Université Laval
M.Sc. candidate
Supervisor: Valérie Fournier
Start: 2022-09-05
End: 2024-08-30

Project

Evaluation of the impact of the composition and structure of sown flower strips along the edge of fields as a tool for the conservation of bumblebees in Montérégie
Pollinators have been declining significantly in recent decades. A frequently used conservation tool is the creation of flower strips along the edges of fields. They aim to provide quality habitat and food resources for pollinators. The maintenance of these strips, their width and their composition in floral species can influence the response of pollinators. The objective of this project is to evaluate the impact of the floral species composition and width of flower strips on the abundance and species richness of bumblebee populations in Montérégie. To do so, the project will be carried out on 24 field crop farms in this region. Different seed mixtures and different strip widths will be studied. A monthly inventory of bumblebee populations will be carried out locally and at the farm level. Finally, this project will determine the characteristics that flower strips must have to be effective conservation tools for bumblebee species in Quebec.

Keywords

Bombus, Aménagements, Pollinisateurs, Écologie des communautés, entomologie, Espèces en péril, Écologie du paysage