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<p>Ground-nesting bees and wasps are critical pollinators in longleaf pine flatwoods, an ecosystem that is dependent on fire. Frequency of fire can determine impacts on biodiversity, but what frequency is optimal for ground-nesting pollinators is generally unknown. This study examined how ground-nesting bees and wasps are affected by fire frequency within a long-term experiment in north Florida including three fire frequencies (burned every 1, 2, or 4&#xa0;years) and unburned controls maintained since 1958. We used soil emergence traps to assess bee and wasp nesting and measured bee foraging on flowers. We found greater richness and abundance of bees collected in emergence traps in 1 and 2-year burn treatments than in 4-year and unburned controls. Additionally, richness and abundance of wasps collected in emergence traps was greater in all three burn treatments as compared to unburned controls. The richness and abundance of bees foraging on flowers was highest in 2 and 4-year burn treatments as compared to 1-year burn treatments and unburned controls in early spring. These results suggest that ground-nesting pollinators prefer burned areas for nesting and that bees are especially sensitive to fire frequency, preferring frequently burned areas (every 1 or 2&#xa0;years). Additionally, burning supports plant-pollinator interactions, with bee foraging activity and diversity highest at intermediate fire frequencies (2 and 4-year) in early spring. Thus, maintaining a mosaic of fire frequences including areas burned every 1, 2, and 4&#xa0;years could be optimal for maintaining both nesting and foraging resources for both bees and wasps.</p>

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Frequent Fire Supports Ground-Nesting Bees and Wasps in Florida Longleaf Pine Flatwoods

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年6月11日

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  • Lillian J. G. Fulton,
  • Michael D. Ulyshen,
  • Rachel E. Mallinger

摘要

Ground-nesting bees and wasps are critical pollinators in longleaf pine flatwoods, an ecosystem that is dependent on fire. Frequency of fire can determine impacts on biodiversity, but what frequency is optimal for ground-nesting pollinators is generally unknown. This study examined how ground-nesting bees and wasps are affected by fire frequency within a long-term experiment in north Florida including three fire frequencies (burned every 1, 2, or 4 years) and unburned controls maintained since 1958. We used soil emergence traps to assess bee and wasp nesting and measured bee foraging on flowers. We found greater richness and abundance of bees collected in emergence traps in 1 and 2-year burn treatments than in 4-year and unburned controls. Additionally, richness and abundance of wasps collected in emergence traps was greater in all three burn treatments as compared to unburned controls. The richness and abundance of bees foraging on flowers was highest in 2 and 4-year burn treatments as compared to 1-year burn treatments and unburned controls in early spring. These results suggest that ground-nesting pollinators prefer burned areas for nesting and that bees are especially sensitive to fire frequency, preferring frequently burned areas (every 1 or 2 years). Additionally, burning supports plant-pollinator interactions, with bee foraging activity and diversity highest at intermediate fire frequencies (2 and 4-year) in early spring. Thus, maintaining a mosaic of fire frequences including areas burned every 1, 2, and 4 years could be optimal for maintaining both nesting and foraging resources for both bees and wasps.