Plant-wild bee relationships of camas meadows and their phenology along an elevation gradient in the Lower Columbia Region, British Columbia.

The floodplain of the Columbia River in southeastern British Columbia is known for large meadows of camas, a blue flowering plant that has deep historical and cultural significance to Interior Salish communities in the region. Camas is also likely to be ecologically-significant, playing a keystone role in these meadows. It is visited by a large number of wild bees, and these bees contribute to its pollination and the pollination of other wild flowers that grow nearby. Working with the Kootenay Native Plant Society, the Mitacs Intern will survey wild bees and flowering plants in camas meadows to describe the diversity of wild bee and plant species that grow there, and discover if any plant, including camas, is dependent on a small number of bee species for its survival. The intern will also compare camas meadows growing at different elevations. At higher elevations, flowers may bloom and bees may visit those plants later in the season. By comparing across elevations, it will be possible to determine if these meadows may be at risk as springs become warmer due to climate change.

Faculty Supervisor:

Paul Galpern

Student:

Rowan Rampton

Partner:

Kootenay Native Plant Society

Discipline:

Biology

Sector:

Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

University of Calgary