D3149: Wild pollinator functional diversity across landscapes in Quebec’s cranberry agroecosystems

The cranberry industry is of great importance to Quebec’s community and economy. To satisfy current agricultural demand and fulfill crop pollination needs, cranberry farmers in the Centre-du-Québec region rely heavily on the pollination services of rented honey and bumble bees. However, due to rising costs and recent declines in available managed colonies, farmers now welcome more sustainable practices; namely, protecting and enhancing the region's wild pollinator communities. Wild insect pollinators living in landscapes near cranberry agroecosystems provide important pollination services, yet now face habitat loss and population decline as a result of agricultural intensification. This study aims to assess the provision of cranberry pollination services by wild pollinators across a gradient of natural landscapes in the Centre-du-Québec region. Malaise traps were set in different habitats during the cranberry flowering seasons of 2022 and 2023, and collected nearly 5500 wild pollinators. Studying the functional traits and diversity of these wild pollinators will highlight their ecological importance and usefulness as cranberry pollinators. Obtained results will pioneer an entomological perspective on functional diversity, and encourage the conservation of natural landscapes around cranberry agroecosystems.