaller scales, for example, in a landscapes (hereafter Bblocks^)consistingoffrag- single fragment (McGarigal and Cushman ments and corridors of open habitat were created 2002). Even though many pollinators are regarded in 1999/2000 (six blocks) and 2007 (two blocks) as highly mobile foragers that perceive resources by clearing mature pine forest. The cleared areas at large spatial scales (e.g., bumblebees; Westphal are being actively restored to longleaf pine savan- et al. 2006), survival of pollinators may most na through implementation of prescribed fires on strongly depend on resource quality at small a2–3-year rotation, planting of longleaf pine Impact of local and landscape factors on bumblebees a 5 3 South Carolina 4 SRS 3 Latitude 3 3 2 050100 km 3 -83 -82 -81 -80 -79 Longitude b Wi Re Ce Co 0100 m Wi Figure 1. a Locations of the eight experimental blocks (black circles ) at the Savannah River Site (SRS ) in South Carolina (USA). b One experimental block with one center fragment (Ce ) and four peripheral fragments: One peripheral fragment is connected by a 150 × 25 m corridor (Co ), whereas the rectangular (Re ) and winged (Wi ) fragments are isolated by mature pine forest. All blocks contain one duplicate unconnected fragment type. Two Bombus impatiens colonies (red box ) were established within protective setups in each peripheral fragment seedlings (Pinus palustris ), and removal of hard- rectangular (four blocks) or winged fragment woods. Each block consists of one center frag- (four blocks). Each block was surrounded by a ment (100 m x 100 m) surrounded by four periph- forested buffer zone with limited management eral fragments, each 150 m from the center frag- activities (400 m radius around the block’s center ment (Figure 1b). One of the peripheral fragments point). The experimental landscapes have been (Bconnected fragment^) in each block is connect- used to investigate effects of fragment shape and ed to the central fragment by a 25 m wide and connectivity on dispersal of various organisms, 150 m long corridor. The other three peripheral including plants, butterflies, and birds fragments are isolated from the central
Recommended publications
  • Anthidium Manicatum, an Invasive Bee, Excludes a Native Bumble Bee, Bombus Impatiens, from floral Resources
    Biol Invasions https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-018-1889-7 (0123456789().,-volV)(0123456789().,-volV) ORIGINAL PAPER Anthidium manicatum, an invasive bee, excludes a native bumble bee, Bombus impatiens, from floral resources Kelsey K. Graham . Katherine Eaton . Isabel Obrien . Philip T. Starks Received: 15 April 2018 / Accepted: 21 November 2018 Ó Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2018 Abstract Anthidium manicatum is an invasive pol- response to A. manicatum presence. We found that B. linator reaching widespread distribution in North impatiens avoided foraging near A. manicatum in both America. Male A. manicatum aggressively defend years; but despite this resource exclusion, we found no floral territories, attacking heterospecific pollinators. evidence of fitness consequences for B. impatiens. Female A. manicatum are generalists, visiting many of These results suggest A. manicatum pose as significant the same plants as native pollinators. Because of A. resource competitors, but that B. impatiens are likely manicatum’s rapid range expansion, the territorial able to compensate for this resource loss by finding behavior of males, and the potential for female A. available resources elsewhere. manicatum to be significant resource competitors, invasive A. manicatum have been prioritized as a Keywords Exotic species Á Resource competition Á species of interest for impact assessment. But despite Interspecific competition Á Foraging behavior Á concerns, there have been no empirical studies inves- Pollination tigating the impact of A. manicatum on North Amer- ican pollinators. Therefore, across a two-year study, we monitored foraging behavior and fitness of the common eastern bumble bee (Bombus impatiens) in Introduction With increasing movement of goods and people Electronic supplementary material The online version of around the world, introduction of exotic species is this article (https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-018-1889-7) con- increasing at an unprecedented rate (Ricciardi et al.
