Wednesday, December 13, 2006
1053

"Rare bees" in unpredictable environments: Fact or artifact? Case studies from the Mojave Desert

Terry Griswold, tgris@biology.usu.edu, USDA-ARS Bee Biology and Systematics Laboratory, Utah State University, Logan, UT

In landscapes with harsh and unpredictable climate, presence of bees may be sporadic and unpredictable in time and space, reducing the likelihood of detection. Under such conditions, rarity may be more apparent than real. An intensive study of 21 putative rare bees in the eastern Mojave Desert, USA provides an opportunity to explore the incidence of rarity in harsh environments.


Species 1: Hymenoptera Colletidae Colletes stepheni
Species 2: Hymenoptera Andrenidae Perdita meconis
Species 3: Hymenoptera Andrenidae Andrena balsammorhizae

Recorded presentation