Survey of wild bees in central Alberta – 2018
Citation
Prescott D, Wells M, Best L (2023). Survey of wild bees in central Alberta – 2018. Alberta Environment and Parks - Species at Risk program. Occurrence dataset https://doi.org/10.5886/gjdrpe accessed via GBIF.org on 2024-12-13.Description
During 2018, Alberta Environment and Parks conducted an inventory of bees (Hymenoptera: Anthophila) in central Alberta, Canada with focus on the Parkland Natural Region of the province. Blue vane traps were installed at 31 locations. Twenty-six sites were in or immediately adjacent to the Parkland Natural Region, two in the Grassland Natural Region, and three in the Boreal Forest Natural Region. Each trap was deployed for approximately two weeks within each summer month (May-August). Traps were usually situated where a variety of habitat types (forest, grass, water, agricultural) were in close proximity (<1 km), and usually on lands designated for habitat preservation such as parks, natural areas, and private conservation properties. The mean trapping duration over the summer at each site was 1275.2 hours with a range of 696-2547 hours. Survey results included 8808 bumble bees (Apidae: Bombus) of 22 species, which have been reported on elsewhere (https://data.canadensys.net/ipt/resource?r=bduc-bombus-specimens). We report here on the wild, non-Bombus species collected through this sampling program. A total of 4626 wild bees of 5 families (Andrenidae, Apidae, Colletidae, Halictidae, Megachilidae) and 25 genera were collected. The most common among the 82 identified species were Lasioglossum zonulum (n=1586), Melissodes confusus (n=1114) and Anthophora terminalis (n=629) which collectively made up 72.0% of specimens collected. L. zonulum and A. terminalis were the most widespread species (both at 29/31 sites), followed by L. leucozonium and M. confusus (25 and 23 sites, respectively). Twenty-three species were found at only a single site.Sampling Description
Study Extent
The study was conducted at 31 sites in central Alberta. Twenty-six sites were in or immediately adjacent to the Parkland Natural Region, two in the Grassland Natural Region, and three in the Boreal Forest Natural Region.Sampling
A single blue vane trap was deployed at each site for approximately two weeks within each summer month (May-August). Traps were usually situated where a variety of habitat types (forest, grass, water, agricultural) were in close proximity (<1 km), and usually on lands designated for habitat preservation such as parks, natural areas, and private conservation properties.Method steps
- Bees were captured and identified as pinned specimens. All bees collected during the study are housed at the University of Calgary Zoology Museum.
Taxonomic Coverages
Geographic Coverages
Central Alberta, Canada with focus on the Parkland Natural Region of the province.
Bibliographic Citations
Contacts
David Prescottoriginator
position: Senior Species at Risk Biologist
Alberta Environment and Parks
3rd fl Provincial Building 4920 - 51 Street
Red Deer
T4N 6K8
Alberta
CA
email: anthus29@shaw.ca
Michelle Wells
originator
position: Species at Risk Technician
Alberta Environment and Parks
3rd Floor, 4920 51st Street
Red Deer
T4N 6K8
Alberta
CA
email: mcw@telus.net
Lincoln Best
originator
position: Independent
Bee Taxonomist
2750 SW Campus Way, Oregon State University
Corvallis
97331
Oregon
US
email: lrbest@gmail.com
David Prescott
metadata author
position: Senior Species at Risk Biologist
Alberta Environment and Parks
3rd fl Provincial Building 4920 - 51 Street
Red Deer
T4N 6K8
Alberta
CA
email: anthus29@shaw.ca
John Swann
curator
position: Curator, Zoology Museum
University of Calgary
2500 University Drive NW
Calgary
T2N 1N4
Alberta
CA
email: jeswann@ucalgary.ca
David Prescott
administrative point of contact
position: Senior Species at Risk Biologist
Alberta Environment and Parks
3rd fl Provincial Building 4920 - 51 Street
Red Deer
T4N 6K8
Alberta
CA
email: anthus29@shaw.ca
Michelle Wells
administrative point of contact
position: Species at Risk Technician
Alberta Environment and Parks
3rd fl Provincial Building 4920 - 51 Street
Red Deer
T4N 6K8
Alberta
CA
email: mcw@telus.net
Lincoln Best
administrative point of contact
position: Independent
Bee Taxonomist
2750 SW Campus Way, Oregon State University
Corvallis
97331
Oregon
US
email: lrbest@gmail.com