Bee communities form the keystone of many ecosystems through their pollination services. They are dynamic and often subject to significant changes due to several different factors such as climate, urban development, and other anthropogenic disturbances. As a result, the world has been experiencing a decline in bee diversity and abundance,…
Bee communities form the keystone of many ecosystems through their pollination services. They are dynamic and often subject to significant changes due to several different factors such as climate, urban development, and other anthropogenic disturbances. As a result, the world has been experiencing a decline in bee diversity and abundance, which can have detrimental effects in the ecosystems they inhabit. One of the largest factors that impacts bees in today's world is the rapid urbanization of our planet, and it impacts the bee community in mixed ways. Not very much is understood about the bee communities that exist in urban habitats, but as urbanization is inevitably going to continue, knowledge on bee communities will need to strengthen. This study aims to determine the levels of variance in bee communities, considering multiple variables that bee communities can differ in. The following three questions are posed: do bee communities that are spatially separated differ significantly? Do bee communities that are separated by seasons differ significantly? Do bee communities that are separated temporally (by year, interannually) differ significantly? The procedure to conduct this experiment consists of netting and trapping bees at two sites at various times using the same methods. The data is then statistically analyzed for differences in abundance, richness, diversity, and species composition. After performing the various statistical analyses, it has been discovered that bee communities that are spatially separated, seasonally separated, or interannually separated do not differ significantly when it comes to abundance and richness. Spatially separated bee communities and interannually separated bee communities show a moderate level of dissimilarity in their species composition, while seasonally separated bee communities show a greater level of dissimilarity in species composition. Finally, seasonally separated bee communities demonstrate the greatest disparity of bee diversity, while interannually separated bee communities show the least disparity of bee diversity. This study was conducted over the time span of two years, and while the levels of variance of an urban area between these variables were determined, further variance studies of greater length or larger areas should be conducted to increase the currently limited knowledge of bee communities in urban areas. Additional studies on precipitation amounts and their effects on bee communities should be conducted, and studies from other regions should be taken into consideration while attempting to understand what is likely the most environmentally significant group of insects.
When it comes to murder, there are many ways to go about it. From blunt force trauma to gunshot wounds to strangulation. However, there is one way that can be very effective and can even look accidental. This is through poisoning, more specifically, using plants as a weapon. Now there…
When it comes to murder, there are many ways to go about it. From blunt force trauma to gunshot wounds to strangulation. However, there is one way that can be very effective and can even look accidental. This is through poisoning, more specifically, using plants as a weapon. Now there are many plant poisoning cases throughout the state of Arizona, most being accidental and dealing with animals, but there is also malicious intent behind some. The plants Nerium oleander L. (Oleander), Cycas revoluta Thunb. (Sago Palm), Ricinus communis L. (Castor Bean), Datura stramonium L. (Jimsonweed), and Cicuta virosa L. (Water Hemlock) are known to be poisonous and they are utilized by both murderers and those that wish to attempt suicide. These are also killers of many animals whether that be livestock or the family dog who got into something they should not have. The toxin in these plants breaks down on its own and over time can become untraceable. Most of them will also cause death if not treated within a few hours of ingestion, making them the perfect weapon to use to get away with murder.
