Identifying pollinator communities visiting berry-producing plants on coastal barrens

Abstract

There is a lack of research on the pollinator communities of flowering plant species within coastal barren habitats. This study examined four closely related plant species in the Ericaceae that have a similar flower structure: Vaccinium angustifolium, Gaylussacia baccata, Gaylussacia bigeloviana, and Gaultheria procumbens. They were studied at four coastal barren sites within Halifax County, Nova Scotia. At each site, pollinator collection and observations were carried out, as well as vegetation surveys to identify available foraging resources. Pollinators were identified down to morphospecies. A total of 145 insect pollinators, comprised of 32 morphospecies were collected. Results identified pollinator assemblages. There were significant correlations between all pollinator variables (catches, visits, richness) and the number of flowers on the target species. G. baccata and G. bigeloviana displayed higher pollinator diversity and had significantly more flowers than the other two target plant species. This study is one of the first to document and record pollinator communities of berry-producing plant species and underlines the importance of understanding plant-pollinator interactions.