Webinar: Pollinators in Northeastern Hardwood Forests

The Kemptville Winter Woodlot Conference puts together special forest themed presentations each Wednesday at noon throughout the month of February. All presentations are virtual and free to attend.

Register to receive the Zoom link. Links will be distributed in a reminder email 1-2 days prior to the presentation. Presentations may be subject to change. 

Pollinators in Northeastern Hardwood Forests

Most of the dominant trees in northeastern forests are pollinated by wind. Yet pollinating insects play an important role in the forest ecosystem by ensuring seed production and genetic mixing in many understorey plants—and some trees, too. In this talk, Jessica will provide an overview of the different types of pollinators that occur in our northeastern hardwood forests, describing their life histories, seasonal activity patterns, and contributions to plant reproduction. The talk will conclude with a discussion of pollinator habitat requirements and the vital role of forests in supporting diverse pollinator communities at the landscape scale.

Jessica Forrest:

Dr. Jessica Forrest is an Associate Professor in the Biology Department at the University of Ottawa, where her lab (https://forrestlab.wordpress.com/) conducts research on the ecology and evolution of wild pollinators, especially native bees, and their interactions with plants. Jessica teaches upper-level ecology courses, in French and English, and serves as Co-Director of the Biology Department’s graduate program. She is also a subject-matter editor at the journal Ecology. She and her students (and her dog, Oscar) do field work in the Colorado Rocky Mountains and in the many green spaces—agricultural, urban, and natural—around Ottawa.