Powerline right-of-way management and flower-visiting insects: How vegetation management can promote pollinator diversity.

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  • Additional Information
    • Source:
      Publisher: Public Library of Science Country of Publication: United States NLM ID: 101285081 Publication Model: eCollection Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1932-6203 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 19326203 NLM ISO Abbreviation: PLoS One Subsets: MEDLINE
    • Publication Information:
      Original Publication: San Francisco, CA : Public Library of Science
    • Subject Terms:
      Biodiversity* ; Flowers* ; Models, Biological* ; Pollination*; Bees/*physiology; Animals
    • Abstract:
      Loss in the availability of early successional habitat is a threat to pollinator populations. Given that powerline rights-of-way (ROW) must be managed to maintain early successional habitat, preventing vegetation from interfering with electrical lines, they have the potential to provide conservation benefits for wild pollinators. Moreover, it is possible to provide conservation benefits with no additional cost to land managers. We surveyed flower-visiting insects over two years in different vegetation management treatments in a long-term research ROW to determine which best promoted pollinator abundance and species richness. We found that the ROW had stabilized in an early successional state soon after its establishment and that this early successional state could be maintained with low levels of periodic maintenance. We collected a high diversity of flower-visiting insects (126 bee species and 179 non-bee morphospecies) in six ROW plots. Higher levels of herbicide application had a negative effect on bee species richness, but low levels of herbicide application were compatible with a high abundance and species richness of flower-visiting insects, including several rare species. Moreover, this effect was seen only in the bee community, and not in non-bee flower-visiting insects. Our results suggest further research into the conservation value of ROW for pollinators is warranted. We demonstrate that there is substantial potential for pollinator conservation in ROW, compatible with low-cost vegetation management.
      Competing Interests: We received funding from commercial sources: DOW Agro Industries, Asplundh, First Energy, and PECO Energy. These funders did not place any restrictions on the publication of data. This funding does not alter our adherence to PLOS ONE policies on sharing data and materials.
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    • Publication Date:
      Date Created: 20210106 Date Completed: 20210510 Latest Revision: 20231104
    • Publication Date:
      20231215
    • Accession Number:
      PMC7787533
    • Accession Number:
      10.1371/journal.pone.0245146
    • Accession Number:
      33406124