Allegheny College
Allegheny College DSpace Repository
http://dspace.allegheny.edu
Projects by Academic Year
Academic Year 2016-2017
2017-04-23
A plan to increase pollinator abundance by
planting native plants at Allegheny College
Schnur, Catherine
http://hdl.handle.net/10456/42776
All materials in the Allegheny College DSpace Repository are subject to college policies and Title 17
of the U.S. Code.
A special thanks to:
Casey Bradshaw-Wilson, Beth Choate, Eric Pallant, Kirsten Martin, Jeb Stutzmen, Clifford
Willis, Bill Ross, and Jen Salem
2
Table of Contents
Abstract …………………………………………………………………………………………. 4
Introduction …………………………………………………………………………………….. 4
Pollinators ………………………………………………………………………………. 4
All Bees……………………………………………………………………........... 4
Honeybees ……………………………………………………………………..... 5
Native bees …………………………………………………………………….... 5
Butterflies and Moths .…………………………………………………………. 6
Additional Insect Pollinators ….………………………………………………. 6
Importance of Pollinator Pockets and Pathways …………………………….………. 7
Allegheny College in Meadville, PA ………….……………………………………….. 7
Case Study: Pollinator Pathways …………………………………………...………… 8
Purpose of Project ……………………………………………………………………… 9
Methods………………………………………………………………………………………..… 9
Design of Pollinator Pockets …………………………………………...……………… 9
Maintenance of Pollinator Pockets ……………………………………………………13
Maintenance of Pollinator-friendly Garden ………………………………………… 13
Results………………………………………………………………………………………….. 13
Project Outcome ……………………………………………………………………… 13
Management Plan ………………………………………………………………….…. 16
Discussion and Conclusions…………………………………………………………………....17
Discussion of Results ……………………………………………………………….…. 17
Future Actions ………………………………………………………………...………. 18
Appendices A…………………………………………………………………………………... 20
Appendices B……………………………………………………………………………………21
Sources…………………………………………………………………………………………. 22
3
Abstract
Native pollinators, specifically bees, butterflies, and moths, are suffering from habitat degradation
as synthetic pesticides and herbicides and land fragmentation decrease the number of native flowers they
use for foraging. Allegheny College offers an ideal site for pollinator pockets due to an already high
volume of pollinator-friendly plants and a plethora of space for more pollinator pockets. Pollinator
pathways, and pollinator pockets, are strips of land comprised of pollinator beneficial flowers and
flowering plants that help counteract the negative effects of land degradation. This project aims to create a
detailed and comprehensive plan for implementing and maintaining pollinator pockets and a pollinatorfriendly garden on Allegheny College’s campus. Pollinator pockets will make the campus and the
surrounding areas more pollinator friendly by providing flowers to forage from and a breeding habitat for
native pollinators. This will aid in the improvement of the populations of local pollinators on campus and
in Meadville as a whole. This project will help native pollinators on Allegheny’s campus, and provide a
site for future research, provide education about pollinators and increase the aesthetic appeal of campus.
This project will also act as a template for other colleges and universities to design and implement their
own pollinator pockets. As national efforts to protect pollinator populations increases, projects like this
will become a useful tool in combating pollinator population decline.
Introduction
Pollinators are essential to all ecosystems, animals such as birds, bats, and some insects,
(including flies, butterflies, beetles, and bees), provide important pollination for our ecosystem.
Pollinators help plants propagate and remain genetically diverse (Calderone, 2012; Hopwood, 2013).
Genetic diversity enables plants to be more resilient to ecosystem changes that may harm them such as
blights or invasive insects. This diversity also provides plants with a variety of genes that could help them
adapt to future changes such as temperature shifts or change in annual rain fall (Marks, 2005). Pollination
is a vital ecosystem service that keeps plants propagating and resilient, creating a stronger ecosystem.
Pollinators require different resources from varying habitats, to avoid competition, they need an
abundance of foraging options. Pollinators use flowers and other plants as nest sites, larval feeding sites,
hunting sites and overwintering sites (Felt, 2009). A symbiotic relationship forms because plants depend
on pollinators. Each pollinator has a unique system for pollinating and are most effective at pollinating
flowers with a certain morphology. Butterflies, for example, forage using a long tongue called a
proboscis, this makes them more suited for foraging from long tubular flowers. An increase in plant
diversity and abundance can aid the vitality of native bees and other pollinators. Plant diversity is
important for pollinators’ foraging needs and will help counteract competition for food among pollinators
(Goulson et al., 1998, Wcislo and Cane, 1996, Paini, 2004). Increased plant diversity can help increase
pollinator abundance.
Pollinators
All Bees
Bees are the most valuable pollinators because of their efficiency and mechanism of pollinating.
Bees gather and deposit pollen at each flower they visit. They also provide numerous benefits to
agriculture, as they are integral to crop pollination and keep crop genetic diversity high (Garibaldi et al.,
4
2013, Moissett, 2010; Hamilton, 2014; Kremen et al., 2002; Winfree et al., 2008). Various factors,
including pesticides, decrease in food availability, land fragmentation, and diseases have all had a
negative impact on the populations of bees (Kearns et al., 1998, Gathmann and Tscharntke, 2002,
Williams and Kremen, 2007, Steffan-Dewenter and Tscharntke, 1999, Steffan-Dewenter and Kuhn,
2003). Recently. Rusty Patch Bumblebees (Bombus affinis) were approval to be listed as an endangered
species by Fish and Wildlife Services. Rusty Patch Bumblebees have historically been found in Western
PA but have not been sited in this area since 2000 (Regulations gov.”, 2016). Without bees, there is less
cross-pollination and plants do not thrive (Kremen et al., 2002, Winfree et al., 2008). Bee pollination can
help structure other ecosystem services such as conservation (Wratten et al., 2012). Prevalent bees in
Pennsylvania are Leafcutter Bees or Mason Bees (Megachilidae family), Squash Bees (Peponapis or
Xenoglossa genus), and Mining Bees (Andrena genus) (“Conserving Wild Bees in Pennsylvania”, n.d).
