Presenter(s)

Samantha Urquidez

Comments

Presentation: 10:45 a.m.-12:00 p.m., Kennedy Union Ballroom

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Description

Background/Questions/Methods:On a global level, urbanization is increasing exponentially. As urban centers expand, agricultural areas are broken up and oftentimes overlap with urban and peri-urban areas. With urban agriculture becoming more prevalent, there is concern regarding the impact on insect pollinator biodiversity and abundance in these urban environments. There is currently little research looking at the classification of agriculture within urban and peri-urban areas as well as the land use surrounding these areas and how these factors impact pollinator activity. In the area surrounding Dayton, Ohio, 15 agricultural sites will be classified based on surrounding population density and land use. Using ArcGIS, data from the National Land Cover Database 2019, and the most up-to-date Census block group data for the counties of Miami, Montgomery, and Greene. Agricultural sites will be classified into urban, peri-urban, and rural based on population density, and the land use surrounding each site will be calculated into percentages based on developed areas, pollinator habitat, and water. Biological data will also be collected at each of these sites to estimate pollinator activity in the form of timed observations, pan traps, and passive netting. Each of these classifications will help us understand how geographical features impact insect pollinators in an urban agricultural setting. Results: The results suggest land use rather than population density shows a larger impact on pollinator activity at agricultural sites. Areas, where the surrounding area provided stable resources such as habitat and water, showed higher pollinator abundance than areas surrounded by developed urban areas with limited resources. Having water in the surrounding area of the agricultural sites also resulted in higher pollinator activity than in areas without a stable water resource. It is important to know what geographical factors impact pollinator activity levels so they can be considered when suggesting sites for future urban agriculture endeavors.

Publication Date

4-19-2023

Project Designation

Graduate Research

Primary Advisor

Chelse Prather, Chia-Yu Wu

Primary Advisor's Department

Biology

Keywords

Stander Symposium, College of Arts and Sciences

Institutional Learning Goals

Community; Critical Evaluation of Our Times; Practical Wisdom

Un-bee-lievable Ways Location Impacts Pollinators: Identifying Key Geographical Features That Promote Insect Pollinator Activity at Existing Agricultural Sites in an Urban Environment.

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