    [Show full text]
  • Guide to MN Bumble Bees: Females
    Guide to MN Bumble Bees: Females This guide is only for females (12 antennal segments, 6 abdominal segments, most bumble Three small bees, most have pollen baskets, no beards on their mandibles). First determine which yellow eyes highlighted section your bee is in, then go through numbered characters to find a match. See if your bee matches the color patterns shown and the description in the text. Color patterns ® can vary. More detailed keys are available at discoverlife.org. Top of head Bee Front of face Squad Join the search for bumble bees with www.bumbleebeewatch.org Cheek Yellow hairs between wings, 1st abdominal band yellow (may have black spot in center of thorax) 1. Black on sides of 2nd ab, yellow or rusty in center 2.All other ab segments black 3. 2nd ab brownish centrally surrounded by yellow 2nd abdominal 2nd abdominal Light lemon Center spot band with yellow band with yellow hairs on on thorax with in middle, black yellow in middle top of head and sometimes faint V on sides. Yellow bordered by and on thorax. shaped extension often in a “W” rusty brown in a back from the shape. Top of swooping shape. middle. Queens head yellow. Top of head do not have black. Bombus impatiens Bombus affinis brownish central rusty patched bumble bee Bombus bimaculatus Bombus griseocollis common eastern bumble bee C patch. two-spotted bumble bee C brown-belted bumble bee C 5. Yellow on front edge of 2nd ab 6. No obvious spot on thorax. 4. 2nd ab entirely yellow and ab 3-6 black Yellow on top Black on top of Variable color of head.
    [Show full text]
  • Bumble Bee Abundance in New York City Community Gardens: Implications for Urban Agriculture
    Matteson and Langellotto: URBAN BUMBLE BEE ABUNDANCE Cities and the Environment 2009 Volume 2, Issue 1 Article 5 Bumble Bee Abundance in New York City Community Gardens: Implications for Urban Agriculture Kevin C. Matteson and Gail A. Langellotto Abstract A variety of crops are grown in New York City community gardens. Although the production of many crops benefits from pollination by bees, little is known about bee abundance in urban community gardens or which crops are specifically dependent on bee pollination. In 2005, we compiled a list of crop plants grown within 19 community gardens in New York City and classified these plants according to their dependence on bee pollination. In addition, using mark-recapture methods, we estimated the abundance of a potentially important pollinator within New York City urban gardens, the common eastern bumble bee (Bombus impatiens). This species is currently recognized as a valuable commercial pollinator of greenhouse crops. However, wild populations of B. impatiens are abundant throughout its range, including in New York City community gardens, where it is the most abundant native bee species present and where it has been observed visiting a variety of crop flowers. We conservatively counted 25 species of crop plants in 19 surveyed gardens. The literature suggests that 92% of these crops are dependent, to some degree, on bee pollination in order to set fruit or seed. Bombus impatiens workers were observed visiting flowers of 78% of these pollination-dependent crops. Estimates of the number of B. impatiens workers visiting individual gardens during the study period ranged from 3 to 15 bees per 100 m2 of total garden area and 6 to 29 bees per 100 m2 of garden floral area.
    [Show full text]
  • Conserving Missouri's Wild and Managed Pollinators
    Conserving Missouri’s Wild and Managed Pollinators At the heart of the pollination issue lies our bounty of foods such as peaches, Go to the bee, thou poet: strawberries, squash and apples. These and other foods requiring pollination have consider her ways and be wise. been staples in the human diet for centuries, and their pollinators have been highly — George Bernard Shaw revered since ancient times. From Egyptian hieroglyphics and Native American cave paintings to Greek mythology and English poetry, bees and butterflies have been a source of fascination and awe for millennia (Figure 1). Yet, over the past century, pollinator numbers have suffered declines. During this time, global development, a booming human population, and industrial agriculture brought about drastic landscape changes. These changes have resulted in greater losses of forage and nesting resources for pollinators than ever before seen. The ecosystem service of pollination, once taken for granted, is now potentially threatened as many pollinator species face declines in Missouri, the United States and many regions around the world. Pollinators are critically important for natural ecosystems and crop production. Through pollination, they perform roles essential to human welfare. Heightened public awareness of their services and of their declines over the past two decades has prompted action, but much remains to be done. This publication introduces issues regarding the conservation of pollinators in Missouri. It explores why pollinators are crucial, what major threats confront them, what conservation steps are being taken, and how you can help. It highlights bees over other pollinators as bees are the most important for both agricultural and natural pollination in Missouri.
