D3182: (1st Place) Influence of agricultural landscapes on pollinator visitation to sentinel flowers observed with time lapse cameras

Pollinators are a vital part of the agroecosystem and surrounding landscapes. They provide key pollination services to crops and wildflowers. However, there have been decreases in global pollinator populations which can have negative impacts on agroecosystems and natural habitats. The goal of our study is to better understand pollinator behavior by using time lapse cameras. Using these cameras to passively record wildlife can increase observations and allow for documenting of insect abundance in the field and help to model conservation strategies. Over two summers, we monitored insect activity at the edge and center of crop fields and grasslands at six sites in Hayes County, Nebraska. Brinno TLC200 Pro time lapse cameras were focused on sentinel plants (Dwarf sunflower, Helianthus annuus variety ‘Sunspot’), taking one photo per minute for a 12-hour period. Images were visually analyzed and flower visits by bees (Apoidea) were quantified. Overall, more bee visits were observed in 2022 than 2023. The drought conditions in 2022 may have caused sentinel plants to be more attractive to pollinators. Sentinel plants in the grassland fields had higher activity than plants in the crop fields. Having more abundance of flowering forbs in the surrounding landscape and within the bees’ flight range may have attracted more pollinators. These results suggest that grasslands support bee communities within agroecosystems. Encouraging the conservation of grasslands and avoiding pesticide applications when crops are in bloom can support the wild bee community.