One of the researchers is conducting the field work in the wild blueberry field in Main. (Photo courtesy of Swanson School of Engineering, University of Pittsburgh)

By Isabel Kim, The Allegheny Front

A new study shows that small differences in temperature and humidity within a farm field can affect flowering plants and how many bees they attract.

Wyman’s, one of the largest wild blueberry producers in the United States, started noticing a pattern on its wild blueberry farm in Maine. Some parts of the field were full of berries, while others were not.

“But there was no obvious reason,” said Penn State Entomology professor Christina Grozinger.

Wyman’s reached out to Pennsylvania researchers, including Grozinger, to find out why. They formed a collaboration between the Penn State Center for Pollinator Research and the University of Pittsburgh.

“We decided to tackle this mystery by developing new strategies for monitoring and modeling crop yield, pollinator activity, and environmental variation,” she said.

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Isabel Kim is a recent graduate of the University of Pittsburgh and one of 10 Pittsburgh Media Partnership summer interns.