Does agri-environment scheme participation in England increase pollinator populations and crop pollination services?

Agriculture Ecosystems & Environment, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 325, P. 107755 - 107755

Published: Nov. 18, 2021

Language: Английский

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Non-Forest Woody Vegetation: A Critical Resource for Pollinators in Agricultural Landscapes—A Review

Sustainability, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 15(11), P. 8751 - 8751

Published: May 29, 2023

In light of pollinator decline, plant species suitable for the restoration and conservation pollinators need to be selected. this systemic review, we concentrated on importance NFWV (non-forest woody vegetation, i.e., linear or grouped trees/shrubs) across agricultural landscapes. temperate climate zone, flowering trees shrubs provide nectar sugar (energy) pollen (nutrients) managed wild pollinators. They also create nesting niches serve as host plants that support full life cycle The creation woodland strips/groups is a cost-effective time-saving strategy improve self-repeatable resources landscape scale. spatial distribution can help an entire network pollinator-friendly habitats. continuity food outside crop season, during seasonal bottlenecks. This concept offers other environmental benefits (e.g., water air quality improvement, mitigation). However, future work should address usefulness trees/shrubs different crops regions develop flower-rich corridors. Likewise, more advanced detailed studies are necessary determine qualitative characteristics pollen, which may result in optimization nutrition.

Language: Английский

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England's statutory biodiversity metric enhances plant, but not bird nor butterfly, biodiversity

Journal of Applied Ecology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 61(8), P. 1918 - 1931

Published: June 27, 2024

Abstract Biodiversity net gain is a policy focus worldwide, acknowledging ongoing losses of biodiversity to development, and commitment offsetting any residual impacts on elsewhere. At least 37 countries have mandatory policies, further 64 enable voluntary offsets. Offsets rely credible evidence‐based methods quantify gains. Following the introduction United Kingdom's Environment Act in November 2021, all new developments requiring planning permission England must demonstrate at 10% from 2024, calculated using statutory metric framework. The uses habitat as proxy for biodiversity, scoring habitats' intrinsic distinctiveness current condition. We carried out study metric's performance across terms outcomes biodiversity. used generalized linear mixed models regress baseline units against five long‐established single‐attribute proxies (species richness, individual abundance, number threatened species, mean species range range/population change). Data were gathered belonging three commonly indicator taxa (vascular plants, butterflies birds) 24 sites, including terrestrial broad habitats except urban. In assessments, metric‐derived correlated with most plant variables, but not bird or butterfly variables this study. Plant recorded higher had slightly more restricted ranges (slope −16.22 ± 1.52, p < 0.001) average shown stronger past declines −0.02 0.00, than those lower units. Each additional unit was associated 1% increase richness ( 0.01). Synthesis applications : Using define without species‐focused conservation management likely translate into small gains negligible birds butterflies. make specific recommendations improve efficacy achieving desirable outcomes. Our results provide valuable case other interested developing metrics support policies.

Language: Английский

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Quantitative analyses reveal interactions of community plants and insect flower visitors are associated with relative composition of nectar amino acids

Plant Ecology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: March 10, 2025

Language: Английский

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Temporal change in floral availability leads to periods of resource limitation and affects diet specificity in a generalist pollinator

Molecular Ecology, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 32(23), P. 6363 - 6376

Published: Oct. 6, 2022

Generalist species are core components of ecological networks and crucial for the maintenance biodiversity. expected to be more resilient, therefore understanding dynamics specialization generalization in is a key focus time rapid global change. Whilst diet frequently studied, our how it changes over limited. Here we explore temporal variation specificity honeybee (Apis mellifera), using pollen DNA metabarcoding honey samples, through foraging season, two years. We find that, overall, honeybees generalists that visit wide range plants, but there degree specialization. Temporal colonies corresponds periods resource limitation, identified as lack stores. Honeybees experience preferred resources June when switching from flowering trees spring shrubs herbs summer. Investigating patterns can identify limitation may lead network vulnerability. Diet must explored at different scales order fully understand stability face

Language: Английский

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Pollinator activity and flowering in agricultural weeds in Sweden

Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 14(7)

Published: July 1, 2024

Abstract The extent to which weeds in arable land are useful pollinators depends part on the temporal pattern of flowering and insect flight activity. We compiled citizen science data 54 bees hoverflies typical agricultural areas southern Sweden, as well 24 weed species classified pollinator‐friendly sense that they provide nectar and/or pollen pollinators. periods varied greatly, but there were also some consistent differences between four groups studied. first group fly early flying solitary (7 species), followed by social (18 species). In contrast, other (11 species) (22 flew later summer. Solitary had shortest periods, while longer periods. Flowering greatly species, with winter annuals (e.g., germinating autumn) starting together germination generalists (species can germinate both autumn spring). Summer (spring germinators) perennials started about a month later. Germination much period than others. Weekly pollinator records most cases significantly explained records. Apart from bees, all models showed strong positive relationships. overall best explanatory variable was total number weeds, weight assigned each based its potential nectar/pollen source. This suggests Sweden continuous supply throughout season