Honeybees
Honeybees are not native to the United States. The most common honeybees that exist in the U.S
today, the European Honeybee (Apis mellifera), was brought over from Europe, therefore is not as well
adapted for the local flora and fauna of the United States (Marks, 2005). European Honeybees are often
credited as the most efficient pollinators. Honeybees are biologically designed to gather pollen when they
are out foraging for nectar; they have what is called a pollen basket on their back legs that secures pollen
to their bodies (Moissett, 2010). Honeybees are one of two bee species in the U.S that live in hives.
Honeybees can visit up to 5,000 flowers in one day and can travel up to three and a half kilometers away
from their hive to forage for food and collect pollen (Steffan-Dewenter, and Kuhn, 2003). Long distance
foraging is needed to reduce competition for food. Honeybees forage on a large variety of flowers and
flowering plants. Some examples of flowers honeybees forage from are lilac, aster, and clover.
Native bees
The majority of native bees are solitary and live in a small nest with just their offspring (Moissett,
2010; Gathmann and Tscharntke, 2002). This makes native bees less aggressive than honeybees and less
likely to sting (Moissett, 2010). They are also more suitable pollinators because, unlike honeybees, they
are not designed to keep pollen on their bodies. This means pollen easily falls off of their body when they
travel from plant to plant and is spread more easily than pollen on a honeybee (Biddinger et al., 2013;
Winfree et al., 2008). Native bees are also already adapted to the climate, plants, and soils of the United
States as it is their native habitat, which benefits the ecosystem because they need less management and
maintenance than honeybees (Marks, 2005). Native bees also have a smaller foraging range than
honeybees as they only have to find food for themselves and their young instead of for a an entire hive.
Native bees smaller foraging range allows them to benefit from having a high diversity of plants in a
small area, but it also makes them more susceptible to the negative effects of habitat fragmentation caused
5
by concrete and pavement, such as population decline. (Gathmann and Tscharntke, 2002, Muller, and
Diener, 2006). Habitat loss and fragmentation can be more detrimental to native bees as they are not
equipped to travel through or around habitat disruptions. Native bees forage from most flowers, although
some species have preferences for what types of flowers they forage. For example, squash bees prefer to
forage from the flowers that form on squash plants. Some other examples of flowers native bees forage
from are goldenrod and joe-pye weed.
Butterflies and Moths
Butterflies and moths (Family Papilionoidea, Order Lepidoptera) forage by flying from flower to
flower searching for nectar. As they move, pollen attaches and detaches to their body at each plant they
forage from, allowing them to successfully pollinate. Although not as effective as bees, butterflies and
moths are still important in the pollination process. Butterflies often visit brightly colored, tubular flowers
that bloom during the day. They rely largely on their sense of sight when feeding on flowers and have a
poor sense of smell (Kevan and Baker, 1983, “Butterfly Pollination”, n.d). When planting flowers for
butterflies the aesthetic of the flower should be considered rather than smell. Butterflies are designed to
forage from flowers like milkweed, and purple coneflowers. Moths, on the other hand, prefer nocturnal
flowers that are pale and strongly scented (Marks, 2005, Kevan and Baker; 1983). Moths forage from
plants such as moonflowers, and blazing stare. Moths and butterflies depend on flowers and plants for
their survival, and would be negatively impacted by a decrease in biodiversity and flower abundance.
Special attention should be paid to Monarch Butterflies (Danaus plexippus) as they are
predominantly affected by habitat loss and fragmentation over other Lepidoptera. Monarchs butterflies
make an annual migration in the fall from Southern Canada through the United States to Northern
Mexico. They need habitat to rest in as they migrate through North America however; increased
development has lead to a decrease in Monarch habitat making them vulnerable to population decline.
These habitats are disrupted because milkweed (Asclepiadoideae) plants have been decreasing nation
wide. These plants are an essential plant in the monarch’s life cycle (Pleasants and Oberhauser, 2013;
Solensky, 2004; Davis, 2012). Milkweed plays an integral role in the Monarch butterfly lifecycle as it
provides a location for eggs to be laid and hatched. Once hatched the newborn caterpillars start to feed on
the milkweed. The removal of this breeding ground leads to a decrease in population. Monarchs are losing
important habitat on a national scale and therefore are given precedence over other butterfly and moth
species in this project.
Additional Insect Pollinators
Insects belonging to the Coleoptera family (Beetles) will spend much of their time eating pollen
and nectar from flowers when foraging for food. The nectar and pollen of the flower is later distributed
when they defecate, effectively pollinating other plants. This is sometimes referred to as the “mess-and-
6
soil” method of pollination (Kevan and Baker, 1983). Coleoptera pollinators prefer wide or bowl-shaped
flowers that are open during the day and look for dull colors(“Beetle Pollination”, n.d). Some examples of
flowers that other insects pollinate forage are geranium cranesbill, and lupine. Common Coleoptera in the
North East that forage from flowers are Click Beetles (Family Elateridae), Scarab Beetles (Family
Scarabaeidae), and Leaf Beetle (Family Chrysomelidae) (Kevan and Baker, 1983). Diptera (flies) are
another primitive pollinator that seeks nectar when visiting flowers. These insects vary in the types of
flowers that they feed on as each genus determine what sized flower they can feed on based off of their
proboscis length. Some have fuzzy fur- like hairs on them that can help distribute pollen (Ssymank et al.,
2008).
Importance of Pollinator Pockets and Pathways
To combat habitat fragmentation and degradation, pollinator-friendly plants can be established in
a pollinator pathway or in pollinator pockets to provide a foraging site for native pollinators. Pollinator
pockets would provide not only food and shelter for pollinators but also provide an educational
opportunity for undergraduate students. Although pollinator pockets 50 square feet and larger are
preferred to fit a variety of plants, smaller spaces should not be discounted as possible pollinator pocket
sites. There is evidence that suggests bees react well to foraging from small or narrow strips of land
(Croxton et al., 2002; Samnegard, Persson, and Smith, 2011). Additionally, there is evidence that bees
can survive in very small areas as long as the areas have a large amount of plant diversity (Cane, 2001).
