Many pollinators across the globe are experiencing population threats and declines (Potts et al. 2010). Approximately 85 percent of the world’s flowering plants depend on animals, mostly insects, for pollination (Ollerton et al. 2011). As over 80 percent of the United States population lives in cities (U.S. Census Bureau 2016),...
Habitat for pollinating insects is declining, which is a concern for agricultural communities that rely on pollination services. Meanwhile, solar energy development is increasing as communities seek to source energy renewably. Land under solar panels is traditionally unused, so some communities are planting pollinator habitat under solar panel canopies to...
Native, wild bee populations play an important functional role in terrestrial ecosystems through pollination services. In recent years, increased attention has been paid to the importance of bumble bee species and their contribution to the agricultural economy, in large part because of the widespread losses of populations across landscapes, both...
Due to a growing body of literature documenting declines in pollinator populations, there has been increased public interest in pollinator conservation. In urban and suburban landscapes, many gardeners and urban land managers are interested in gardening for pollinators, particularly bees. Simultaneously, many homeowners and municipalities are interested in other aspects...
Bee populations are declining around the globe, while the need for their pollination services is increasing with growing food demands by an expanding population. There is a need for innovative practices to increase pollination in agricultural environments without harming wild bee populations. However, the use of artificial visual attractants has...
We have sufficient evidence that our historical management of natural resources is not sustainable. Food production is stagnating or declining. Nonrenewable energy sources on which the energy sector has historically depended are being rapidly depleted. Water resources, for which the energy and food sectors compete, are being depleted and impaired....
Dual use pasture systems, sometimes referred to as dual purpose pasture systems, take advantage of the land being used to maximize multiple outputs from a single area. Developing a system to support both production of grazing livestock as well as pollinator health is of increasing importance in pasture-based farming systems....
Bees play a crucial role in pollinating crops, supporting biodiversity, and maintaining ecosystem health. Despite their importance, the decline in bee populations has become a global concern due to various factors including habitat loss, urbanization, and climate change. The purpose of this thesis is to write an article that highlights...
This thesis includes a satirical novel and a short analytical reflection on the writing process and the general themes and takeaways from the novel itself. While the analytical reflection appears before the novel in the paper, they can be read in either order. The novel satirizes how people respond to...
Scientists have long recognized that bees and other insects respond to floral color, including ultraviolet (UV) floral patterns that are invisible to the human eye. While previous research has focused on isolating and capturing these UV markings in laboratory settings, methods that could be used in natural settings needed to...