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31 March 2025 Enhancing Pollinator Habitats: The Role of Reclaimed Natural Gas Pipeline Rights-of-Way in the Appalachian Region
Shawn T. Grushecky, Samuel C. Knopka, Sheldon F. Owen, John W. Edwards
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Abstract

The decline of pollinators globally has been linked to habitat loss, pollution, and the use of herbicides and pesticides in agriculture. In the Appalachian Region of the US, forest maturation has resulted in fewer areas of early successional and young-forest habitat, which serve as important habitats for pollinators. Although powerline corridors have been shown to support pollinator populations, we investigated whether natural gas pipeline rights-of-way (ROW) could serve a similar ecological function. Our study assessed butterfly richness and density and bee species density across natural gas ROW varying in age, width, and vegetative composition. We discovered that the percentage of flowering plants on reclaimed ROW was the strongest predictor of butterfly richness and both bee and butterfly density. These findings indicate that reclaimed ROW can significantly enhance pollinator habitats, particularly when reclaimed with a diverse mixture of native flowering plants rather than a grass monoculture. Our research underscores the importance of prioritizing flower density in reclamation practices to support pollinator populations effectively.

Shawn T. Grushecky, Samuel C. Knopka, Sheldon F. Owen, and John W. Edwards "Enhancing Pollinator Habitats: The Role of Reclaimed Natural Gas Pipeline Rights-of-Way in the Appalachian Region," Northeastern Naturalist 32(1), 127-141, (31 March 2025). https://doi.org/10.1656/045.032.0110
Published: 31 March 2025
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