Results Pollen & Pollinator Results ● 65 LUREC pollen reference slides created over the summer. ● 49 pollinators sampled and nearly 100 pollinator observations. Monarch Results ● 83 Monarch eggs and 25 instars were documented. ● LUREC’s Monarch waystation was the most productive waystation, while Crystal Lake Park District was the least productive. ● Over the summer 25 of the 30 eggs brought back to the lab pupated into adult Monarchs and were released outdoors. ● There were 15 other butterfly/moth species that were observed opportunistically during site visits. ● An additional 19 Monarchs in the fall were reared and tagged for Monarch watch migration data. Introduction Pollination ecology is a critical element for both food security and maintaining balance in an ecosystem, yet few have conducted analyses of pollination interactions. Many native pollinators including the iconic Monarch Butterfly and the Rusty-patched Bumble Bee have seen populations fall to concerning levels. A pollination study can dictate efficient conservation and restoration practices while also providing data for future evaluation. Our objectives in this project were to: 1) construct a pollen reference slide library of LUREC’s flowers 2) investigate the pollinator-flora relationship found at LUREC 3) begin a preliminary survey of the monarch butterfly activity at five new monarch waystations across McHenry County, IL. Methods & Materials Pollen Grain Slide Sampling: ● Anthers of identified flowers were place in a vial of around 1.5mL of isopropyl alcohol ● The solution was vigorously mixed in order to separate anthers from pollen grains ● One drop of IPA pollen solution was placed at each end of the microscope slide and allowed to dry ● The gel was created using 35mL of distilled water, 30mL of glycerol reagent, and 10g of gelatin. Half of the gel was stained with 3-5 drops of Safranin stain ● A small drop of the stained and unstained gel were each placed on a slide cover, put on a slide, and allowed to dry ● Once set, the slide cover edges were lined with clear nail polish to improve durability and permanency Pollinator Sampling: ● Pollinators were collected with the use of insect nets or jars from off of identified flowers ● Both pollen and pollinators were then identified ● Following pollen removal, pollinators were returned to the wild Monarch Butterfly Monitoring: ● Each of the five monarch waystations were visited once a week, between 9:00am and 5:30pm, weather permitting ● Milkweed plants at each site were checked for any monarch activity ● Time spent at each site depended on the size of the patch and the number of milkweed plants ● The monarch eggs, and first, second, and third instar caterpillars were brought back to the laboratory so as not to be predated ● A video was created and posted to Loyola University Retreat and Ecology Campus Facebook page Conclusions 1. The creation of a reference pollen grain database for plant species found at LUREC combined with the knowledge gained from sampling pollinators provides valuable information for appropriate management of the grounds. 2. While conducting research, we happened to find, identify and photograph on four separate occasions a Rusty Patched Bumble Bee, a newly listed endangered species. 3. This was the first year that monarch butterfly data was collected at the identified waystations. Our data will be useful for future researchers studying the population of monarchs in the area. Acknowledgements References Borkin SS. 1982. Notes on shifting distribution patterns and survival of immature Danaus-plexippus (Lepidoptera, Danaidae) on the food plant Asclepias-syriaca. Great Lakes Entomologist 15: 199-206. Holm, H. Bees: An Identification and Native Plant Forage Guide; PollinationPress: Minnetonka, MN, 2017. Mizejewski, David. “New Numbers Show Monarch Butterfly Populations Still in Trouble.”The National Wildlife Federation Blog, 26 May 2017 Perez, E. R.; Mitten, S. F. Avian Species Structure at Loyola University Retreat and Ecology Campus During the 2012 Summer Breeding Season United States Fish and Wildlife Service. “USFWS: Rusty Patched Bumble Bee Guidance on ESA Implementation”. January 08, 2018 Special thanks are extended to Dr. Roberta Lammers-Campbell for her assistance in plant identification and to Nancy Schietzelt of the Environmental Defenders of McHenry County and Nancy Williamson of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. We are grateful to Mike Redmer of the Chicago Ecological Services Field Office of the US Fish and Wildlife Service who was instrumental in getting a positive ID for the Rusty Patched Bumble Bee. We would like to also thank the Monarch Coalition of the Friends of Hackmatac. Financial support was provided as a biodiversity internship by the Institute of Environmental Sustainability, Loyola University Chicago. Pollination Ecology at Loyola University Retreat and Ecology Campus and at other Monarch Waystations, McHenry County, IL 2017 Luke Landry, Kevin White, and Stephen Mitten Institute of Environmental Sustainability Loyola University Chicago Map of Monarch Waystations Map of LUREC Common Eastern Bumble Bee (Bombus impatiens) found on Canada Thistle with pollen from Canada Thistle and Red Clover. Small Resin Bee (Genus Heriades). This type of bee collects pollen on it abdominal scopae and usually the abdomen has a strong curl at the end. The stinger denotes a female bee. Two-spotted Bumble bee (Bombus bimaculatus) with distinct orange pollen sacks made of pollen and nectar. Monarch Individuals found at each site while monitoring Data collected per day at monarch waystations Mining bee genus Andrena. Identifiable by the tufts of fur high up on the hind leg along with a relatively long and rounded marginal cell on the wings. Mining bees are solitary and nest in the ground, and they are one of the first bees to emerge in the spring. Known Rusty Patched Bumble Bee locations. Source: USFWS July 6, 2017 Monarchs are tagged from August to October depending on the latitude. Tag is placed on the discal cell of the wing and does not impede flight. SeBaCam used to photograph and identify pollen grains Monarch waystation located at LUREC Opportunistic observation of other butterflies/moths recorded at each site Monarch Chrysalis immediately prior to emerging
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Template ID: neonboxes Size: 42x42
Results
Pollen & Pollinator Results
● 65 LUREC pollen reference slides
created over the summer.
