Degree Name
MS (Master of Science)
Program
Biology
Date of Award
8-2023
Committee Chair or Co-Chairs
Gerardo Arceo-Gomez
Committee Members
Thomas Jones, Dhirendra Kumar
Abstract
Urbanization is among the greatest threats to biodiversity on the planet, and is projected to increase in magnitude in coming years. This growing threat makes it important to better understand how urbanization may impact vital ecosystem services, such as pollination. Studies on the impact of urbanization on pollination vary wildly in their findings. This study analyzed multiple aspects of pollination success in common milkweed populations varying in urbanization level, including insect community composition, pollen removal/deposition, and fruit/seed production. By analyzing multiple pollination aspects we can determine the overall mechanism in which urbanization instills on the entire pollination process. Overall, urbanization increased insect visitation rate, and altered insect composition, with small bees and bugs/beetles having a larger presence in urbanized areas. Pollen removal also increased with urbanization, while other factors of pollination success were unaltered. These results suggest that increased urbanization can differentially impact components of the pollination process.
Document Type
Thesis - embargo
Recommended Citation
Rockow, David, "Impacts of Urbanization on Pollination Success for Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca)" (2023). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Paper 4235. https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/4235
Copyright
Copyright by the authors.