Spatiotemporal variability and foraging behavior of bee visitors to a rare long-lived iteroparous forb, Silene spaldingii (Caryophyllaceae).

ABSTRACT: Silene spaldingii S Watson is a rare long-lived forb (Caryophyllaceae) found primarily in open native grasslands of the Inland Pacific Northwest and is putatively pollinated by one key bumble bee pollinator, Bombus fervidus (Fabricius). However, populations of bumble bees and their visitation patterns can vary dramatically, and some species are in decline including B. fervidus. Understanding the role of co-pollinators such as sweat bees (Halictidae) could be crucial as the plight of rare plants and pollinators intensifies. We collected data across three seasons (2015-2017) on the Bombus-S. spaldingii pollination system, focusing on three Key Conservation Areas in the Channeled Scablands of eastern Washington. Bee visitors to S. spaldingii were monitored and the pool-of-pollinators was surv

SUBMITTER: Hatten TD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11494118 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature