The influence of field soil conditions on plant productivity and native bee visitation
Open Access
- Author:
- Buck, Bryce
- Area of Honors:
- Geography
- Degree:
- Bachelor of Science
- Document Type:
- Thesis
- Thesis Supervisors:
- Erica A H Smithwick, Thesis Supervisor
Roger Michael Downs, Thesis Honors Advisor - Keywords:
- pollinators
GIS
soils
agriculture
landscape ecology
botany - Abstract:
- Soil characteristics, such as texture, organic matter, and pH levels, are known to impact the physiology of plants, including their floral traits which can lead to variation in pollinator visitation rates. However, the influence of soil characteristics on the relationship between plants and pollinators has not been studied comprehensively. Here, I examined how field soil characteristics affect plant growth, floral traits, and pollinator visitation in plains coreopsis (Coreopsis tinctoria) and partridge pea (Chamaecrista fasciculata). Six field soils were collected near Ithaca, NY; the selected sites varied in their landscape characteristics and plant communities. For each of the six soils and two controls (fertilized and unfertilized peat-based medium), I tested fertility and chemical composition. In the controlled conditions of a greenhouse, for each of the eight soil types, I conducted weekly measures of plant height and number of flowers. The grown plants were then taken to a field setting to measure pollinator visitation rates. The data demonstrated that the soil composition varied across the six sites, and the field-collected soil was very distinct from the control soils. Soil composition substantially impacted plant productivity, floral traits, and pollinator visitation rates. Control soils produced larger plants with more floral resources, but pollinator visitations were more likely to occur on plants grown in the field soils. Phosphorus content and pH level were proven to statistically influence the visitation rates of native bee populations. Across the Finger Lakes region of New York, 287,123.28 acres of land has soils with these characteristics suitable for potential pollinator plantings (22.9% of the land surface) that could aid in the restoration of declining native bee populations in the area.