Private, working forests provide unique opportunities for biodiversity research and management. Even-aged management often creates a heterogeneous mosaic of forest stands in southeastern loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) landscapes, with stands containing structural and compositional characteristics that support different bee functional groups. Interspersion of different structural conditions, combined with roads separating adjacent stands, leads to prevalence of edges across much of the landscape, which may have varying effects on bee species. I evaluated how landscape heterogeneity and presence of edge influences functional diversity in wild bee (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Anthophila) communities during the summers of 2022 and 2023. Open conditions within early successional stands and along stand edges, with more floral diversity and exposed bare soil for nesting, benefit the overall bee community, though some species respond differently due to differences in their nesting strategies. The heterogeneous mosaic of working pine forests thus have the potential to support diverse bee communities.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:MSSTATE/oai:scholarsjunction.msstate.edu:td-7190 |
| Date | 10 May 2024 |
| Creators | Stoecker, Madalyn |
| Publisher | Scholars Junction |
| Source Sets | Mississippi State University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | Theses and Dissertations |
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