D3113: Effect of fire frequency on pollinator nesting and foraging in Florida longleaf pine flatwoods

Ground-nesting bees and wasps are critical pollinators in southeastern longleaf pine flatwoods. Longleaf pine flatwoods have one of the shortest burn regimes of any pine forest, but there is still debate about the best fire frequency management for these habitats. There is little research on how fire frequency affects ground-nesting pollinators in this ecosystem. This study sought to assess how ground-nesting bees and wasps are affected by fire frequency. Research took place in a long-term fire frequency experiment within a Northern Florida longleaf pine flatwood, with three fire frequencies (1, 2, and 4 years) and an unburned control. I used soil emergence traps to assess bee and wasp nesting rates and success, and hand netting from flowers to assess bee and wasp foraging rates. To characterize ground nesting microhabitat, I measured bare ground, soil bulk density, litter, A-horizon depth, and soil moisture across treatments. Results to date have found that pollinator foraging and nesting rates vary across burn treatments. A diversity of taxa belonging to at least 4 families of bees and 6 families of pollinating wasps have been found. Early results show more bees and pollinating wasps in emergence traps in the 1 and 2-year burn treatments than in 4-year and unburned treatments. This suggests that ground-nesting pollinators may benefit from shorter burn frequencies.