Pollination Ecology of Shooting Stars

In 2022, Dr. Jeff Karron and his associates began a multi-year collaborative field research project working at Chiwaukee Prairie, “a stunningly beautiful site with remarkable wildflower and pollinator populations”.

Seed production in shooting stars requires visits by bees that vibrate the flowers at extremely high frequency, triggering the pollen to be released explosively out of flowers and onto the underside of the bees.

The flowers are primarily pollinated by queens of 5 bumble bee species, but also by green halictid bees. Our current work explores how pollinator foraging patterns and visitation rates influence shooting star reproductive success.

The presentation will include extensive high resolution slow motion video of bumble bees and green bees pollinating shooting stars, including some video clips with sound.

PRESENTERS:
Jeff Karron, Professor of Biology, UW Milwaukee, and Katrina Degenhardt, PhD Student at UW Milwaukee

LOCATION:
Carthage College – Niemann Media Theater in the Hedberg Library
Building locations, parking options, and directions to campus can be found at:
https://www.carthage.edu/about/location-and-map/campus-map/
The Hedberg Library can be found at #14 on the campus map referenced above.
This in person event will not be recorded or livestreamed.

SPONSORS:
Co-sponsored by Carthage College and the Chiwaukee Prairie Preservation Fund.