Thesis
A qualitative survey of native bees in and near alfalfa (Medicago sativa) seed fields in Washington State
Washington State University
Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
2014
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/101718
Abstract
The United States is one of the largest producers of alfalfa seed in the world. In Washington State, three primary commercial pollinators mediate alfalfa pollination and seed set: the honey bee, the alkali bee, and the alfalfa leaf-cutting bee. With the introduction of genetically modified Roundup Ready Alfalfa registered to Monsanto, and in context with foreign markets, it is important to survey native pollinator species that might facilitate alfalfa gene flow in order to mitigate the spread of the Roundup Ready gene to conventional, organic, and feral populations of alfalfa. A combination of sweep netting and 25 meter bee bowl transects was used to survey seed fields and nearby native habitat of the Touchet Valley and Wapato, WA for a total of 19 weeks during the summers of 2012 and 2013. A total of 3,917 bees of 58 different species or genera were caught via bee bowl during the summer of 2013. Of those, Agapostemon texanus, Lasioglossum (Dialictus) spp., Halictus tripartitus, Halictus farinosus, Agapostemon femoratus, and Diadasia enavata were the most frequently caught native pollinators in v seed fields. Of those six species, A. texanus, H. farinosus, A. femoratus, and D. enavata are most likely to facilitate gene flow in alfalfa.
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Details
- Title
- A qualitative survey of native bees in and near alfalfa (Medicago sativa) seed fields in Washington State
- Creators
- Amelia Angela Jordan
- Contributors
- Douglas B. Walsh (Degree Supervisor)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Entomology, Department of
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University; [Pullman, Washington] :
- Identifiers
- 99900525288501842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Thesis