● 49 pollinators sampled and nearly
100 pollinator observations.
Monarch Results
● 83 Monarch eggs and 25 instars were
documented.
● LUREC’s Monarch waystation was the
most productive waystation, while
Crystal Lake Park District was the least
productive.
● Over the summer 25 of the 30 eggs
brought back to the lab pupated into
adult Monarchs and were released
outdoors.
● There were 15 other butterfly/moth
species that were observed
opportunistically during site visits.
● An additional 19 Monarchs in the fall
were reared and tagged for Monarch
watch migration data.
IntroductionPollination ecology is a critical element for both food security and maintaining balance in an ecosystem, yet few have conducted analyses of pollination interactions. Many native pollinators including the iconic Monarch Butterfly and the Rusty-patched Bumble Bee have seen populations fall to concerning levels. A pollination study can dictate efficient conservation and restoration practices while also providing data for future evaluation.
Our objectives in this project were to:1) construct a pollen reference slide library of LUREC’s flowers2) investigate the pollinator-flora relationship found at LUREC3) begin a preliminary survey of the monarch butterfly activity at five new monarch waystations across McHenry County, IL.
Methods & MaterialsPollen Grain Slide Sampling:● Anthers of identified flowers were place in a vial of around
1.5mL of isopropyl alcohol● The solution was vigorously mixed in order to separate anthers
from pollen grains● One drop of IPA pollen solution was placed at each end of the
microscope slide and allowed to dry ● The gel was created using 35mL of distilled water, 30mL of
glycerol reagent, and 10g of gelatin. Half of the gel was stained with 3-5 drops of Safranin stain
● A small drop of the stained and unstained gel were each placed on a slide cover, put on a slide, and allowed to dry
● Once set, the slide cover edges were lined with clear nail polish to improve durability and permanency
Pollinator Sampling:● Pollinators were collected with the use of insect nets or jars
from off of identified flowers● Both pollen and pollinators were then identified● Following pollen removal, pollinators were returned to the wildMonarch Butterfly Monitoring:● Each of the five monarch waystations were visited once a week,
between 9:00am and 5:30pm, weather permitting● Milkweed plants at each site were checked for any monarch
activity● Time spent at each site depended on the size of the patch and
the number of milkweed plants● The monarch eggs, and first, second, and third instar
caterpillars were brought back to the laboratory so as not to be predated
● A video was created and posted to Loyola University Retreat and Ecology Campus Facebook page
Conclusions1. The creation of a reference pollen
grain database for plant species found at LUREC combined with the knowledge gained from sampling pollinators provides valuable information for appropriate management of the grounds.
2. While conducting research, we happened to find, identify and photograph on four separate occasions a Rusty Patched Bumble Bee, a newly listed endangered species.
3. This was the first year that monarch butterfly data was collected at the identified waystations. Our data will be useful for future researchers studying the population of monarchs in the area.
Acknowledgements
ReferencesBorkin SS. 1982. Notes on shifting distribution patterns and survival of immature Danaus-plexippus
(Lepidoptera, Danaidae) on the food plant Asclepias-syriaca. Great Lakes Entomologist 15:
199-206.
Holm, H. Bees: An Identification and Native Plant Forage Guide; PollinationPress: Minnetonka, MN,
2017.
Mizejewski, David. “New Numbers Show Monarch Butterfly Populations Still in Trouble.”The National
Wildlife Federation Blog, 26 May 2017
Perez, E. R.; Mitten, S. F. Avian Species Structure at Loyola University Retreat and Ecology Campus
During the 2012 Summer Breeding Season
United States Fish and Wildlife Service. “USFWS: Rusty Patched Bumble Bee Guidance on ESA
Implementation”. January 08, 2018
Special thanks are extended to Dr. Roberta Lammers-Campbell for her assistance in plant identification and to Nancy Schietzelt of the Environmental Defenders of McHenry County and Nancy Williamson of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. We are grateful to Mike Redmer of the Chicago Ecological Services Field Office of the US Fish and Wildlife Service who was instrumental in getting a positive ID for the Rusty Patched Bumble Bee. We would like to also thank the Monarch Coalition of the Friends of Hackmatac. Financial support was provided as a biodiversity internship by the Institute of Environmental Sustainability, Loyola University Chicago.
Pollination Ecology at Loyola University Retreat and Ecology Campus and at other Monarch Waystations, McHenry County, IL 2017
Luke Landry, Kevin White, and Stephen MittenInstitute of Environmental Sustainability
Loyola University Chicago
Map of Monarch Waystations
Map of LUREC
Common Eastern Bumble Bee (Bombus impatiens) found on Canada Thistle with pollen from Canada Thistle and Red Clover.
Small Resin Bee (Genus Heriades). This type of bee collects pollen on it abdominal scopae and usually the abdomen has a strong curl at the end. The stinger denotes a female bee.
Two-spotted Bumble bee (Bombus bimaculatus) with distinct orange pollen sacks made of pollen and nectar.
Monarch Individuals found at each site while monitoring
Data collected per day at monarch waystations
Mining bee genus Andrena. Identifiable by the tufts of fur high up on the hind leg along with a relatively long and rounded marginal cell on the wings. Mining bees are solitary and nest in the ground, and they are one of the first bees to emerge in the spring.
Known Rusty Patched Bumble Bee locations. Source: USFWS July 6, 2017
Monarchs are tagged from August to October depending on the latitude. Tag is placed on the discal cell of the wing and does not impede flight.
SeBaCam used to photograph and identify pollen grains
Monarch waystation located at LUREC Opportunistic observation of other butterflies/moths recorded at each site
Monarch Chrysalis immediately prior to emerging
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