Asemota et al. 2025. Pollinator foraging behavior shapes flower interactions
by Chelsea Asemota (primary author), Thomas Casey, Luna Garcia, Robert Nelson, Kevin O’Brien, and Dr. Allyson Jackson
Abstract
Pollinator conservation is often shaped by human perceptions, despite insects’ critical ecological roles in plant reproduction. To better understand these dynamics, we applied the Pollinator Interactions on Plants (PIP) framework to document pollinator–flower interactions in the Purchase College Native Plant Garden, which is composed entirely of native plant beds. Data were systematically recorded in Excel and analyzed in R to quantify visitation patterns and resource sharing. Hymenoptera (bees and wasps) were the most abundant visitors, with families like Apidae dominating most flower species, and Vespidae being less frequent. Coleoptera (beetles) and Diptera (flies) exhibited contrasting patterns of floral use, and Hemiptera (true bugs) and Lepidoptera (butterflies) families showed narrow specialization with minimal resource overlap. Taken together, these patterns indicate that floral use varies across orders and families. Comparative analyses revealed that ecological traits and foraging behavior within taxonomic groups primarily structure pollinator–flower networks. These findings underscore the value of structured observation platforms, such as iNaturalist and PIP, for capturing detailed pollination networks and fostering broader participation in pollinator conservation.