Survey of Wild Bee Pollinators on Nyssa Sylvatica at Harvard Forest since 2021

Black gum (Nyssa sylvatica) is amongst the latest blooming canopy species to produce vast numbers of flowers and abundant nectar and pollen within forests of the Northeastern United States, a position previously held by the American Chestnut (Castanea dentata). Prior research indicates N. sylvatica is insect pollinated and wild bees have been observed visiting flowers; we are unaware, however, of any detailed surveys and/or characterization of the Nyssa-associated wild bee community in the Northeastern United States. Wild bee species frequent the canopy from early to late spring, presumably to forage, prior to being found in blooming crops such as apple and strawberry later in the season. The late bloom time of N. sylvatica (in early June) may extend floral resource availability in the temperate forest canopy and support forest-associated wild bee communities prior to the bloom of summer-flowering plant species.黑果蓝果树（Nyssa sylvatica）是美国东北部森林中开花最晚的冠层树种之一，可产出大量花朵及丰富的花蜜与花粉；此前这一生态位由美洲栗（Castanea dentata）占据。已有前期研究表明，黑果蓝果树依靠昆虫传粉，且观测到野生蜂类会造访其花朵，但目前我们尚未发现针对美国东北部地区与黑果蓝果树相关的野生蜂类群落开展的详细调查及特征表征工作。野生蜂类会在春初至春末频繁出没于森林冠层，推测其目的为觅食，而在该生长季晚些时候，它们才会被观测到出现在苹果、草莓等开花作物的种植区域。黑果蓝果树的花期较晚（6月初），这一特性或可延长温带森林冠层的花卉资源供给时长，在夏季开花植物进入花期前，为森林伴生野生蜂类群落提供生存支撑。