RESUMEN
Over the last decade, the Allegheny National Forest (ANF) in the USA has experienced issues with the regeneration of black cherry (Prunus serotina). This study was conducted to investigate the effects of silvicultural treatment on the insect communities that may affect black cherry pollination and regeneration. We conducted a 2-year study to compare the abundance, richness, and diversity of insects in unmanaged, shelterwood seed-tree, and shelterwood clear-cut stands. Using pan traps, we sampled insects at the ground level and in the canopies of flowering mature black cherry trees. The results of this study showed significant increases in the abundance of insects captured in shelterwood seed-tree stands and in species richness and diversity of insects captured in the canopy of black cherry in shelterwood removal stands, indicating that silvicultural treatment affected the insect community significantly. The dominant insect order was Diptera (true flies, 72.91%, n = 12,668), and Anthalia bulbosa (Diptera: Hybotidae) was the dominant species comprising 33% of all insects found in the canopy of flowering black cherry. The findings in this study could help land managers in managing black cherry for its pollination and natural regeneration.
RESUMEN
Black cherry is an ecologically important high-value wood. A decline of its regeneration has been reported in the USA, which could be associated with a lack of pollination. This study was conducted to identify insects visiting black cherry flowers, to determine whether insects captured on the flowers carry black cherry pollen and to identify the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by flowers of black cherry. A two-year insect survey was conducted before, during and after the black cherry bloom. A total of 9533 insects were captured in traps and Diptera was the most abundant (64.1%). Significantly more insects in Diptera, Lepidoptera and Thysanoptera were captured in the traps installed in the canopy than those on the ground, and Anthalia bulbosa (Diptera: Hybotidae) was the dominant species. Electron microscopy analyses demonstrated that insects captured in the canopy indeed carried black cherry pollen. Black cherry flowers emitted a VOC blend that is composed of 34 compounds and dominated by ß-ocimene and several phenylpropanoids/benzenoids. This floral VOC profile is similar to that of other pollinator-dependent Prunus species. This study reports pollinator insects and associated VOCs, for the first time, that could play a significant role in the pollination and regeneration of black cherry.