How far from the nest native bees can fly depends largely on the species. The shortest distance is 150
meters or a little less than 500 feet (Steffan-Dewenter and Kuhn, 2003). Creating pockets with varied
sized flowers will make a more aesthetically pleasing display
Pollinator pockets would help bring more pollinator diversity on to campus, the sites encourage
pollinators to forage around campus instead of nearby yards (Leonard, Dornhaus, and Papaj, 2011
Kremen et al., 2007). The pockets would create a scenic route that would lead students from campus up to
Robertson and the pollinator-friendly garden. The garden will attract a variety of pollinators, including
butterflies, making it an interesting and unique spot for anyone to stop and rest in. It will be an added
incentive for visiting the trails and also a nice attraction for those who go up the field for sporting events.
They would also encourage students to spend warmer months walking around campus. Lastly, they would
provide sites for future research on native pollinators.
Allegheny College in Meadville, PA
Allegheny College is a small college campus in Northwestern Pennsylvania in the city of
Meadville. This campus is an ideal location for pollinators because there are a high number of plants to
forage from already on campus, as well as space to expand the number of plants for pollinators to forage.
Key flower species already found on campus are Lavender (Lavendula), Goldenrod (Solidago), and
7
Chrysanthemum, all of which bloom throughout the summer and late into the fall, providing crucial last
minute food before winter. The college owns the lawn space on campus and therefore the college has total
control over how the grounds are managed. This control allows for sustainable, pollinator friendly,
choices to be made; having pollinator friendly, low pesticide lawn care is important when deciding where
to put pollinator-friendly plants. When pollinator friendly plants are planted in a long continuous line it is
called a pollinator pathway, and when that pathway is broken up into smaller sections that are within 30
meters of each other it is called a pollinator pocket. For the pollinator pockets to be successful the area
around them also has to cause as little harm to pollinators as possible. Allegheny College maintains the
grounds by spreading compost annually, using an organic herbicide on the grounds, and rarely spraying
pesticides.
The campus is also ideal because Allegheny College is focused on providing research
opportunities for students. Pollinator pockets will offer sites for native pollinator research. Although,
there is information about how honeybees and butterflies are being affected by pesticides and other
environmental stressors, more research is needed on native bees, moths, and additional insect pollinators.
The presence of pollinator-friendly plants, and students who want to gain experience make this an ideal
location at which to conduct that type of research. The campus is not only an educational classroom for
college students but also for K-12 students in the city of Meadville. Kids that stay at the Meadville
Daycare Center on campus could use the pockets to learn about flowers and about the mechanism of
pollination. Nearby elementary schools come to campus, specifically to the campus garden, "The
Carrden", for hands on learning. Pollinator pockets will offer a perfect hands-on classroom for kids to
learn about the mechanism of pollination, honeybees, and pollinators as a whole, and the unique problems
pollinators are facing due to a decrease in foraging options. If pollinator-friendly garden were installed at
Robertson Field campus would also benefit from the aesthetics near the athletic fields.
Case Study: Pollinator Pathway
The City of Seattle and Seattle University are currently working on a Pollinator Pathway that will
connect Nora Woods in Seattle and the Seattle University Campus. The project is focused on connecting
20 pollinator pockets that span the distance between Nora’s Woods and Seattle University's Campus into
one continuous line. It utilizes parks, yards, and strips of grass between the road and sidewalk to create a
continuous line. This pathway puts emphasis on sustainability and longevity, making sure that the
pathway works with the natural environment and will continue to work for the next twenty and fifty years
(“The Pilot”, 2014). The project is currently about a third of the way completed and is making steady
progress. The Seattle Pollinator Pathway offers a template for the future of the pollinator pockets being
added to Allegheny’s campus. The Seattle project’s commitment to sustainability and long-term thinking
are also key components that the pollinator pockets on campus will emulate.
8
Purpose of Project
The objective of this project is to provide Allegheny College with a compressive plan for
increasing native pollinator abundance on campus by establishing pollinator pockets composed of native
plants that provide foraging, and nest sites for native pollinators and honeybees. These pollinator pockets
are planned to be on campus and at Robertson Field. This project includes a detailed list of plants to be
added and information regarding why those specific plants were chosen. A maintenance plan for caring
for the plants in the first couple years, and for 20 years in the future was also created. A map detailing the
locations of possible pollinator pockets has been created and includes suggested areas for additional
pollinator pockets to be added in the future. This project will increase pollinator populations and provide
sites for further research on pollinators at Allegheny College.
Methods
Design of Pollinator Pockets
The pollinator pockets were designed to be placed in various sized plots depending on the
available space and nearby foliage in lawns around campus, and include a pollinator friendly garden at
Robertson Field. The garden will be a spot of lush flowers to break up the miles of lawn and athletic
fields that are currently at Robertson. Its location beside the soccer fields and Robertson trails makes it an
ideal location for athletes as well as anyone from Allegheny College, or from the city of Meadville to use
as a resting spot. Pictures of sites can be found in Appendix A, and maps of each area can be found in
Appendix B. The pollinator pocket areas were identified based primarily on the proximity to already
existing flowers or blooming plants on campus. Two patches of law near Steffee Hall, (Appendix A,
Figures A 4, and A5), were selected because the area currently only has a handful of crocuses and
daffodils around where trees are planted, this area also has a patch of native plants between the Edible
Allegheny garden and playground to the side of the building. Pockets were also chosen based off of the
relative size or area that would be converted from lawn to flowers. Smaller patches of grass that are
surrounded by sidewalk were ideal because they keep the flowers to one select area and reduced the
amount of seeds spreading as they will fall onto the sidewalk where they can not germinate. Pockets were
also chosen based off of their proximity to one another. To create a flow from one pollinator pocket to
another the majority of sites were kept in one selected area of campus. The pockets are composed of
perennial native flowers and grasses that bloom at different times of the year and are different heights.
