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Bee Monitoring on Target Plants in Urban California and Urban Costa Rica

Bee Monitoring on Target Plants in Urban California and Urban Costa Rica. Gordon Frankie 1 Robbin Thorp 1 S.B. Vinson 2 Terry Griswold 3. 1 University of California, CA 2 Texas A & M University, TX 3 USDA-ARS Bee Biol./Systematics, Utah State Univ., Logan UT. Concept.

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Bee Monitoring on Target Plants in Urban California and Urban Costa Rica

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  1. Bee Monitoring on Target Plants in Urban California and Urban Costa Rica Gordon Frankie1 Robbin Thorp1 S.B. Vinson2 Terry Griswold3 1 University of California, CA 2 Texas A & M University, TX 3 USDA-ARS Bee Biol./Systematics, Utah State Univ., Logan UT

  2. Concept • Many plant spp. known to attract predictable groups of bee spp. • If diverse plant spp. and their diverse bee spp. are monitored at specific sites, info on bee diversity and abundance trends can be generated through time • Urban areas focus where target plants can be easily monitored. Plant predictability/stability important

  3. Goals • Develop simple monitoring methods for tracking diversity and population trends of bees through time • Explore outreach avenues for putting urban bee info into practical use

  4. Study Sites • CA: seven cities

  5. Study Sites • Costa Rica: Two cities in northwest

  6. Methods • Select “Target Plant Species.” Each has predictable groups of bee spp. visitors. • Baseline information important

  7. Monitor Target Plant Species thru Time • Conduct bee frequency counts (visitation) on Target Plants during optimal climatic and plant conditions: • a. warm temps. • b. little or no wind • c. high air pressure • d. vigorous flowering • e. peak periods of pollen/nectar flow

  8. Frequency Counts ~ 1.5m x 1.5m flower patches observed for 3 min. to record bee visits Follow counts with bee collections. ID later. Methods provides diversity and abundance info

  9. Methods cont. Method designed to be simple for professionals, univ. students, and trained citizen scientists and teachers Diverse urban gardens work best

  10. Ukiah, California

  11. Sacramento, California

  12. Some Uses California: 31 target ornamental plant spp.; mostly non-natives monitored [reduce to 17-18 species in future] Bee spp. diversity high in most cities

  13. Agapostemon texanus Melissodes sp. Hylaeus sp. Megachile perihirta

  14. Bee Species from 7 Surveyed Cities Location Families Genera Species Ukiah 5 24 67 Berkeley 5 25 82 Santa Barbara 5 19 60 La Canada 5 28 73

  15. Effects of Local Climate Change Drought: CA into second year of dryness 2006: Rainfall normal; Bee diver./abund. high 2007: Drought begins; first signs of bee decline 2008: Drought continues; bee decline obvious

  16. Some Results Cont. Costa Rica: High % of ornamental plants are native to CR. Allows for comparative studies of urban vs. adjacent wildlands 22 Target plant species [reduce to 12-13 in future]

  17. Currently: 2003-2008 Many native urban plants have same or similar bee diversity and abundance as conspecifics in wild areas A few have more; a few less

  18. Other Uses, Implications Outreach value: Interest high among variety of urban audiences Master Gardeners Arboreta and botanic gardens Native plant groups Garden clubs Plant nurseries Schools, teachers, kids (K-7th grade) Website info

  19. Scientific Inquiry Recognizing urban areas as habitats for pollinators Urban areas as genetic reserves for pollinators, esp. bees Jennifer Owen (1991) “The Ecology of a Garden; the first 15 years” Cambridge

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