Pollen harvest by honey bees in Saguaro National Monument: Potential effects on plant reproduction
Buchmann S, O'Rourke MK, Shipman CW, Thoenes SC, Schmidt JO. 1991. Pollen harvest by honey bees in Saguaro National Monument: Potential effects on plant reproduction. Carl Hayden Bee Research Center. Tucson, AZ
A research apiary of five honeybee colonies was established in the west unit of Saguaro National Monument during April, 1987. The hives were fitted with O.A.C. pollen traps and monitored weekly from April, 1987 until January, 1991. Annual amounts of pollen trapped ranged from10.2 to 23.7 kg. Daily pollen amounts ranged from 0 - 282 g with a grand mean of 61.1 ¦ 9.0 (95% C1) grams/colony/day. There were 4 major periods of pollen availability, and concomitant bee harvesting, during each of the four years. Pollen diet breadth was quantified for nearby areas and extrapolated for managed and feral bee colonies within the monument. Honey bees are extreme pollen generalists consuming from 20-30% of all angiosperms with flight range (>80 km2) of their colonies. This generalist strategy likely has significant but unknown effects on the reproduction of the native flora.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Buchmann, Stephen; O'Rourke, Mary; Shipman, Charles; Thoenes, Steven; Schmidt, Justin
- Date of Issue
- 1991
- Publisher
- Carl Hayden Bee Research Center
- Units
- ORPI , SAGU
- Keywords
- APIS, bee colonies, beekeeping, Bees, Feral Animals, feral bees, Foraging, Harvest, honey bees, honeybees (Apis mellifera), IAR, Insects, Insects (Insecta), Native Species, Palynological Methods, Plant Studies, Plants, Pollen, pollen harvest, Proceedings, Reproduction, Research, Saguaro National Monument, Tucson Mountain District (SAGU)