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Master's Thesis_Cheyenne Helton.pdf (1.6 MB)

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Better Together: Forest and Open Habitat Support Bumble Bees in Late Summer

Helton, Cheyenne L
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1700500760592104

Abstract Details

2023, Master of Science, Ohio State University, Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology.
Bumble bees must forage continuously during their long flight periods. Floral resources change spatially and temporally, leading bumble bees to forage from different flower species. As the growing season progresses, flower availability shifts between habitats. These habitats may offer distinct floral resources for bumble bees to collect pollen and nectar. To properly conserve bumble bee habitat, we must determine where bumble bees find their food. Late summer is an especially important time in the bumble bee life cycle, as the colony shifts from producing non-reproducing workers to producing reproductives (i.e., gynes and males). Determining the habitats and plants bumble bees forage from in late summer is important for effective habitat management to support these essential pollinators. I investigated the floral availability and wild bumble bee use of flowers in two habitats, forest and open habitat (fields and meadows). These habitats complement one another in the resources they offer to bumble bees. Through documenting flower visitation by bumble bees as well as floral abundance and richness, I determined the use and preference of flowers in these two habitats during late summer. Although bumble bees did not prefer one habitat over another, my data established that specific flower species were favored by bumble bees in both forest and open habitats. Bumble bee forage can influence colony success. My research unveils insights into bumble bee foraging patterns and their impact on reproductive success. Through collecting the foraged pollen from sentinel bumble bee colonies, I determined where bumble bees collect pollen in late summer. Pollen is essential and a limiting resource to bumble bees, contributing to colony size and adult bee size. I found that both forest and open habitats contribute significantly to colony reproductive success in their own respective ways. Collecting open habitat pollen enhanced the number of gynes produced within a colony. Meanwhile, colonies that collected more forest pollen developed larger gynes. Forest and open habitat complement each other by providing distinct forage for bumble bees in late summer. Both wild and sentinel bumble bees foraged in both habitats, collecting pollen to feed to their reproductives. Neglecting forest or open habitat resources in late summer jeopardizes the important floral species that sustain bumble bee colonies during this crucial period.
Karen Goodell (Advisor)
105 p.
Ecology; Entomology
bees; forest; open habitat; landcover; floral preference

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Helton, C. L. (2023). Better Together: Forest and Open Habitat Support Bumble Bees in Late Summer [Master's thesis, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1700500760592104

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Helton, Cheyenne. Better Together: Forest and Open Habitat Support Bumble Bees in Late Summer. 2023. Ohio State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1700500760592104.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Helton, Cheyenne. "Better Together: Forest and Open Habitat Support Bumble Bees in Late Summer." Master's thesis, Ohio State University, 2023. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1700500760592104

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1700500760592104
110
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This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.