Language: Английский

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Mixed tree plantation as forage for European honey bees (Apis mellifera L.): a melissopalynological analysis

IOP Conference Series Earth and Environmental Science, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 1474(1), P. 012013 - 012013

Published: April 1, 2025

Abstract This study aimed to assess the contribution of tree plantation’s woody species and understory vegetation as forage for pollinators using melissopalynological analysis. Honey from European honey bee ( Apis mellifera L.) hives placed adjacent a ten-year-old plantation aspen, willow, alder, birch, lime, maple, wild cherry was analysed. In total, 40 types pollen were identified in honey. early spring, predominant originated Salix spp. (willow), spring - Brassicaceae (oilseed rape) dominated honey, but summer multiflower picked up. These findings support importance mass flowering early-season foraging, sustaining food resources throughout season within landscape context. However, during later stages summer, flora poorly utilised by bees. Even though 65 vascular plants present understory, bees exhibited preference nearby mass-flowering crops oilseed rape. It should be investigated further if this behaviour temporarily alleviates competition with surrounding ecosystems.

Language: Английский

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Landscape structure affects temporal dynamics in the bumble bee virome: Landscape heterogeneity supports colony resilience

The Science of The Total Environment, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 946, P. 174280 - 174280

Published: June 26, 2024

Virus spillovers from managed honey bees, Apis mellifera, are thought to contribute the decline of wild pollinators, including bumble bees. However, data on impact such viruses pollinators remain scarce, and influence landscape structure virus dynamics is poorly understood. In this study, we deployed bee colonies in an agricultural studied changes virome during field placement under varying habitat composition configuration using a multiscale analytical framework. We estimated prevalence viral loads (i.e. number genomic equivalent copies) bees before after placing them next generation sequencing quantitative PCR. The results show that different present increased shifted initial dominance associated higher (in both present) viruses. Especially DWV-B, typical for drastically decreased time field. Viral prior showed no effect colony development, suggesting low impacts these settings. Notably, further demonstrate diversity lower Bombus colonies, while areas with well-connected farmland patches their total load placement. Our emphasize importance heterogeneity connectivity pollinator health influences predominate at fine spatial scales.

Language: Английский

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Ten‐a‐day: Bumblebee pollen loads reveal high consistency in foraging breadth among species, sites and seasons

Ecological Solutions and Evidence, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 5(3)

Published: July 1, 2024

Abstract Pollen and nectar are crucial resources for bees but vary greatly among plant species in their quantity, nutritional quality timing of availability. This makes it challenging to identify an appropriate range plants meet the needs throughout year, though this information is important design pollinator conservation schemes. Using DNA metabarcoding pollen loads, we record floral resource use UK farmland bumblebees at different stages colony lifecycle, compare with null models ‘expected’ based on landscape‐scale availability (pollen nectar), foraging priorities preferences. We approach ask three main questions: (i) what breadth individual bumblebees?; (ii) do utilise a greater or lesser diversity than expected if they foraged proportion availability?; (iii) which preferentially utilise? Individual from highly consistent number taxa (mean: 10 ± 0.37 SE per bee), regardless species, sampling site time year. high consistency breadth, despite large changes identity availability, implies strong behavioural tendency towards fixed resources. effect was most striking April when maintained very low landscape‐level diversity. Bumblebees used some significantly more predicted abundance, supply, implying certain desirable characteristics beyond mere quantity resource. These included Allium spp. Vicia April; Trifolium repens Lotus corniculatus July Cardueae (thistles) Taraxacum officinale September. Practical implication : Our results strongly indicate that not only factor driving bumblebee patterns also factors. Thus, addition providing quantities resources, recommend schemes focus sufficient preferred enabling pollinators self‐select diverse nutritious diet.

Language: Английский

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Landscape-scale drivers of pollinator communities may depend on land-use configuration

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 377(1853)

Published: May 2, 2022

Research into pollinators in managed landscapes has recently combined approaches of pollination ecology and landscape ecology, because key stressors are likely to interact across wide areas. While laboratory field experiments valuable for furthering understanding, studies required investigate the interacting drivers pollinator health diversity a broader range wider array taxa. Here, we use network 96 study six topographically diverse regions Britain, test importance honeybee density, insecticide loadings, floral resource availability habitat communities. We also explore interactions between these cover proximity semi-natural habitat. found that among our four drivers, only density was positively related wild abundance diversity, positive association resources depended on loadings diversity. By contrast, exploratory models including composition metrics revealed complex suite interactive effects. These results demonstrate improving community is unlikely be achieved with general enhancements only. Rather, local land-use context should considered fine-tuning management conservation. This article part theme issue ‘Natural processes influencing health: from chemistry landscapes’.

Language: Английский

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