Are we providing the preferred floral resources for bees in our neighborhoods? Relationships between small scale vegetation metrics and pollinator visitation in SE Portland
Due to the threat of losing our pollinators, there are many conservation actions such as pollinator friendly areas being constructed in cities around the globe, because of this there is a need for a greater understanding of the relationship between bees, and floral resources at a local landscape level. I assessed the relationship between blossom density, inflorescence type, cover, frequency, density and numbers of bees observed at three different pollinator friendly areas in South East Portland. This project utilized community science members to gather observational monitoring data at Johnson Creek Commons Rain Garden, SE Yukon Bioswales and Beyer Court Rain Garden in Lents, Oregon. I hypothesize several significant findings from my research, such as the relationship between small scale vegetation metrics and floral visitor activity, and a relationship between diversity and richness of sites and morpho-species groupings. The results of this study will be utilized in developing a deeper understanding of the relationship between pollinators and floral resources at a local landscape level, and in addition will provide recommendations for floral resources used in pollinator friendly projects in conservation areas in South East Portland
