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POLLINATOR ACTIVITY AND ABIOTIC FACTORS IN AN APPLE ORCHARD

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 May 2012

R.M.D. Boyle-Makowski  and
B.J.R. Philogène
R.M.D. Boyle-Makowski
Affiliation:
Research Program Service, Agriculture Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0C6
B.J.R. Philogène
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1N 6N5
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Abstract

The activity of native and domestic insect pollinators was studied for 3 consecutive years, during the blossom period in a semi-dwarf apple orchard of the Niagara Peninsula. Insect numbers and activity were correlated with apple cultivars (Empire, McIntosh, Golden Delicious, Red Delicious) located on the east and west slopes of the orchard and with temperature, humidity, and light intensity fluctuations. The physical factors, especially temperature, were mainly responsible for the variation in the numbers of honeybees. Factors such as cultivar, east and west slopes, and year were more significant for native pollinators. Native pollinators less affected by adverse conditions seem to compensate for reduced honeybee activity during unfavorable years.

Résumé

On a étudié l'activité des pollinisateurs domestiques et sauvages pendant 3 années consécutives, durant la période de floraison d'un verger de pommiers demi-nains de la Péninsule du Niagara. Le nombre et l'activité des insectes ont été reliés aux variétés de pommiers (Empire, McIntosh, Jaune délicieuse, Rouge délicieuse) situées sur les flancs est et ouest du verger, et aux fluctuations de température, d'humidité, et d'intensité lumineuse. Les facteurs physiques, particulièrement la température, étaient principalement responsables de la variation du nombre d'abeilles. Les autres facteurs tel que la variété, les flancs est et ouest, et l'année étaient plus significatifs pour les pollinisateurs sauvages. Ces derniers, moins affectés par les conditions adverses, semblent compenser pour l'activité réduite des abeilles au cours des années défavorables.

Type
Articles
Information
The Canadian Entomologist , Volume 117 , Issue 12 , December 1985 , pp. 1509 - 1521
Copyright
Copyright © Entomological Society of Canada 1985

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