Effects of Cultivation and Proximity to Natural Habitat on Ground-nesting Native Bees in California Sunflower Fields

• DOI: 10.2317/0507.11.1
• Publication Date: 2006-11-10T16:21:32Z
• Authors: John Kim; Neal Williams; Claire Kremen
• Keywords: Nesting (process)

Agricultural conversion is one of the most prevalent anthropogenic uses on terrestrial earth. Persistence organisms in such landscapes thought to be related species-specific characteristics as life history traits and dispersal distance. In an agricultural landscape California, we examined local (farm-level) variables associated with nesting preferences native ground-nesting bees. Compared known visitors crops, bee community farms was depauperate. Further, more abundant diverse communities bees were found at patches natural habitat near by than that far away from habitat. Species responded differently soil conditions created farming practices, but variability abundance lower These findings suggest species are affected adversely varying degrees intensification, habitats may buffer against population landscape. We present source/sink dynamics resource limitations possible explanations for observed patterns.