The landscape mediates the effects of plant volatile on pollinators and pollination

Landscapes are complex systems that involve varying levels of composition and configuration at a spatial scale that can influence biodiversity and ecological processes. One such ecological process is pollination, which is an important service in agriculture and food production. Cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) is a crop native to North America that depends on these pollination services to maximize yield. Natural habitats surrounding cranberry farms can provide alternative resources and nesting sites for native pollinators. In addition, flowers emit volatile compounds, such as methyl salicylate (MeSA), which can attract pollinators. By utilizing MeSA in the field, growers can potentially increase pollination services provided by naturally occurring pollinators. Here, we hypothesized that the effects of MeSA on pollinators and pollination depend on landscape factors. To achieve this, 50 sites across three commercial New Jersey cranberry farms were georeferenced, and each site contained two pan traps, one baited with MeSA and one unbaited. Half of those sites also had a factorial design with open and closed (pollinator-exclusion) cages either baited or not with MeSA. Landscape factors were quantified within 100, 250, 500, and 1500 m buffers, and were determined through a land cover map provided by the NJDEP. Composition was calculated using Shannon Diversity, and configuration was calculated using area metrics. Pollinators were identified to species. Yield was used as proxy for pollination. Pollinators and pollination were correlated. The findings of this study are currently under analysis. This study is the first to investigate the landscape-level effects of a plant volatile on pollination services.