Grasslands provide many ecological goods and services; among these is the support of pollinators by providing critical habitat. Pollinators are critical for the reproduction of many plant species and support many agricultural crops, but pollinator nesting success in these systems is reduced because of intensive soil disturbance. Grasslands cover about 9 M ha of Alberta and are imbedded in a complex agricultural landscape that includes annual crops, such as canola, that can have improved yields as a result of pollination by native insects. However, very little is known about the abundance and diversity of bees and other insect pollinators in grasslands or how they are impacted by cattle management. We surveyed pollinators and plant cover in native grassland and annual cropland (n=70) throughout Alberta's grassland regions. We will present preliminary data examining landscape, cattle management and regional factors affecting pollinator diversity and abundance. In a separate study, we are examining the complex relationship between herbivory, plant response and the impact on resources used by pollinators. These projects will benefit beef producers through recognition of the critical role grasslands play in supporting two ecosystem services, pollination and biodiversity, and provide management practices that could increase the productivity of some rangeland plants while supporting pollinator communities.
Oral presentation and poster titles, abstracts, and authors from the Society for Range Management (SRM) Annual Meetings and Tradeshows, from 2013 forward.