Partnering with statewide pollinator survey efforts to assess key pollinator habitat on campus

Background/Question/Methods

Pollinators are essential for transferring pollen from flower to flower, ensuring successful fertilization and reproduction for a variety of plant species. We rely on healthy and diverse populations of pollinators to ensure success of the agriculture industry, human health, and to maintain biologically productive ecosystems. As with other species, pollinator populations suffer from a variety of environmental stressors and there has been a growing concern about declines in many pollinator species, yet we lack comprehensive knowledge of the current distribution of native pollinators in many regions. In New York State, the New York Natural Heritage Program (NYNHP) initiated a multi-year study to survey and assess the distribution of native pollinators in the state. We partnered with the NYNHP to 1) contribute to understanding of pollinator distribution in the state, 2) assess the contribution of a suburban college campus to native pollinator populations, and 3) identify key habitats on campus and make recommendations to enhance native pollinator habitat on campus. We used standardized survey sampling using a combination of bee bowls and timed aerial sweep net protocols in five key habitats: forest, meadow, roadside, wetlands, and rain gardens on the Siena College campus.

Results/Conclusions

The number of native pollinator species were similar across habitats (range: 18-26), but the community similarity between habitats differed (Jaccard similarity index; range: 41-63.3%). The roadside and wetland habitats had the least unique pollinator species composition, whereas the two rain gardens differed the most from other habitats. The Siena College campus provides important habitats for many native pollinator species and contributes to overall regional biological diversity. A mixture of natural area habitats, combined with human-created habitats (e.g., rain gardens), can help boost the diversity of pollinators in human-dominated suburban areas.