    [Show full text]
  • Bombus Impatiens, Common Eastern Bumblebee
    Bombus impatiens, Common Eastern Bumble Bee (Hymenoptera: Apidae) Christopher J. Fellows, Forest Huval, T.E. Reagan and Chris Carlton Description The common eastern bumble bee, Bombus impatiens, is an important native pollinator found in the eastern United States and southern Canada. Adult bees are covered with short, even hairs across their bodies. They are mostly black with a yellow thorax (middle section) and an additional yellow stripe at the base of the abdomen. As with other social insects, the different forms, or castes, of B. impatiens vary in size. Worker bumble bees measure from 1/3 to 2/3 of an inch in length (8.5-16 mm), while drones measure ½ to ¾ of an inch (12 to 18 mm). Queen bumble bees are the largest members of the three castes, measuring between 1/3 of an inch to 1 inch (17 and 23 mm) in length. Larvae are rarely seen and are enclosed with the nest brood cells for the duration of their A common eastern bumble bee resting on a flower. Note development. They are pale, legless grubs around 1 inch the yellow patch of hairs on the forward portion of the thorax (David Cappaert, Bugwood.org). (25 mm) in length. At least six additional species of bumble bees have been construction. Within the hollow fiber ball, the queen documented in Louisiana, with another two species possibly deposits a lump of nectar-moistened pollen. The queens present but not confirmed. Identifications are mainly based also construct honey pots near the nest entrance using on the patterns of coloration of the body hairs, but these the secretions of her wax glands.
    [Show full text]
  • Creating Economically and Ecologically Sustainable Pollinator Habitat District 2 Demonstration Research Project Summary Updated for Site Visit in April 2019
    Creating Economically and Ecologically Sustainable Pollinator Habitat District 2 Demonstration Research Project Summary Updated for Site Visit in April 2019 The PIs are most appreciative for identification assistance provided by: Arian Farid and Alan R. Franck, Director and former Director, resp., University of South Florida Herbarium, Tampa, FL; Edwin Bridges, Botanical and Ecological Consultant; Floyd Griffith, Botanist; and Eugene Wofford, Director, University of Tennessee Herbarium, Knoxville, TN Investigators Rick Johnstone and Robin Haggie (IVM Partners, 501-C-3 non-profit; http://www.ivmpartners.org/); Larry Porter and John Nettles (ret.), District 2 Wildflower Coordinator; Jeff Norcini, FDOT State Wildflower Specialist Cooperator Rick Owen (Imperiled Butterflies of Florida Work Group – North) Objective Evaluate a cost-effective strategy for creating habitat for pollinators/beneficial insects in the ROW beyond the back-slope. Rationale • Will aid FDOT in developing a strategy to create pollinator habitat per the federal BEE Act and FDOT’s Wildflower Program • Will demonstrate that FDOT can simultaneously • Create sustainable pollinator habitat in an economical and ecological manner • Reduce mowing costs • Part of national effort coordinated by IVM Partners, who has • Established or will establish similar projects on roadside or utility ROWS in Alabama, Arkansas, Maryland, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Idaho, Montana, Virginia, West Virginia, and Tennessee; studies previously conducted in Arizona, Delaware, Michigan, and New Jersey • Developed partnerships with US Fish & Wildlife Service, Army Corps of Engineers, US Geological Survey, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Rutgers University, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Chesapeake Wildlife Heritage, The Navajo Nation, The Wildlife Habitat Council, The Pollinator Partnership, Progressive Solutions, Bayer Crop Sciences, Universities of Maryland, Ohio, West Virginia, and the EPA.
    [Show full text]
  • Bumble Bees Are Essential
    Prepared by the Bombus Task Force of the North American Pollinator Protection Campaign (NAPPC) Photo Sheila Colla Rusty-patched bumble bee, Bombus affi nis Declining North American Bumble Bees Photo David Inouye Western bumble bee, Bombus occidentalis Bumble Bees Helping Photo James Strange are Pollinators Essential Thrive Franklin bumble bee, Bombus franklini Bumble Bee Facts Photo Leif Richardson Globally, there are about 250 described species Some bumble bee are known to rob fl owers of bumble bees. They are found primarily in the of their nectar. Nectar robbing occurs when temperate zones of North and South America, a bee extracts nectar from a fl ower without and Eurasia. coming into contact with its reproductive Yellow-banded bumble bee, Bumble bees are documented to pollinate parts (i.e. anthers and/or stigma), usually Bombus terricola many important food crops. They are also more by biting a hole at the base of the fl ower. Photo Ron Hemberger effective than honey bees at pollinating crops Bumble bees are effective buzz pollinators grown in greenhouses. of several economically important plants in When most insects are inactive due to cold the family Solanaceae such as tomato, bell temperatures bumble bees are able to fl y by pepper and eggplant. In buzz pollination warming their fl ight muscles by shivering, bees extract pollen from a fl ower by American bumble bee, enabling them to raise their body temperature vibrating against the fl ower’s anthers, Bombus pensylvanicus as necessary for fl ight. making an audible buzzing noise. Instead of starting their own colonies, some Currently, the Common Eastern bumble bee bumble bee species have evolved to take over (Bombus impatiens) is the only species being another species’ colony to rear their young.
