Are native bees picky enough? The effect of an invasive plant, <i>Linaria vulgaris</i>, on the foraging of native bee pollinators

Abstract

Invasive and native plant interactions are well studied, but the influence of invasive plants on native pollination systems is largely ignored. Native pollinators, specifically bees, feed their young with pollen and nectar they harvest from plants. An invasive plant could greatly augment the foraging patterns of the bees, especially if the plant has large nectar and pollen rewards. In 2004 and 2006, pollen balls were collected from Bombus appositus and analyzed to determine pollen composition. In 2004, 28.1% of the pollen found in Bombus appositus pollen balls was Delphinum barbeyi, and 24.9% of the pollen came from the invasive species, Linaria vulgaris. In 2006, 98.3% of the pollen in Bombus appositus pollen balls was from Linaria vulgaris, and only 1.5% was Delphinum barbeyi. Preliminarily, from the changes in proportions of pollen species found in pollen balls it is possible that Linaria vulgaris, the invasive species, is causing bees to change their foraging patterns between years.

Knowledge graph centered on Are native bees picky enough? The effect of an inv with 48 nodes and 87 connections. Top connected: Bombus, Delphinium, Bombus terrestris, Bombus appositus, B. appositus.

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References (16)

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