Herbs gardens, such as the ones behind Brooks Hall and the third floor entrance of the Campus Center,
(Figures 1, 2, and 3), provide nectar that is attractive to
9
Figure 1. Current herb bed behind Brooks 1
Figure 2.Current herb bed behind Brooks 2
Figure 3. Current herb beds behind Campus Center
pollinators when the herbs are left to flower (Pardee and Philpott, 2014). The current flower beds on
campus on top of the Vukovich, near the "Carrden", around the Mediation House, and flower trees and
shrubs were considered part of the existing pollinator friendly plants that are on campus and were
incorporated in to the overall pollinator pocket design. To further encourage native pollinators to come to
campus native pollinator houses, to be built by student volunteers, should be placed in different locations
throughout the pollinator pockets. Houses would be placed near the "Carrden", and in the pollinator
friendly garden at Robertson Field. Pollinator houses increase the amount of native bees in a given area,
and are attractive to native pollinators because they provide a safe and consistent home. (Vaughan and
Black, 2008). Pollinator pockets are composed of a variety of native plants some will be plants that are
already on campus, but most are new plants to increase diversity on campus.
10
Figure 4. A homemade native
bee house (Pollinator Houses, 2012)
Pollinator pockets are composed of native plants that bloom in a variety of seasons. This ensures
there is food for the pollinators all year round. Examples of plants that are idea for pollinators and bloom
in a variety of seasons for Northwestern Pennsylvania are listed in Table. 1. The table list physical
characteristics of the flowers as well as information on level of aggression. This is to denote flowers that
spread quickly and may overtake an area if left uncheck. The table also list if there are specific pollinators
that are attracted to any of the flowers, as well as other information that maybe relevant when the flower
is being planted.
11
Scientific Name
Phlox divaricata
Aquilegia canadensis
Digitalis
Tradescantia ohiensis
Salvia
Viola
Lupinus perennis
Geranium
Aquilegia canadensis
Dicentra cucullaria
Spigelia marilandica
Sisyrinchium angustifolium
Asclepias tuberosa
Monarda fistulosa
Senna hebecarpa
Veronicastrum virginicum
Liatris spicata
Eupatorium perfoliatum
Pycnanthemum spp
Echinacea purpurea
Eupatorium dubium
Eutrochium fistulosum
Hydrangea arborescens
Lobelia cardinalis
Eurybia divaricata
Oenothera fruticosa
oreopsis tripteris
Eurybia macrophylla
Conoclinium coelestinum
Solidago spp.
Vernonia noveboracensis
Helenium autumnale
Common Name
Wild Blue Phlox
Canadian Columbine
Talus slop penstemon
Ohio Spiderwort
Sage
Violets
Lupine/ Sundial Lupine
Gernium Cranesbills
Wild columbine
Dutchman's breeches
Woodland pinkroot
Narrow-leaved blue-eyed grass
Butterfly weed (milkweed)
Wild bergamot
American senna
Culver's Root
Blazing star
Common bonset
Mountainmint
Eastern purple coneflower
Dubious Joe-pye weed
Sweetscented joe-pye weed
Hydrangea
Cardinal-flower
White wood aster
Sundrop
12
Tall Tickseed
Bigleaf aster
Blue mistflower
Goldenrod
New York Ironweed
Common Sneezeweed
Fall
Fall
Fall
Fall
Fall
Fall
Summer
Summer
Summer
Summer
Summer
Summer
Summer
Summer
Summer
Summer
Summer/ Fall
Summer/ Fall
Summer
Summer/ Fall
Spring (April)
Spring (April)
Spring (April)
Spring (April)
Spring (April)
Spring (May)
Spring/ Summer
Spring (May)
Spring
Spring/ Summer/ Fall
Spring (April)
Spring (May)
Bloom Season
Yellow
Blue/ Violet
Purple
Yellow
Red
Yellow
Purple
White
Scarlet
White
Yellow
Orange
Pink
Orange
White
Purple
White
White
Purple
Pink
Blue/ Purple
Blue/ Purple
Pink
Red/ Yellow
White
Red
Blue
Red
Purple
Purple
Violet
Lilac
Color
2-5"
1-2'
1-3'
1-4'
5-8'
2-8'
3-10'
3-6'
2-5'
1-3'
15"-24"
6'
2-6'
3'
1-3'
2-4'
2-5'
1-3'
2-5'
3-8"
1-3'
1-2'
12-15"
< 1'
1-3'
1-1.5
6-35"
3-4'
2-4'
1-2'
1-2'
Height
Sun/ Moist
Shade/ Dry
Sun/ Well Drained
Sun/ Dry
Sun/ Moist
Sun/ Well Drained
Sun/ Dry
Sun/ Dry
Sun / Moist
Sun / Moist
Sun/ Dry
Sun/ Part Shade
Sun / Moist
Sun/ Well Drained
Sun to Part Shade/
Moist
Sun / Moist
Shade/ Moist
Shade/ Moist
Shade/ Dry
Sun/ Moist
Sun
Sun/ Dry
Sun/ Well Drained
Shade/ Dry
Shade/ Moist
Shade/ Moist
Partial Sun/ Wet
Sun
Part Shade/ Dry
Part Sun/ Moist
Sun/ Well Drained
Sun/ Moist
Shade/ light
All Pollinators
Butterfly, Bees
Butterflies, Bees
Bees, Butterflies, Moths, Flies.
All Pollinators
Bees
Monarch Butterflies
All Pollinators
Hummingbirds, Butterflies
Moths
Butterflies, Bees
Monarchs, Caterpillars
Hummingbirds, Butterflies
Butterflies, Bees
Butterflies
All Pollinators
Butterflies
Butterflies, Bees
Butterflies, Bees
Butterflies, Bees
Bees, Butterflies
Bees, Beetles
Flies, Bees, Beetles
Butterflies, Bees, Moths
Bumblebees
Hummingbird
All Pollinators
Butterfly
All Pollinators
Bees, Flies
Bees, Butterflies, Humming Birds
All Pollinators
Pollinators They Attract
Somewhat
Somewhat
Yes
Yes
Yes*
Yes*
Yes
No
No
No
Somewhat
No
No
No
No
Somewhat
Somewhat
Somewhat
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Somewhat
No
No
No
No
Yes
No
Somewhat
Somewhat
* If the soil is
moist
* If it is
properly
deadheaded
it will not
spread
Is this flower Notes
aggressive?
