University of Tennessee at Chattanooga UTC Scholar Student Research, Creative Works, and Honors Theses Publications 5-2021 An analysis of the pollinators of Echinacea purpurea in relation to their perceived efficiency and color efpr erences Carmen Black University of Tennessee at Chattanooga,
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[email protected]. An Analysis of the Pollinators of Echinacea purpurea in Relation to their Perceived Efficiency and Color Preferences Departmental Honors Thesis The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Department of Biology, Geology, and Environmental Sciences Examination Date: April 6th Dr. Stylianos Chatzimanolis Dr. Joey Shaw Professor of Biology Professor of Biology Thesis Director Department Examiner Dr. Elise Chapman Lecturer of Biology Department Examiner 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS I. Abstract …………..…………………….………………………… 3 II. Introduction…………..………………….……………………....... 5 III. Materials and Methods…………...………………………………. 11 IV. Results…………..…………………….………………………….. 16 A. List of Figures…………...……………………………….. 21 V. Discussion…………..………….…………………………...…… 28 VI. Acknowledgements………….……………….………...………… 38 VII. Works Cited ……………………………………...……….……… 39 VIII. Appendices……………………………………………………….. 43 3 ABSTRACT This study aimed to better understand how insects interacted with species of Echinacea in Tennessee and specifically their preference to floral color. Based on previous studies I expected the main visitors to be composed of various bees, beetles and butterflies.