Plant-Pollinator Interactions of the Oak-Savanna: Evaluation of Community Structure and Dietary Specialization
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Plant-Pollinator Interactions of the Oak-Savanna: Evaluation of Community Structure and Dietary Specialization by Tyler Thomas Kelly B.Sc. (Wildlife Biology), University of Montana, 2014 Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in the Department of Biological Sciences Faculty of Science © Tyler Thomas Kelly 2019 SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY SPRING 2019 Copyright in this work rests with the author. Please ensure that any reproduction or re-use is done in accordance with the relevant national copyright legislation. Approval Name: Tyler Kelly Degree: Master of Science (Biological Sciences) Title: Plant-Pollinator Interactions of the Oak-Savanna: Evaluation of Community Structure and Dietary Specialization Examining Committee: Chair: John Reynolds Professor Elizabeth Elle Senior Supervisor Professor Jonathan Moore Supervisor Associate Professor David Green Internal Examiner Professor [ Date Defended/Approved: April 08, 2019 ii Abstract Pollination events are highly dynamic and adaptive interactions that may vary across spatial scales. Furthermore, the composition of species within a location can highly influence the interactions between trophic levels, which may impact community resilience to disturbances. Here, I evaluated the species composition and interactions of plants and pollinators across a latitudinal gradient, from Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada to the Willamette and Umpqua Valleys in Oregon and Washington, United States of America. I surveyed 16 oak-savanna communities within three ecoregions (the Strait of Georgia/ Puget Lowlands, the Willamette Valley, and the Klamath Mountains), documenting interactions and abundances of the plants and pollinators. I then conducted various multivariate and network analyses on these communities to understand the effects of space and species composition on community resilience. In addition, I evaluated the pollen composition and floral visit patterns of a mid-sized mining-bee, Andrena angustitarsata, to understand how foraging preferences and dietary specialization may change across space and with varying floral compositions. I found that spatial scales had an effect on species compositions, the interactions between plants and insects, and the foraging preferences of pollinators. I learned that some groups of pollinators may provide stability in networks by increasing generalized interactions and reducing specialization. Additionally, the foraging preferences, A. angustitarsata, were conserved across spatial scales, despite fluctuations in plant compositions and abundances. However, A. angustitarsata is likely not oligolectic, a pollen specialist, because of its ability to facultatively forage on additional plants other than its preferred host plants. Overall, my results show that spatial scales can influence the composition and interactions of plants and pollinators, thus influencing the degree to which species interact and the ability of the community to maintain structure after a disturbance. Keywords: community structure; mutualistic networks; foraging preferences; ecoregions; specialization; pollen iii Dedication There is nothing more beautiful than the diversity of life. iv Acknowledgements First and foremost, I want to thank my supervisor Elizabeth Elle for your continued dedication to the progression of science, education, and ultimately your students. I appreciate how much you have guided and challenged me to become a better ecologist and taught me to embrace my passion for natural history both in my writing and my science. I think it is rare to find a supervisor so dedicated to their students that they will drop everything to drive seven hours to help survey pollinators in a rapidly drying season. I would also like to thank Jonathan Moore for providing a meaningful outside perspective to my research and to David Green for acting as my internal examiner and your previous assistance within my coursework. Much like anything, research ‘takes a village’, and I’d like to give my warmest thanks to all the folks who have provided feedback and support throughout my years at SFU. First, I would like to thank the people who helped me conduct my field studies; Emily Merlo, Elizabeth, Nicola Rammell, Genviève Reynolds, Michel, and Lora Morandin. In particular, want to give many thanks to Emily Merlo, for your spectacular resilience and dedication to continue collecting data despite having to trudge through poison-oak and head-high fields of allergy-inducing grass, not to mention the occasional unwanted tick. I wish you success with all of your endeavors and all the Mexican food your heart desires. Also thanks to Lora, Ben, and Chase for letting us use your lovely homes during the field season. I would like to thank my fellow lab mates, Sandy, Kyle, Michelle, and Allison, I am grateful for the advice and guidance with my study design and in my writing. And I want to give my sincere thanks to the many people who’ve helped me with coding and data analysis, Dan, Kurt, Colin, Jillian, Pascale, Michael, Richard, Philina and all the folks in Statz Beers, I’m so thankful for your assistance and patience. To all the land managers, office staff, and facilitators who were helpful with all my logistical needs. Thank you to Terry Griswald, H. Ikerd, Jamie Strange, Jason Gibbs, Tiia Haalpalainen, and the folks at Beaty Biodiversity Museum for help with identification. Furthermore, I want to thank the folks at Science World for celebrating diversity and to Julian Christians and all the folks who participated in the first Queer in STEM day at SFU. It is warming to see people dedicated to making science welcoming and accessible to all kinds of people. v Graduate school is so much about the people you’re with, as it is about the science and I do not think I would be anywhere without the support and friendship of so many amazing and brilliant people Thanks to Seb, Marie, Leslie, Jess, Michael, Colin, Serena, Darren, Deborah, Sarah, Mason, Eveling, Kirsten, Pauline, Kevin, Asim, Danielle, Tiia, Heather, Jayme, Merinde, and Sean for all the laughs, hikes, shenanigans, and late night talks. And I want to give a special thanks to Kurt, Michelle, Phelina, and Dan for not only providing brilliant advice and guidance these last few years, but also truly wonderful friendships. I am so honoured to have gotten to know each of you. Thank you to my family for your love and support. And ultimately, thank you to my incredible husband Michel for following me half-way across the continent so that I could pursue my dreams. In many regards, I could not have done this without your patience, encouragement, and love. vi Table of Contents Approval ............................................................................................................................. ii Abstract ............................................................................................................................. iii Dedication ......................................................................................................................... iv Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................... v Table of Contents ............................................................................................................. vii List of Tables ..................................................................................................................... ix List of Figures ................................................................................................................... xi List of Acronyms ............................................................................................................. xiii Glossary .......................................................................................................................... xiv Introductory Image ......................................................................................................... xvii Chapter 1. Introduction ............................................................................................... 1 References ........................................................................................................................ 6 Chapter 2. Effects of community composition on plant-pollinator interaction networks across a spatial gradient of oak-savanna habitats ......................... 10 Summary ......................................................................................................................... 10 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 10 Methods .......................................................................................................................... 13 Overview ..................................................................................................................... 13 Study Region & Sites .................................................................................................. 13 Study Design ............................................................................................................... 14 Flower Abundance Surveys and Habitat Characteristics ............................................ 14 Community analysis .................................................................................................... 15 Interaction Network Structure .....................................................................................