No*
* Will spread
very slowly
Native perennial Pennsylvania flowers with growing stipulations and pollinators they attract
Table 1. Flowers to be planted in pollinator pockets, or in gardens around campus. (“Landscaping with Native Plants”, n.d,
“Pennsylvania Native Plants for Perennial Garden”, 2015, Williams and Winfree, 2009, “Top 10 Sustainable Plants”,n.d,
“Conserving Wild Bees in Pennsylvania”, n.d).
Legend
Shade
Part Shade
Sun
Dry
Well Drained
Moist
Yes
Somewhat
No
Area that is covered by shade
the majority of the time
Area that is in the shade half
the time and in the sun half the
time
Area that is in the sun most of
the time
Area that does not collect
water, or gets little water
Area that gets water but soil
drains well and does not stick
around
Area that gets plenty of water
and keeps it but not to the
extent that it is flooded
The flower is agressive and will
spread quickly
The flowers will spread but it
takes several years
The flower will not spread
The Maintenance of Pollinator Pockets
Jeb Stutzman who works on the landscaping crew and Clifford Willis, the head of Physical Plant,
were contacted to see if they thought planting pollinator pockets around campus was feasible, and to
gather records about current flowers planted around campus. They were consulted to gauge the ability of
the landscaping crew to take on this added workload. A comprehensive maintenance plan for at least the
next 5 years, but possibly the next 20 years was designed. This is to ensure that the landscaping crew
would have a plan to follow and also to ensure that the pollinator pockets would be a long-lasting feature
on campus. The maintenance plan covers how to initially establish the flowers as well as how to keep
them successful in the coming years. It also has instructions on how to plant new plants as either seeds or
as seedlings as well as how to care for seeds or seedlings for at least one year after planting.
The Maintenance of Pollinator-friendly Gardens
Bill Ross from Athletics was contacted to see if there was space and interest in putting pollinatorfriendly gardens up at Robertson Fields. The stipulations of the spot were that it be in an area that receives
sun through most of the daylight hours and that it be open enough to accommodate a garden of 30 feet by
50 feet. He was the only contact when choosing where pollinator-friendly gardens would be created at the
athletic fields. Pollinator-friendly gardens would be planted using plugs or seedlings over direct seeding
as to have more control over where each flower is placed and to minimize the risk of a seed not
germinating and creating a gap in the garden.
Results
Project Outcome
There was interest from the school about planting native perennial flowers on campus, however,
the labor and funding needed to complete this project is not available at the this time. Therefore, no
flowers will be planted on campus through physical plant at this time. There are other actions that could
lead to getting more native perennial flowers on campus without their maintenance being the reasonability
of physical plant. A simple way to provide foraging habitat for pollinators is by planting clover, or by
13
allowing clover on campus to flourish. The subject of cultivating clover for pollinators on campus was
discussed with a landscape crewmember, Jeb Stutzman. He said right now the landscaping crew was
trying to get rid of clover. However, clover is a very easy and low maintenance way to provide foraging
space for bees. In this same conversation he confirmed that the space of grass between the sidewalk and
the road behind Brooks Hall and Carr Hall is owned by the college (J. Stutzmen, personal
communication, December 10, 2016). This area could be a site to cultivate a more pollinator friendly
space by planting specific grasses that are useful to pollinators. Jeb also noted that currently several
different annuals are planted before graduation, and must be replanted every year in April. Switching
those flowers out for perennials could be another way to make the campus more pollinator friendly.
However, as of right now that process is to labor intensive for physical plant to take on with the current
staff. Willis was enthusiastic about the project and liked the idea, but was worried about the aesthetics of
adding perennial seed mixes to areas around campus. Additionally, the labor required to plant, water, and
weed the flowers is not available as physical plant is currently understaffed.
While it is unlikely for flowers to be planted on campus through physical plant at this time, if
they are planted there was a tentative plan to use flower seed mixes to create pollinator pockets on the
strip of grass in the middle of the Allegheny Commons Parking lot, between that same parking lot and the
playground to the West of it, and to replace the kicking wall on the west side of the soccer fields at
Robertson Fields. However, these pollinator-pockets and pollinator-friendly garden will not be added onto
campus until there is more staff available to maintain to areas properly.
14
A Google earth image with current areas of flowers on campus and purposed pollinator pocket sites
Figure 5. A map of the northern part of Allegheny College’s Campus that denotes current areas with flowers and future
pollinator pocket sites on campus. Additional maps can be found in Appendix B as Figure B 1, 2, 3, and 4
A Google earth image with current areas of flowers on campus and purposed pollinator pocket sites
Figure 6. A map of the southern part of Allegheny College’s Campus that denotes current areas with flowers and future
pollinator pocket sites on campus. Additional maps can be found in Appendix B as Figure B 1, 2, 3, and 4
15
Bill Ross from Athletics was optimistic and interested in a small pollinator-friendly garden being
installed at Robertson Field. A plan for a 30-foot by 50-foot garden at the far end of the soccer fields at
Robertson was approved but Bill, but was not approved by Clifford Willis and will not be put in at this
time. The garden should include a variety of flowers that do well in full sun and moist soil. The plan
includes Violets (Viola), Dutchmen’s Breeches (Dicentra Cucullaria), Butterfly Milkweed (Asclepias
tuberosa), Dubious Joe-pye weed (Eupatorium dubium), New York Ironweed (Vernonia noveboracensis),
and Common Sneezeweed (Helenium autumnale). These flowers were chosen as they attract a wide
variety of pollinators and bloom from May to October. Additionally, there is a plan to add more flowers
to gardens at the front of the football fields in the future. The gardens are on either side of the football
field entrance spanning 75 feet long by10 feet wide. Additional flowers will be added to the entrance of
the football fields to provide blooming foliage from May to October, the purposed flowers are Wild Blue
Phlox (Phlox divaricate) that blooms in the spring, Eastern Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) that
blooms in the summer, and Big Leaf Aster (Eurybia macrophylla) that blooms into the fall, all of these
species do well in full sun and well-drained soil. These flowers should be planted about a foot apart and in
a zigzag pattern to maximize space in the gardens.
Management Plan
Direct seeding method
The selected area should have the first layer of soil and grass overturned.

