Department Chair

Pennuto

Date of Award

5-2025

Access Control

Open Access

Department

Biology

Advisor

Dr. Robert Warren II

Abstract

Abstract

Thermal gradients created by large water bodies can significantly influence ectothermic insect behavior and community structure. This study examined the effect of Lake Ontario’s springtime thermal gradients on the distribution and abundance of two key pollinator taxa—Hymenoptera and Diptera—within an agricultural landscape. Blue vane traps were deployed at ground level and 1-meter height across 24 plots along three inland transects in a Lake Ontario coastal orchard. More than 14,000 insects were collected between April and June 2024, including 2,245 Diptera and 1,137 Hymenoptera. Maximum temperatures increased with distance from the lake and with trap height, whereas Dipteran abundance increased more sharply with warming than did Hymenopteran abundance. Diptera were more abundant overall, especially nearer to the lake, suggesting greater cold tolerance as well. Both taxa exhibited higher abundance in elevated traps, indicating possible avoidance of colder microclimates near the soil surface. Pollinator richness increased later in the season and was greater at higher trap heights, but did not differ between Diptera and Hymenoptera. These findings suggest that thermal moderation near coastal regions may extend foraging opportunities for Diptera in early spring and that vertical thermal microgradients influence pollinator activity. As springtime pollination services become increasingly sensitive to climatic variability, understanding the thermal niches of different pollinator taxa is critical in temperate regions.

Comments

Some formatting needed:

1. Figures and Table contents need page numbers

2. Typically, there will be an 'Acknowledgments' blurb just before Table of Contents

3. Check citations of Sommer & Wehner and Streinzer et al. They have odd formatting.

4. Pre-text pages are numbered with low case Roman numerals i, ii, iii, iv, etc and numbers are placed in the UPPER RIGHT corner.

5. Text pages (beginning with Introduction) start on page 1 and are placed either at bottom middle or bottom right.

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