Spatial variation in bee abundance and diversity across southern Rocky Mountain habitats

Abstract

The structure of native bee assemblages and the nature of spatial variation of pollinator populations have direct effects on the reproductive success of plant species across their ranges and floral evolution. It is possible that changes in regional temperatures and precipitation are shifting foraging and nesting habitat preferences of bees. Very few studies have examined the habitat preferences of bees across variable landscapes and elevations, though the establishment of reference conditions is critical to future studies and the establishment of both plant and pollinator conservation schemes. Here, with the use of pan traps and hand netting, I sampled native bee populations across wet meadow, dry meadow, aspen understory and conifer understory as well as across an elevational gradient in an Apis-free region of the Western Slope of the Southern Rocky Mountains in Colorado, which has been experiencing increasing drought via reduced snowpack and earlier date of first bare ground. Floral phenology plots were also established at each site to track pollinator resources. In family-level analyses, when adjusted for sampling efforts, higher evenness was found in understories and higher variation in meadows. Floral diversity did not drive bee richness but did increase catch rates. Catch rates increased at higher elevation in dry meadows. Taken together, and in consideration of other observations and past studies, these data suggest a degree of spatial variation in bee community composition that is likely correlated with floral phenology and resource abundance. Key words: bees, spatial variation, phenology, community composition, pollination

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