Seeds should be spread over top of the overturned soil and compost should be spread on
top to cover the seeds in an inch to two inches of compost.

A thin layer of less than an inch of compost should be added to the direct seeding areas
once per year to ensure the flowers are receiving enough nutrients to continue to
flourish.

The seeds should be thoroughly watered right after planting and then watered at least
once a week through the first year of developing.

All of the current areas selected for direct seeding are on flat ground, however, if in the
future sites are chosen that are at an angle or at the bottom of a slope a barrier of small
rectangular baled hay should be put in front of the seeds to keep them from being
washed away by water while the flowers root.

The area should be weeded regularly as weeds appear throughout the first fall and
summer after planting.
16

If Ernst Conservation Seeds Mixes are used the flowers should reach 18 inches in height,
and then be cut down to 8 inches in the first year of growth. Once new growth in the
spring reaches 2 inches any left over growth from the fall should be cut to 2 inches.

While manual weeding is recommended spot spraying of pesticides may be used if there
are time limitations.
Planting plugs method
A small hole the size of the plug should be dug in the selected area.

The plug should then be placed into the hole, the dirt that was dug up should be used to
cover any exposed roots.

Once all plugs have been planted the area should be mulched to suppress weed growth
around the flowers.

The plugs should also be watered once a week either by rain or by a worker manually
watering them through the first season.

After the first year when the flowers are well established they should only be manually
water in cases of a drought.

If weeds do appear they should be manually weeded and the use of pesticides should be
avoided.
Discussion and Conclusions
Discussion of Results
The Pollinator Pockets will not be added onto campus at this time, but it is important to outline
future steps that could be taken when pollinator pockets are added to campus. Pollinator Pockets and the
two pollinator-friendly gardens should be planted using a grass and native flower seed mix purchased
from Ernst Conservation Seeds in Meadville, PA. The Showy Northeast Wildflower Mix from Ernst
would be chosen as it provides a high diversity of flower types and is designed to provide foraging sites
for pollinators. Jen Salem of Go Native Erie should also be contact as she may be able to donate seeds or
native perennial flowers for free to the college. A birdbath with pebbles and water should be installed in
the "Carrden" by volunteers and should be maintained by garden workers. The pollinator pockets would
be installed and maintained by physical plants landscaping crew, or volunteers. Seedlings for the
pollinator-friendly gardens would be purchased from Meadville Farm and Garden. Compost and mulch
for seedlings would be provided by physical plant.
Safety concerns are a factor into make campus more pollinator friendly, however, labor is the
biggest detriment to this project. Finding labor outside of physical plant may be a way to move this
project forward. Classes in the Environmental Science department could continue this project and carry
out the process of buying and planting flowers on campus. Two possible classes that could incorporate
17
this project into their curriculum would be Insect Ecology, and Conservation Biology. Volunteers from
Meadville could also maintain pollinator pockets; the Master Gardeners of Crawford County could be a
possible organization to contact to find local volunteers.
Future Actions
While physical plant and the landscaping crew are aware of the benefits of pollinators, there is
trepidation about the risk that bees pose to students who are allergic to bee stings, as well as a concern
about the aesthetics of planting native perennials on campus. Continued conversations about how much a
risk pollinators, specifically native bees, actually pose, as well as how native perennial flowers can still
help the college looks aesthetical pleasing would be beneficial for physical plant and this project.
As time, labor, and budget allows more areas around academic buildings should be converted
from lawn to perennial native flowers. Future sites to be considered are the triangular piece of land beside
Bentley with the fountain, the hill between Steffee Hall and the Oddfellows Hall parking lot, and the lawn
outside of Oddfellows Hall facing North Main Street. Additionally, annual flowers that are planted around
Bentley for graduation should be replaced with native perennials. Possible replacements are can be found
in Table 1, special attention should be paid to the height of the flowers that are replacing annuals around
Bentley as shorter flowers will look cleaner and more aesthetically appealing. Areas on campus should
prioritize aesthetics as well as usefulness for pollinators.
There is some evidence that bees are just as attracted to non-native flowers as they are to native
flowers (Hanley et al., 2014). If exotic flowers are available or already exist around the pollinator pockets
they do not need to be disregarded or removed as they still provide a foraging area for native bees. When
expanding the pollinator pockets non-native flowers are discouraged but can be used if they are available.
To keep the native ecosystem as unchanged, as possible, native flowers are preferred for the pollinator
pockets design. Adding flowers in the strip of grass between the road and sidewalk along Park Avenue
and Highland Avenue will be beneficial as roadside management has been proven to be a useful tool for
increasing native pollinator habitat (Fischer et al., 2015, Hopewood, 2008). Therefore, another expansion
option would be planting flowers along these strips of grass, which are owned by the college. There
should also be exposed soil throughout the pollinator pockets to provide another source of habitat for
native bees (Vaughan and Black, 2008). While this may be hard to incorporate into the original planting
of the pollinator pockets it could be a future management option to weed or keep a select area of large
pockets (such as the one near Murray or outside of Quigley) barren to provide a natural home for native
bees.
The goal of this project is to provide habitat and foraging ground for native pollinators however,
it is equally important to make sure the environment around the pollinator pockets is not detrimental to
pollinators. To keep the pockets from becoming detrimental the amount of pesticides and herbicides used
18
on the lawns should be minimal. This means spraying as little as possible and trying to reduce weeds by
manually weeding first. Keeping pesticide use low is especially important if the pockets are to become
part of a certified pollinator-friendly garden. Future steps should include making these pollinator pockets
and pollinator-friendly gardens registered as official pollinator-friendly gardens through Penn State
Extension Office (“Pollinator Garden Certification”, 2017). This certification should be pursued, as it
would help demonstrate Allegheny’s commitment to sustainability. Gaining certification would also
allow the sites to be incorporated into large-scale pollinator pathways that may come into existence in the
future.