    [Show full text]
  • PETITION to LIST the Rusty Patched Bumble Bee Bombus Affinis
    PETITION TO LIST The rusty patched bumble bee Bombus affinis (Cresson), 1863 AS AN ENDANGERED SPECIES UNDER THE U.S. ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT Female Bombus affinis foraging on Dalea purpurea at Pheasant Branch Conservancy, Wisconsin, 2012, Photo © Christy Stewart Submitted by The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation Prepared by Sarina Jepsen, Elaine Evans, Robbin Thorp, Rich Hatfield, and Scott Hoffman Black January 31, 2013 1 The Honorable Ken Salazar Secretary of the Interior Office of the Secretary Department of the Interior 18th and C Street N.W. Washington D.C., 20240 Dear Mr. Salazar: The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation hereby formally petitions to list the rusty patched bumble bee (Bombus affinis) as an endangered species under the Endangered Species Act, 16 U.S.C. § 1531 et seq. This petition is filed under 5 U.S.C. 553(e) and 50 CFR 424.14(a), which grants interested parties the right to petition for issue of a rule from the Secretary of the Interior. Bumble bees are iconic pollinators that contribute to our food security and the healthy functioning of our ecosystems. The rusty patched bumble bee was historically common from the Upper Midwest to the eastern seaboard, but in recent years it has been lost from more than three quarters of its historic range and its relative abundance has declined by ninety-five percent. Existing regulations are inadequate to protect this species from disease and other threats. We are aware that this petition sets in motion a specific process placing definite response requirements on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and very specific time constraints upon those responses.
    [Show full text]
  • Mass Flowering Crops As a Conservation Resource for Wild Pollinators (Hymenoptera: Apoidea)
    JOURNAL OF THE KANSAS ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 89(2), 2016, pp. 158–167 Mass Flowering Crops as a Conservation Resource for Wild Pollinators (Hymenoptera: Apoidea) 1*, 2 1 2 KATHERINE J. TODD, MARY M. GARDINER, AND ERIK D. LINDQUIST ABSTRACT: Habitat management within agroecosystems can conserve wild pollinator communities by providing nesting and floral resources. However, demarcating arable land for conservation may reduce farm income. A conciliatory habitat management plan thus consists of planting harvestable commodities which offer pollinator resources. This study’s goal was to determine whether a single species annual flowering crop could support an abundant and diverse wild pollinator community despite its own uniformity. Local bee communities were sampled using pan traps and hand collection within sixty 10 m2 plots of a sunflower, Helianthus annuus L., field and thirty 10 m2 plots within a meadow three times throughout August, 2012. In total, 2316 bees were collected with Bombus impatiens Cresson constituting 81.5% of sampled bees. Examined collectively, hand collections yielded significantly higher bee abundances in the sunflower field (P , 0.01) across every sampling date. Conversely, an equivalent number of pan-trapped bees occurred among habitats for all sampling dates except week three (P 5 0.02) when a greater abundance was observed in the sunflower habitat. Species diversity did not differ (Phand 5 0.99, Ppan 5 0.97) between habitats although community composition differed with high significance (P , 0.01) indicating that these habitats had comparable diversity levels but attracted particular bee assemblages. Our study identifies sunflower crops as useful pollinator resources, especially for Bombus species, and provides insight into single species annual crops’ potential contribution to pollinator conservation.
