Diversity of Bees in Trees and Their Foraging Preferences on an Urban College Campus

Pollinators collect nutrients from blooming flowers; pollen provides proteins and fats, nectar provides carbohydrates. The few plants that bloom during early Spring are trees such as crabapple (Malus sp). Current research however, mainly focuses on pollinators that forage on the ground and overlooks pollinators foraging in the canopy of trees. Past research showed increased generalization of pollen foraging in bees as seasons move from spring to summer. Here I identified which bee species forage in the canopy on Providence College campus and will analyze the pollen collected using microscopy. This data can inform more specific research on diet breadth, foraging behavior, conservation, etc. Summer research funded by the Walsh Student Research Fellowship, presented at the RI Summer Undergraduate Research Symposium

Diversity of Bees in Trees on Urban College Campus

Aidan Castricone ’24, Major: Environmental Biology Courtney Caccamo ’23 Majors: Environmental Biology and Psychology Faculty Mentor: Dr. Rachael Bonoan, Biology It is well known that insect pollinator populations are declining and a lack of nutrients (i.e flowering plants) may be contributing to this decline. Insect pollinators forage for pollen and nectar, which provides proteins, fats, and carbohydrates, from flowering plants. Current research on pollinator foraging behavior focuses on pollinators that forage on the ground thus overlooking those that forage in trees. Trees such as Kousa dogwood (Cornus kousa) and crabapple (Malus sp.) bloom in early Spring, even before herbaceous perennials and forbs. Thus, trees are likely the only source for early flying pollinators to find food. On Providence College’s campus, we studied bees foraging in trees using traps strung up via a pulley system. We chose 14 tree species that are likely to be pollinator-friendly based on past research and flowering times. Each tree had traps strung up both in the canopy and at the base. Each week contents of traps were collected and bees were pinned and identified to genus and, when possible, species. Pinned specimens were added to the Providence Pollinators reference collection and inform on-campus tree management for pollinator conservation

How to Identify Various Sparrow Species

A helpful infographic on how to differentiate between four little brown birds: the house sparrow, the song sparrow, the white-throated sparrow, and the swamp sparrow. Animal behavior (BIO 350/350L) final projec

Diversity of Bees in Trees on an Urban College Campus

It is well known that insect pollinator populations are declining and a lack of nutrients (i.e flowering plants) may be a contributor to this decline. Insect pollinators forage for pollen and nectar, which provides proteins, fats, and carbohydrates, from flowering plants. Current research on pollinator foraging behavior focuses on pollinators that forage on the ground thus overlooking those that forage in trees. Trees such as Kousa dogwood (Cornus kousa) and crabapple (Malus sp.) bloom in early Spring, even before herbaceous perennials and forbs. Thus trees are likely the only places for early flying pollinators to find food. On Providence College campus, I studied bees foraging in trees using traps strung up via a pulley system. I chose 14 tree species that are likely to be pollinator-friendly based on past research and flowering times. Each tree had traps strung up both in the canopy and at the base. Each week contents of traps were collected and bees were pinned and identified to genus and when possible species. Pinned specimens will contribute to the Providence Pollinators reference collection and inform on-campus tree management for pollinator conservation. Summer research funded by the Walsh Student Research Fellowship, presented at the RI Summer Undergraduate Research Symposiu

Asset values of trees vary among age and condition

Trees are utilized everywhere for visual, physical or functional means with an example being on Providence College campus. We have 1,403 trees part of an inventory and management plan. As part of this plan that was updated this past December 2021 each tree has an asset value calculated with consideration of the size, species, condition, and location. What was not clear in the management plan was whether one factor held more weight in the calculated value compared to another factor. This research focuses on the influence that the age and condition of the tree have on the tree asset value. BIO 340 final projec

Diversity of Bees in Trees and Their Foraging Preferences on an Urban College Campus

Pollinators collect nutrients from blooming flowers; pollen provides proteins and fats, nectar provides carbohydrates. The few plants that bloom during early Spring are trees such as crabapple (Malus sp). Current research however, mainly focuses on pollinators that forage on the ground and overlooks pollinators foraging in the canopy of trees. Past research showed increased generalization of pollen foraging in bees as seasons move from spring to summer. Here I identified which bee species forage in the canopy on Providence College campus and will analyze the pollen collected using microscopy. This data can inform more specific research on diet breadth, foraging behavior, conservation, etc. Summer research funded by the Walsh Student Research Fellowship, presented at the RI Summer Undergraduate Research Symposium

The Efficacy of Comedy

The Efficacy of Comedy: Focusing on the efficacy of comedy as a genre, utilizing Aristotle, Nietzsche, and Heidegger’s philosophy. It begins with a historical analysis of the efficacy of comedy in Ancient 4th and 5th century Athens focusing on Aristotle’s conceptions of comedy. It analyses what Aristotle wrote about comedy and attempts a reconstruction of what his book on comedy from the poetics may have said. It then examines the shift to aesthetics rather than the Philosophy of Art with a focus on Kant and the Critique of Judgment. Comedy here is used as an interpretive tool in order to highlight the shortcomings of Aesthetics. It then examines comedy and its potential for being a truly great art form and explicates a Heideggerian interpretation of comedy. This novel interpretation describes two types of comedy: True comedy and Fallen comedy. Finally, it provides a Nietzschean perspective, particularly as it pertains to the power of comedy and laughter and its ability to overcome the exclusive mono-perspective found in the ascetic ideal and its overestimation of the efficacy of truth in our contemporary context

Diversity of Bees in Trees on an Urban College Campus

It is well known that insect pollinator populations are declining and a lack of nutrients (i.e flowering plants) may be a contributor to this decline. Insect pollinators forage for pollen and nectar, which provides proteins, fats, and carbohydrates, from flowering plants. Current research on pollinator foraging behavior focuses on pollinators that forage on the ground thus overlooking those that forage in trees. Trees such as Kousa dogwood (Cornus kousa) and crabapple (Malus sp.) bloom in early Spring, even before herbaceous perennials and forbs. Thus trees are likely the only places for early flying pollinators to find food. On Providence College campus, I studied bees foraging in trees using traps strung up via a pulley system. I chose 14 tree species that are likely to be pollinator-friendly based on past research and flowering times. Each tree had traps strung up both in the canopy and at the base. Each week contents of traps were collected and bees were pinned and identified to genus and when possible species. Pinned specimens will contribute to the Providence Pollinators reference collection and inform on-campus tree management for pollinator conservation. Summer research funded by the Walsh Student Research Fellowship, presented at the RI Summer Undergraduate Research Symposiu