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Livestock grazing impacts bee (Apoidea) pollination networks in saltmarshes of South Wales / BENJAMIN LAM

Swansea University Author: BENJAMIN LAM

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Abstract

Saltmarsh habitats serve as crucial connective terrain for wildlife, yet they are exploited for livestock pasture. Halophytic saltmarsh herbs provide abundant flower resources for pollinators such as bees (Hymenoptera: Apoidea) and maintain a supply of nectar resources late in the flowering season....

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Published: Swansea University, Wales, UK 2025
Institution: Swansea University
Degree level: Master of Research
Degree name: MRes
Supervisor: Bull, J. C., and Harris, W. E.
URI: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa69944
first_indexed 2025-07-10T13:32:25Z
last_indexed 2025-07-11T05:02:56Z
id cronfa69944
recordtype RisThesis
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spelling 2025-07-10T14:32:24.0353540 v2 69944 2025-07-10 Livestock grazing impacts bee (Apoidea) pollination networks in saltmarshes of South Wales c7a97e3371069a0858fa029da74e5138 BENJAMIN LAM BENJAMIN LAM true false 2025-07-10 Saltmarsh habitats serve as crucial connective terrain for wildlife, yet they are exploited for livestock pasture. Halophytic saltmarsh herbs provide abundant flower resources for pollinators such as bees (Hymenoptera: Apoidea) and maintain a supply of nectar resources late in the flowering season. Several studies have demonstrated positive and negative impacts of grazing livestock management on grassland bee communities; however, the impacts of grazing on bees or the structure of their associated food plants in saltmarsh habitats is unknown.The study aimed to test the hypothesis that grazing impacts bee populations by (1)increasing habitat heterogeneity, (2) increasing flower diversity, (3) reducing forb biomass, and (4) consuming flowers.I compared mean values of bee populations and the structure of insect-pollinated plants in plots with different grazing intensities in Southwest Wales. Effects of grazing and insect-pollinated plant structure on bees were examined using GLMs.Flower richness varied across sites and tended to be higher in more intensively grazed plots, though no significant effect of grazing on flower richness was detected.Bee community composition was primarily driven by the abundance of two mass-flowering species: Tripolium pannonicum, which decreased in biomass with grazing, and Limonium vulgare, which was largely absent under high grazing disturbance.The results highlight the negative impact of grazing on dominant nectar-providing flowers, while also confronting the assumed value of saltmarsh flora for supporting local bee diversity. Significant reductions in grazing intensity and extensive rest periods on UK marshes are necessary for sustainable management of floral resources. E-Thesis Swansea University, Wales, UK Apis, Bombus, flower–pollinator interaction, halophytic community, biodiversity assessment, pasture management 6 6 2025 2025-06-06 A selection of content is redacted or is partially redacted from this thesis to protect sensitive and personal information. COLLEGE NANME COLLEGE CODE Swansea University Bull, J. C., and Harris, W. E. Master of Research MRes 2025-07-10T14:32:24.0353540 2025-07-10T14:25:25.9784146 Faculty of Science and Engineering School of Biosciences, Geography and Physics - Biosciences BENJAMIN LAM 1 69944__34737__757c26fa25fe41568d9a661e0f8201ea.pdf 2025_Lam_B.final.69944.pdf 2025-07-10T14:31:53.3389882 Output 3565642 application/pdf E-Thesis – open access true Copyright: The author, Benjamin Truong Lam, 2025 true eng
title Livestock grazing impacts bee (Apoidea) pollination networks in saltmarshes of South Wales
spellingShingle Livestock grazing impacts bee (Apoidea) pollination networks in saltmarshes of South Wales
BENJAMIN LAM
title_short Livestock grazing impacts bee (Apoidea) pollination networks in saltmarshes of South Wales
title_full Livestock grazing impacts bee (Apoidea) pollination networks in saltmarshes of South Wales
title_fullStr Livestock grazing impacts bee (Apoidea) pollination networks in saltmarshes of South Wales
title_full_unstemmed Livestock grazing impacts bee (Apoidea) pollination networks in saltmarshes of South Wales
title_sort Livestock grazing impacts bee (Apoidea) pollination networks in saltmarshes of South Wales
author_id_str_mv c7a97e3371069a0858fa029da74e5138
author_id_fullname_str_mv c7a97e3371069a0858fa029da74e5138_***_BENJAMIN LAM
author BENJAMIN LAM
author2 BENJAMIN LAM
format E-Thesis
publishDate 2025
institution Swansea University
college_str Faculty of Science and Engineering
hierarchytype
hierarchy_top_id facultyofscienceandengineering
hierarchy_top_title Faculty of Science and Engineering
hierarchy_parent_id facultyofscienceandengineering
hierarchy_parent_title Faculty of Science and Engineering
department_str School of Biosciences, Geography and Physics - Biosciences{{{_:::_}}}Faculty of Science and Engineering{{{_:::_}}}School of Biosciences, Geography and Physics - Biosciences
document_store_str 1
active_str 0
description Saltmarsh habitats serve as crucial connective terrain for wildlife, yet they are exploited for livestock pasture. Halophytic saltmarsh herbs provide abundant flower resources for pollinators such as bees (Hymenoptera: Apoidea) and maintain a supply of nectar resources late in the flowering season. Several studies have demonstrated positive and negative impacts of grazing livestock management on grassland bee communities; however, the impacts of grazing on bees or the structure of their associated food plants in saltmarsh habitats is unknown.The study aimed to test the hypothesis that grazing impacts bee populations by (1)increasing habitat heterogeneity, (2) increasing flower diversity, (3) reducing forb biomass, and (4) consuming flowers.I compared mean values of bee populations and the structure of insect-pollinated plants in plots with different grazing intensities in Southwest Wales. Effects of grazing and insect-pollinated plant structure on bees were examined using GLMs.Flower richness varied across sites and tended to be higher in more intensively grazed plots, though no significant effect of grazing on flower richness was detected.Bee community composition was primarily driven by the abundance of two mass-flowering species: Tripolium pannonicum, which decreased in biomass with grazing, and Limonium vulgare, which was largely absent under high grazing disturbance.The results highlight the negative impact of grazing on dominant nectar-providing flowers, while also confronting the assumed value of saltmarsh flora for supporting local bee diversity. Significant reductions in grazing intensity and extensive rest periods on UK marshes are necessary for sustainable management of floral resources.
published_date 2025-06-06T05:29:32Z
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score 11.089386

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