Mounting evidence that managed and introduced bees have negative impacts on wild bees: an updated review

Current Research in Insect Science, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 2, P. 100043 - 100043

Published: Jan. 1, 2022

Worldwide, the use of managed bees for crop pollination and honey production has increased dramatically. Concerns about pressures these increases on native ecosystems resulted in a recent expansion literature this subject. To collate update current knowledge, we performed systematic review effects introduced ecosystems, focusing wild bees. enable comparison over time, used same search terms focused impacts as earlier reviews. This covers: (a) interference resource competition between or bees; (b) plants weeds; (c) transmission infectivity pathogens; classifies into positive, negative, neutral. Compared to 2017 review, found that number papers issue by 47%. The highest increase was seen pathogen spill-over, but last five years considerable additional information also become available. Records negative have from 53% reporting 66% at present. majority studies investigated visitation foraging behaviour. While only few experimentally assessed bee reproductive output, 78% demonstrated effects. Plant composition negatively affected 7% studies, 79% pathogens reported potential Taken together, evidence increasingly suggests affect bees, knowledge should inform actions prevent further harm ecosystems.

Language: Английский

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Digital hives, nonhuman work and the real subsumption of nature: Fixing pollination in capitalist agriculture

Environment and Planning E Nature and Space, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: April 23, 2025

This article examines the emerging technology of ‘smart hives’ which use sensors fitted to beehives monitor and record multiple aspects honey bees’ activity along with various measures health productivity colony. The data feeds analytic algorithms can guide hive pollination management, purportedly enabling improvements in efficacy alongside reduced environmental impacts. In this way ‘precision pollination’ is hailed as an answer challenges pollinator decline whilst ensuring food security context climate change. Drawing from scholarship on capitalist orientations nature, socio-ecological crises fixes, ‘real subsumption nature under capital’, outlines a political ecology digital pollination, situating industrialisation pollination. It argues not just that mark shift formal real capital ‘fix’ for crisis commercial services, but underpinned by intensification work bees conjunction labour beekeepers. it contributes multispecies framing reckons role shifting modalities appropriation human nonhuman work.

Language: Английский

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Supplemental nesting habitat increases bee abundance in apple orchards

Journal of Applied Ecology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 61(3), P. 442 - 451

Published: Jan. 10, 2024

Abstract Identifying the resources that limit bee populations is essential for both conservation and pollination management in agroecosystems. Land‐use change typically leads to decreased habitat availability wild pollinators, including loss of nesting habitat, which an but often‐overlooked resource bees. Cavity‐nesting bees, such as many Osmia spp. (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae), occupy holes wood or reeds build their nests; due habits, they are frequently scarce agricultural settings. Nevertheless, under right circumstances, these bees can be ideal pollinators apple other orchard crops. Artificial structures (‘bee hotels’ ‘trap‐nests’) often used study cavity‐nesting have been proposed tools conservation. To evaluate effects additional on local abundance we selected 24 sites orchards eastern Canada 2021 2022. Each site comprised two plots: one installed artificial without added (control). Pollinator surveys were conducted plot types measure pollinator visits blossoms and, after bloom, flowers undergrowth and/or shrubs. Numbers size developing fruit also recorded. Both overall numbers significantly higher treatment with trap‐nests (respectively, 33% 22% during growing season, 113% 30% bloom across 2 years study); however, there was no consistent difference set between treatments. Thus, locally increased well total numbers, had little effect yield, likely because production not limited this study. Synthesis applications . These findings suggest by addition constructed could effective means increasing orchards, potentially, supporting

Language: Английский

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How many bees fit in the city? A spatial ecological case study to conserve urban wild bees

Urban Ecosystems, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 28(2)

Published: Jan. 28, 2025

Abstract Pollination is crucial for biodiversity and food security, with bees playing a significant role. The growing popularity of urban beekeeping leading to increasing honeybee densities in cities, raising concerns about competition pollen nectar wild due limited foraging resources densely urbanized areas. To assess the current bee occurrences honeybees protected areas Central European city, we focused on ecological similarities between bees. We compiled an inventory 462 species documented since 1990 Vienna (Austria) conducted survey apiary locations cooperation beekeepers. calculated indices richness, rarity, and, based flower-visiting traits, trait similarity found that approximately four times more colonies were kept central 2023 than habitat may support. In parts Vienna’s nature conservation areas, number also exceeded density 3.5 per km² recommended by literature. Results indicate spatial overlap high hotspots, particularly like Natura 2000 rare was significantly increased, indicating potential elevated floral resources. This study highlights need planning balance conservation, recommending actions match quality mitigate competitive pressures.

