Pesticides and Pollination of Imperiled Plants of the Lower Florida Keys

Authors

Brittany M. Harris, Florida International UniversityFollow

Document Type

Thesis

Degree

Master of Science (MS)

Major/Program

Environmental Studies

First Advisor's Name

Suzanne Koptur

First Advisor's Committee Title

Committee chair

Second Advisor's Name

Michael Ross

Second Advisor's Committee Title

committee member

Third Advisor's Name

Joel Heinen

Third Advisor's Committee Title

committee member

Keywords

mosquito spray; plant reproduction; pollinators; wildland-urban interface; naled

Date of Defense

7-6-2016

Abstract

Degraded pollinator habitat may have far-reaching consequences for recovery of imperiled flowering plant populations. Studies indicate that broad-spectrum insecticides used in mosquito abatement are detrimental to non-target invertebrates, including pollinators. A decline in efficient pollinators can reduce plant fitness by decreasing reproductive output and constraining genetic diversity, a challenge for rare plants.

In 2015, I monitored flower visitation and fruit set of three imperiled plant species throughout protected areas on three islands in The Lower Florida Keys. These islands consist of conservation land fragmented by intermittently dispersed residential neighborhoods that seasonally spray insecticides for mosquito control. Flowers open at treatment sites had decreased flower visitor activity following insecticide applications, but only species that require invertebrate agents for pollen transfer had significantly reduced fruit set. Implications of mosquito insecticides near conservation lands may pose immediate threats to invertebrate pollinators and flowering plants that require pollinators for reproduction, although long-term threats to genetic diversity are unknown for automatic self-pollinating species.

Identifier

FIDC000783

Recommended Citation

Harris, Brittany M., "Pesticides and Pollination of Imperiled Plants of the Lower Florida Keys" (2016). FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 2548.
https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/etd/2548