D3131: Live free and pollinate: An investigation of native bee communities in apple orchards across New Hampshire

This investigation examines the diversity and abundance of bee species in apple orchards during the bloom period across New Hampshire. Native bees are vital pollinators for apple trees, ensuring orchard productivity. Twenty six orchards were selected from every county in the state over a fourteen-day period.The sampling methods involved timed 15-minute collecting events. For each orchard, three separate 100-meter transects were selected: one within a row of Macintosh apples, another along the center of the orchard, and a third at the orchard's edge. A total of 6 collecting events took place at each transect on every orchard, resulting in 468 collecting events overall. Additionally, passive collecting was carried out using ten yellow pan traps placed at intervals of every 32 feet along each transect. Specimens were classified to the species level, and statistical analyses explored relationships between bee populations and orchard practices and landscape characteristics. This research in progress investigates the impact of orchard management practices on the species richness and diversity of native bees.