These pockets and pollinator-friendly gardens are an important step in making Allegheny’s
campus as pollinator friendly as possible. These sites will be multipurpose as they are ecologically,
academically, and aesthetically beneficial. They will add to the beauty on campus and physically show
Allegheny’s commitment to being sustainably minded and ecologically friendly. Starting these pockets
will help pave the path for creating pollinator friendly sites not only at Allegheny, but also in Meadville
and much of Northwestern Pennsylvania. This project should act as template for others working on a
small-scale to follow when trying to make an area pollinator friendly.
19
Appendices A
Figure A 1. Site at Murray
85’ 8” by 52’ 4” by 83’ 6”
0.1103 acres
Figure A 2. Site at Baldwin
59’ 9” by 40’ 9” by 72’ 5”
0.02795 acres
Figure A 4. Small Triangle at Steffee
15’ 5” by 19’ 4” by 26’ 4”
0.0033 acres
Figure A 3. Site at Quigley
29’ 10” by 46’ 7” by 54’ 6”
0.0159 acres
Figure A 5. Triangle at Steffee
56’ 8” by 47’ 6” by 27’ 4”
0.0148 acres
20
Appendices B
Figure B1. Site beside Murray hall
Figure B 2. Sites beside Steffee Hall
Figure B3. Site beside Baldwin Hall
Figure B4. Site beside Quigley Hall
21
Sources
1.
Biddinger, D., Rajotte, E., & Joshi, N. K. (2013). Wild bees as alternative pollinators in
Pennsylvania apple orchards. Proceedings, the Great Lakes Fruit, Vegetable and Farm Market
EXPO and the Michigan Greenhouse Growers Expo, Michigan.
2.
Beetle Pollination. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/pollinators/animals/beetles.shtml
3.
Butterfly Pollination. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/pollinators/animals/butterflies.shtml
4.
Calderone, N. W. (2012). Insect pollinated crops, insect pollinators and US agriculture: trend
analysis of aggregate data for the period 1992–2009. PLoS One, 7(5).
5.
Cane, J. H. (2001). Habitat fragmentation and native bees: a premature verdict?. Conservation
Ecology, 5(1), 3.
6.
Conserving Wild Bees in Pennsylvania (Penn State Extension). (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://extension.psu.edu/publications/uf023/view
7.
Croxton, P. J., Carvell, C., Mountford, J. O., & Sparks, T. H. (2002). A comparison of green
lanes and field margins as bumblebee habitat in an arable landscape. Biological Conservation,
107(3), 365-374.
8.
Davis, A. K. (2012). Are migratory monarchs really declining in eastern North America?
Examining evidence from two fall census programs. Insect Conservation and Diversity, 5(2),
101-105.
9.
Felt, J. (2009, April 22). Pollinating Insects. Retrieved from
http://www2.isu.edu/~fultjess/Pollinators/
10.
Fischer, S. J., Williams, E. H., Brower, L. P., & Palmiotto, P. A. (2015). Enhancing monarch
butterfly reproduction by mowing fields of common milkweed. The American Midland
Naturalist, 173(2), 229-240.
11.
Gathmann, A., & Tscharntke, T. (2002). Foraging ranges of solitary bees. Journal of Animal
Ecology, 71, 757-764.
12.
Garibaldi, L. A., Steffan-Dewenter, I., Winfree, R., Aizen, M. A., Bommarco, R., Cunningham,
S. A., & Klein, A. M. (2013). Wild pollinators enhance fruit set of crops regardless of honey bee
abundance. Science, 339(61), 1608-1611.
13.
Google. (n.d). [A satellite view of Allegheny College Campus and the surrounding areas].
Retrieved from https://www.google.com/maps/@41.6481431,-80.1461371,442m/data=!3m1!1e3
14.
Goulson, D., Hawson, S. A., & Stout, J. C. (1998). Foraging bumblebees avoid flowers already
visited by conspecifics or by other bumblebee species. Animal Behaviour, 55(1), 199-206.
22
15.
Guertin, S. (2016, September 22). Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants: Status for
Rusty Patched Bumble Bee. Retrieved from http://www.regulations.gov/document?D=FWS-R3ES-2015-0112-0028
16.
Hamilton, H. (2013, June 17). The Buzz on Native Bees. Retrieved from
https://www2.usgs.gov/blogs/features/usgs_top_story/the-buzz-on-native-bees/.
17.
Hanley, M. E., Awbi, A. J., & Franco, M. (2014). Going native? Flower use by bumblebees in
English urban gardens. Annals of botany, 113(5), 799-806.
18.
Hopwood, J. L. (2008). The contribution of roadside grassland restorations to native bee
conservation. Biological Conservation, 141(10), 2632-2640.
19.
Hopwood, J. L. (2013, June). Roadsides as habitat for pollinators: management to support bees
and butterflies. In Proceedings of the 7th International Conference on Ecology and
Transportation (IOECT): Canyons, Crossroads, Connections. Scottsdale, Arizona, USA (pp. 118).
20.
Kearns, C. A., Inouye, D. W., & Waser, N. M. (1998). Endangered mutualisms: the conservation
of plant-pollinator interactions. Annual review of ecology and systematics, 83-112.
21.
Kevan, P. G., & Baker, H. G. (1983). Insects as flower visitors and pollinators. Annual review of
entomology, 28(1), 407-453.
22.
Kremen, C., Bugg, R. L., Nicola, N., Smith, S. A., Thorp, R. W., & Williams, N. M. (2002).
Native bees, native plants and crop pollination in California. Fremontia, 30(3-4), 41-49.
23.
Kremen, C., Williams, N. M., Aizen, M. A., Gemmill, Herren, B., LeBuhn, G., Minckley, R., and
Ricketts, T. H. (2007). Pollination and other ecosystem services produced by mobile organisms: a
conceptual framework for the effects of land use change. Ecology Letters, 10(4), 299-314.
24.
Landscaping with Native Plants. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/plants/nativeplants/
25.
Leonard, A. S., Dornhaus, A., & Papaj, D. R. (2011). Flowers help bees cope with uncertainty:
signal detection and the function of floral complexity. The Journal of experimental biology,
214(1), 113-121.
26.
Ley, E., Buchmann, S., McGuire, K., Stritch, L. (n.d.) Selecting Plants for Pollinators: A regional
Guide for Farmers, Land Managers, and Gardeners in the Laurentian Mixed Forest Province.
