What Factors Influence the Decrease in Native Pollinating Insects in the Adirondacks?
Mentor: Dr. William Romey Department: Biology (SUNY Potsdam) Insect pollinators are critical to the stability of natural ecosystems and agriculture. Bee pollinated crops account for 30% of human food and insects are responsible for pollinating approximately 67% of flowering plants worldwide. It follows that a decline in pollinators is a serious threat to the stability of natural ecosystems. However the vast majority of these pollinators are not the well known imported honeybee (Apis mellifera), but native species of hymenoptera and diptera (flies) that by-and-large remain unnoticed. Precipitous declines in the species diversity and abundance of pollinators have been documented in the U.S. as well as around the world. However, there is little information on the rate and causes of this decline. In this project students will be involved in an ongoing project examining several potential factors, which may lead to a decline in the native pollinators in the high peak areas of the Adirondack
