Date of Award:

5-2013

Document Type:

Thesis

Degree Name:

Master of Science (MS)

Department:

Wildland Resources

Committee Chair(s)

Eugene W. Schupp

Committee

Eugene W. Schupp

Committee

James H. Cane

Committee

Thomas A. Monaco

Abstract

We studied the pollination ecology of the endangered Utah desert shrub, shrubby reed-mustard (Hesperidanthus suffrutescens). We also studied the impacts that dust from unpaved roads has on successful reproduction. In addition, we looked at the relationship between the total number of plants, the spacing of plants, and reproduction. We found that shrubby reed-mustard requires pollinators for successful pollination. Pollinators include many small native bees from the genera Andrena, Dialictus, and Halictus. Additionally, we found that reproduction of shrubby reed-mustard is limited, possibly due to scarcity of these bees. We found that dust from the road can decrease successful reproduction of shrubby reedmustard likely due to a disruption in pollination success. Additionally, this dust can affect the physiology of plants and may also cause some of the reduced reproduction we found. While we did not find any significant effects of the number and spacing of plants on reproduction, the relationships suggest that these measures are important to successful reproduction. Land managers should make sure to conserve shrubby reed-mustard habitat to help conserve this endangered species and its pollinators. In addition, control of dust from unpaved roads should occur in areas with plants nearby. Overall, this study indicates that while the reproductive ecology of shrubby reed-mustard is complex, managers can use these results to assist in the conservation of this endangered Utah shrub.

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Comments

This work made publicly available electronically on February 15, 2013.

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