Language: Английский

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Honeybee presence restructures pollination networks more than landscape context by reducing foraging breadths of wild bees

Landscape and Urban Planning, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 257, P. 105305 - 105305

Published: Jan. 29, 2025

Language: Английский

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Weak evidence base for bee protective pesticide mitigation measures

Journal of Economic Entomology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 116(5), P. 1604 - 1612

Published: July 17, 2023

Pesticides help produce food for humanity's growing population, yet they have negative impacts on the environment. Limiting these impacts, while maintaining supply, is a crucial challenge modern agriculture. Mitigation measures are actions taken by pesticide users, which modify risk of application to nontarget organisms, such as bees. Through these, pesticides can be reduced, with minimal efficacy pesticide. Here we collate scientific evidence behind mitigation designed reduce bees using systematic review methodology. We included all publications tested effects any measure (using very loose definition) bees, at scale (from individual through population level), so long presented measure. found 34 direct topic, covering range available measures. No currently used were thoroughly tested, and some entirely lacked empirical support, showing weak base current recommendations policy. research predominantly focuses managed potentially failing protect wild also that label-recommended measures, most often applied, specifically seldom empirically. Ultimately, recommend more, stronger, required justify existing crop protection.

Language: Английский

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New insights on massively introduced managed species and their consequences for plant–pollinator interactions

Advances in ecological research/Advances in Ecological Research, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 63 - 89

Published: Jan. 1, 2023

Language: Английский

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Pollination crisis Down‐Under: Has Australasia dodged the bullet?

Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 13(11)

Published: Oct. 30, 2023

Abstract Since mid‐1990s, concerns have increased about a human‐induced “pollination crisis.” Threats been identified to animals that act as plant pollinators, plants pollinated by these animals, and consequently human well‐being. Threatening processes include loss of natural habitat, climate change, pesticide use, pathogen spread, introduced species. However, concern has mostly during last 10–15 years from Europe North America, with Australasia, known Down‐Under, receiving little attention. So perhaps Australasia “dodged the bullet”? We systematically reviewed published literature relating crisis” via Web Science, focusing on issues amenable this approach. Across issues, we found steep increase in publications over few decades major geographic bias towards relatively attention Australasia. While are underrepresented, factors responsible elsewhere for causing commonly occur so lack coverage probably reflects awareness rather than absence problem. In other words, not bullet” should take immediate action address mitigate its own Sensible steps would taxonomic work suspected protection pollinator populations threatened extinction, establishing long‐term monitoring plant–pollinator relationships, incorporating pollination into sustainable agriculture, restricting use various pesticides, adopting an Integrated Pest Pollinator Management approach, developing partnerships First Nations peoples research, conservation management their pollinators. Appropriate Government policy, funding regulation could help.

Language: Английский

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Bee-Ing positive about wasp-negative media reporting: the opinions of scientists and their influence on the media

Insectes Sociaux, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 71(1), P. 29 - 42

Published: Feb. 1, 2024

Abstract Insects are the most diverse group on earth, providing a vast array of essential functions for people and nature. Yet, our appreciation their contributions is biased towards few economically important taxa, especially pollinating insects like honeybees. Other taxa less well appreciated despite roles they play, these rarely (if ever) focus conservation initiatives. Here, we explore role that scientists play through interactions with media in shaping attitudes one least insects—the aculeate (stinging) wasps. Vespine wasps an excellent taxonomic such study as predators native ecosystems (e.g., Northern Hemisphere—in Europe North America) but ecologically devastating invasive species many regions Southern Hemisphere New Zealand, Australia, South America). Despite this, global coverage invariably focuses emotively exaggerates negative defensive stinging behaviour wasps, almost entirely overlooks beneficial positive (as pest controllers pollinators). Wasp bee from around world were surveyed about how considered to influence public perceptions insect conservation. Our surveys capture negative-wasp positive-bee biases experienced by media. We consider implications wasp populations, management, make recommendations more balanced portrayal this insects.

Language: Английский

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Honey bees and native flower visitors in a Boston suburb: Assessing coexistence and conservation strategies

Biological Conservation, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 299, P. 110819 - 110819

Published: Oct. 21, 2024

Language: Английский

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