The Effects of Exclusion Bags and Open-Top Chambers on Pollinator Activity

Abstract

It’s common for scientists to apply experimental practices that have worked well in another study to their own studies without a complete consideration of how that manipulation may impact their system. Open-top warming chambers and pollinator exclusion bags are two such common experimental manipulations that scientists may employ with unintended side effects. This study aims to understand the potential side effects that the presence of open-top chambers (OTCs) and exclusion bags may have on the pollination of open flowers at the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory in Gothic, CO. Pollinator observations were conducted at three sites on two plant species (Delphinium nuttallianum and Potentilla pulcherrima). Treatment plots were manipulated either by placing an OTC around the plants or placing exclusion bags over 50-75% of the flowers per plant. Control plots were left unmanipulated during the observations. Bags did not significantly impact pollinator activity on open flowers on bagged plants compared to control plants. However, OTCs significantly reduced the pollination rates of the flowers inside compared to flowers outside the OTCs. These results suggest that, while exclusion bags are suitable for continued use in pollination studies, OTCs have significant impacts that must be considered and understood before being used in systems that rely on pollination.

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