Retrieved from http://www.pollinator.org/PDFs/Laurentian.rx9.pdf
27.
Ley, E. (n.d.). Selecting Plants for Pollinators: A Regional Guide for Farmers, Land Managers,
and Gardeners in the Eastern Broadleaf Oceanic Province. Retrieved from
http://pollinator.org/PDFs/Guides/EasternBroadleafOceanicrx20FINAL.pdf
23
28.
Marks, R. (2005, May). Native Pollinators. Retrieved from
https://plants.usda.gov/pollinators/Native_Pollinators.pdf
29.
Moissett, B. (2010). Bee Basics: An Introduction to Our Native Bees. USDA, Forest Service.
30.
Müller, A., Diener, S. (2006). Quantitative pollen requirements of solitary bees: implications for
bee conservation and the evolution of bee-flower relationships. Biological Conservation 130,
604–615.
31.
Paini, D. R. (2004). Impact of the introduced honey bee (Apis mellifera)(Hymenoptera: Apidae)
on native bees: a review. Austral ecology, 29(4), 399-407.
32.
Pardee, G. L., & Philpott, S. M. (2014). Native plants are the bee’s knees: local and landscape
predictors of bee richness and abundance in backyard gardens. Urban ecosystems, 17(3), 641659.
33.
Pennsylvania Native Plants for the Perennial Garden (Home Lawn and Garden). (2015).
Retrieved from http://extension.psu.edu/plants/gardening/fact-sheets/perennial-garden/pa-nativeplants-for-the-perennial-garden
34.
Planting Guide for Uplands, Meadows & Pollinator Projects. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://www.ernstseed.com/resources/planting-guide/uplands-meadows-and-pollinators-plantingguide/
35.
Pleasants, J. M., & Oberhauser, K. S. (2013). Milkweed loss in agricultural fields because of
herbicide use: effect on the monarch butterfly population. Insect Conservation and Diversity,
6(2), 135-144.
36.
Pollinator Garden Certification . (2017). Penn State University. Retrieved from
http://ento.psu.edu/pollinators/public-outreach/cert
37.
Pollinator Houses. (2012, April 16). Retrieved from
http://www.nativebeeconservancy.org/projects/pollinator-houses
38.
Pollinators-Monarch Butterflies. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.nps.gov/articles/monarchbutterfly.htm
39.
Potts, S. G., Vulliamy, B., Dafni, A., Ne'eman, G., & Willmer, P. (2003). Linking bees and
flowers: how do floral communities structure pollinator communities? Ecology, 84(10), 26282642.
40.
Rhoads, A. F., & Block, T. A. (2007). The plants of Pennsylvania: an illustrated manual.
University of Pennsylvania Press.
41.
Samnegård, U., Persson, A. S., & Smith, H. G. (2011). Gardens benefit bees and enhance
pollination in intensively managed farmland. Biological Conservation, 144(11), 2602-2606.
24
42.
Solensky, M. J. (2004). Overview of monarch migration. The Monarch Butterfly: Biology and
Conservation. Cornell University Press, Ithaca, NY, 79-83.
43.
Ssymank, A., Kearns, C. A., Pape, T., & Thompson, F. C. (2008). Pollinating flies (Diptera): A
major contribution to plant diversity and agricultural production. Biodiversity, 9(1-2), 86-89.
44.
Steffan-Dewenter, I., & Kuhn, A. (2003). Honeybee foraging in differentially structured
landscapes. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B: Biological Sciences, 270(1515), 569575.
45.
Steffan-Dewenter, I., & Tscharntke, T. (1999). Effects of habitat isolation on pollinator
communities and seed set. Oecologia, 121(3), 432-440.
46.
The Pilot: Seattle’s Pollinator Pathway. (2014). Retrieved from
http://www.pollinatorpathway.com/active-projects/the-first-pathway/
47.
Tommasi, D., Miro, A., Higo, H. A., & Winston, M. L. (2004). Bee diversity and abundance in an
urban setting. Canadian Entomologist, 136(6), 851-869.
48.
Top 10 Sustainable Plants. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://phipps.conservatory.org/greeninnovation/at-home/top-10-sustainable-plants
49.
Vaughan, M., & Black, S. (2006, August 1). Improving Forage For Native Bee Crop Pollinators.
USDA. Retrieved from
https://www.plants.usda.gov/pollinators/Improving_Forage_for_Native_Bee_Crop_Pollinators.pd
f
50.
Vaughan, M., & Black, S. H. (2008). Native Pollinators How To Protect and Enhance Habitat For
Native Bees. Native plants journal, 9(2), 80-91.
51.
Wcislo, W., & Cane, J. (1996). Floral Resource Utilization by Solitary Bees (Hymenoptera:
Apoidea) and Exploitation of Their Stored Foods by Natural Enemies. Annual Review of
Entomology, 41(1), 257-286.
52.
Williams, N., & Kremen, C. (2007). Resource Distributions Among Habitats Determine Solitary
Bee Offspring Production In A Mosaic Landscape. Ecological Applications, 17(3), 910-921.
53.
Williams, N., & Winfree, R. (2009, May 1). Native Bee Benefits: How to increase native bee
pollination on your farm in several small steps. Retrieved from http://www.xerces.org/wpcontent/uploads/2010/02/pa-nj-native-bee-benefits1.pdf
54.
Winfree, R., Williams, N. M., Gaines, H., Ascher, J. S., & Kremen, C. (2008). Wild bee
pollinators provide the majority of crop visitation across land‐ use gradients in New Jersey and
Pennsylvania, USA. Journal of Applied Ecology, 45(3), 793-802.
25
55.
Wood, Allyson, and Rene Benoit. "The "Carrden" Grows." Environmental Science Newsletter
Allegheny College Vol.1 Issue 2 (Nov. 2016), Retrieved from
http://sitesmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/envsci/files/2016/11/ES-Newsletter-Vol-1-Iss-2-PDF.pdf
56.
Wratten, S. D., Gillespie, M., Decourtye, A., Mader, E., & Desneux, N. (2012). Pollinator habitat
enhancement: benefits to other ecosystem services. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 159,
112-122.
26