Response of Bumble Bees and Other Native Pollinators to Wildflowers and Habitat Patch Size

Abstract

agricultural ecosystems as they are one of the most diverse groups of arthropods. However, these pollinators are sensitive to variables of habitat fragmentation and environmental changes. Colony collapse disorder, which has drastically lowered managed honey bee numbers, has brought about a focus to increase native bee numbers to offset possible agricultural and economical damages. Recent research has shown that one approach to conserving native bees in resource-limited habitats is providing them with areas containing native wildflowers that bloom throughout the season. Our study aimed to build upon this knowledge and test the importance of wildflower plot size for supporting bumble bees and the pollination services they provide to the wildflowers.