Patterns of Taxonomic and Ecological Diversity of a Group of Non-bee Pollinators (Diptera: Syrphidae) in Ohio
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Date
2022-08
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The Ohio State University
Abstract
This study of hover fly (Diptera: Syrphidae) diversity across Ohio reports on the first statewide survey since 1913 and it addresses a lack of data on hover fly biodiversity in Ohio. Here, I present a checklist of hover fly taxa captured in water bowl traps from 142 sites representing 80 of Ohio's 88 counties. To understand how landscape land use patterns influence hover fly taxonomic and functional diversity, I first categorized the specimens into three functional groups that represent larval foraging preferences and are sorted by subfamily: 1) soft bodied insect predators (Syrphinae and Pipizinae), 2) ant nest parasites (Microdontinae), and 3) aquatic decomposers (Eristalinae). Then I explored the relationship between percent developed, urban, and forested landcover on the abundance and richness of three functional groups of hover flies. The survey resulted in 8,194 hover fly specimens from 1,967 sampling events at 142 sites, which is the most geographically extensive sample in Ohio within one year. I identified the specimens to 44 genera representing at least 70 species. Of these, 95.2% were soft-bodied insect predators (Syrphinae and Pipizinae), including Toxomerus (Syrphinae), which represents 89.5% of the specimens collected. Aquatic decomposers (Eristalinae) were second most abundant, representing 4.7% of the specimens. Ant nest parasites were rare, representing less than 1% of the specimens. The presence of flies in each functional group was not related to the percent forest, developed land, nor agriculture in the surrounding landscape. Overall, the diversity and species richness of hover fly genera increased in forested landscapes and decreased in developed landscapes. Clearly, hover flies represent a diverse pollinator fauna in Ohio, but their distributions are likely influenced by specific local habitat features in addition to broader land use patterns. These baseline data and trends can aide in future studies concerning the conservation and potential management of hover flies in Ohio. Landscape patterns of hover fly diversity and abundance can guide conservation decision making by allowing managers to target preservation of habitats harboring high hover fly diversity. Degraded sites with low diversity and abundance of hover flies can be evaluated for habitat improvements to enhance the ability to support hover fly diversity.
Description
1st place in Animal and Insect Sciences, 2022 Denman Undergraduate Research Forum
Keywords
Biodiversity, Landscape, Syrphidae, Abundance