    [Show full text]
  • Bumble Bees of Virginia
    Many bumble bees WHAT CAN YOU DO? VIRGINIA WORKING LANDSCAPES are in decline. Plant native plants! Bumble bees need a stable source of nectar and pollen throughout the growing season, so plant a B u m b l e B e e s suite of native flowers that bloom from early spring to fall. Native plants are recommended because they are beneficial to other insects and wildlife as well. For tips on gardening with native plants, visit the of Virginia Virginia Native Plant Society’s website at: www.vnps.org Bombus impatiens colony, T’ai Roulston Reduce or stop using pesticides! If you use pesticides, visit www.xerces.org to learn Bumble bees are invaluable pollinators. We which chemicals are the most toxic to bees and rely on them to pollinate our fruits, vegetables, how and when to apply pesticides in order to and thousands of native plant species. minimize impacts to bees. Many of our North American bumble bees are Protect the nest! experiencing steep population declines. For Bumble bees nest in the ground during the summer example, the once common Bombus affinis, the and queens overwinter just an inch or two below the rusty-patched bumble bee, has declined by soil’s surface. If you see an area of your yard with a lot of bee activity, do not disturb it if possible. Post- roughly 80% and is only found in isolated areas pone tilling and other soil disturbance practices in within its historic range. Threats to bumble this area in the early spring to allow queens to bees include parasites, disease, habitat loss, emerge.
    [Show full text]
  • Conservation Management Guidelines for the Rusty Patched Bumble Bee (Bombus Affinis) Version 1.6 February 27, 2018
    U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service U.S. Department of the Interior Conservation Management Guidelines for the Rusty Patched Bumble Bee (Bombus affinis) Version 1.6 February 27, 2018 Photograph by Tamara Smith, UWFWS Table of Contents Background 1 Species Needs and Targets 1 Needs 1 Management Objectives and Targets for High Quality Rusty Patched Bumble Bee Habitat 4 1. Objective One – Create, enhance, or maintain foraging habitat 4 2. Objective Two – Create, enhance, or maintain nesting habitat 5 3. Objective Three – Create, enhance, or maintain overwintering habitat 5 4. Objective Four – Create, enhance, or maintain target habitat features 5 Actions that Could Cause Take 6 Conservation Management Recommendations 6 Protect, Create, Restore, and Maintain Habitats 6 Prescribed Fire 7 Mowing/Haying 9 Grazing 10 Pesticide Use 11 Insecticide Use 11 Herbicide Use 12 Commercial Bumble Bees 13 Commercial Honey Bees 13 Coordinated Management among Nearby Sites 14 Literature Cited 15 Background On January 11, 2017, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) published the final rule to list the rusty patched bumble bee (Bombus affinis) as an endangered species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 2017). The listing became effective on March 21, 2017. For more information about the species, as well as guidance under the Endangered Species Act, visit our website www.fws.gov/midwest/endangered/insects/rpbb. The purpose of this document is to provide voluntary management guidance to help FWS, other federal agencies, state agencies, private landowners and land managers manage their land to benefit the rusty patched bumble bee.
    [Show full text]
  • Understanding Habitat Effects on Pollinator Guild Composition in New York State and the Importance of Community Science Involvem
    SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry Digital Commons @ ESF Dissertations and Theses Fall 11-18-2019 Understanding Habitat Effects on Pollinator Guild Composition in New York State and the Importance of Community Science Involvement in Understanding Species Distributions Abigail Jago [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.esf.edu/etds Part of the Environmental Monitoring Commons, and the Forest Biology Commons Recommended Citation Jago, Abigail, "Understanding Habitat Effects on Pollinator Guild Composition in New York State and the Importance of Community Science Involvement in Understanding Species Distributions" (2019). Dissertations and Theses. 117. https://digitalcommons.esf.edu/etds/117 This Open Access Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by Digital Commons @ ESF. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertations and Theses by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ ESF. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected]. UNDERSTANDING HABITAT EFFECTS ON POLLINATOR GUILD COMPOSITION IN NEW YORK STATE AND THE IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNITY SCIENCE INVOLVEMENT IN UNDERSTANDING SPECIES DISTRIBUTIONS By Abigail Joy Jago A thesis Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Master of Science Degree State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry Syracuse, New York November 2019 Department of Environmental and Forest Biology Approved by: Melissa Fierke, Major Professor/ Department Chair Mark Teece, Chair, Examining Committee S. Scott Shannon, Dean, The Graduate School In loving memory of my Dad Acknowledgements I have many people to thank for their help throughout graduate school. First, I would like to thank my major professor, Dr.
    [Show full text]