Diverse urban pollinators and where to find them

Biological Conservation, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 281, С. 110036 - 110036

Опубликована: Апрель 3, 2023

Язык: Английский

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The final frontier: ecological and evolutionary dynamics of a global parasite invasion

Biology Letters, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 19(5)

Опубликована: Май 1, 2023

Studying rapid biological changes accompanying the introduction of alien organisms into native ecosystems can provide insights fundamental ecological and evolutionary theory. While powerful, this quasi-experimental approach is difficult to implement because timing invasions their consequences are hard predict, meaning that baseline pre-invasion data often missing. Exceptionally, eventual arrival Varroa destructor (hereafter Varroa) in Australia has been predicted for decades. a major driver honeybee declines worldwide, particularly as vectors diverse RNA viruses. The detection 2022 at over hundred sites poses risk further spread across continent. At same time, careful study Varroa's spread, if it does become established, wealth information fill knowledge gaps about its effects worldwide. This includes how affects populations pollination. Even more generally, invasion serve model evolution, virology interactions between parasite, host other organisms.

Язык: Английский

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Island-wide removal of honeybees reveals exploitative trophic competition with strongly declining wild bee populations

Current Biology, Год журнала: 2025, Номер unknown

Опубликована: Март 1, 2025

High densities of managed honeybees (Apis mellifera) can threaten wild bees through exploitative competition, thus leading to population declines the latter. Although reviews have outlined key steps demonstrate these impacts-measuring resource overlap, changes in bee behavior, and trends-studies that comprehensively address aspects are virtually absent. We were granted access entire protected island Giannutri (2.6 km2) apiary (18 hives) located there during early phase coexistence between bees. Using as an open-air laboratory, we experimentally manipulated honeybee pressure by closing hives on selected days peak foraging period. In plants most visited pollinators, even short-term removals (11 h per day) increased nectar volume (∼60%) pollen availability (∼30%). absence honeybees, target (Anthophora dispar Bombus terrestris) became dominant insect-plant visitation network, potential apparent competition significantly decreased. Accordingly, both species intensified their activity suction time, a recognized proxy for quantity probed nectar, terrestris also shortened time searching. Transect monitoring revealed alarming ∼80% decline over 4 years, consistent with monopolization floral resources, reducing pollinators altering budget. These findings underscore risks introducing high into areas emphasize need rigorous preventive ecological assessments.

Язык: Английский

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Pollinator competition and the structure of floral resources

Ecography, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 2023(9)

Опубликована: Июль 10, 2023

The mutualism between plants and pollinators is built upon the trophic ecology of flowers florivores. Yet flowers‐as‐food left implicit in most studies plant–pollinator ecology, it has been largely neglected mainstream ecology. This deficit especially evident an emerging issue basic applied significance: competition for floral resources. In this synthesis, we start by exploring notion resource limitation which concerning are tacitly predicated. Both theoretical empirical lines evidence indicate that must be understood as a complex ecological contingency; question not simply whether but when, where what regions trait space resources limiting. Based on premise, propose framework understanding availability terms temporal, spatial functional structure. While conceptually intuitive, empirically analytically demanding. We review existing methods measuring summarizing multi‐dimensional structure resources, highlight their strengths weaknesses, identify opportunities future development. then discuss causal relationships linking to species coexistence, community dynamics, exogenous drivers like climate, land use, episodic disturbances. its role both cause effect, mediates relationship behavioral landscape coexistence theory with respect Establishing object study application will shed light questions guide management decisions contentious issues such compatibility apiculture wild pollinator conservation appropriate use enhancements agri‐environment schemes.

Язык: Английский

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Native vegetation embedded in landscapes dominated by corn and soybean improves honey bee health and productivity

Journal of Applied Ecology, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 60(6), С. 1032 - 1043

Опубликована: Март 17, 2023

Abstract Balancing demand for food while supporting biodiversity and ecosystem services in landscapes committed to crop production may require integrating conservation with agriculture. Adding strips of diverse, native, perennial vegetation, through the recently created prairie practice U.S. Conservation Reserve Program, into annual cropland reduces soil nutrient loss, supports more diverse abundant communities birds insects, including native pollinators. It remains unclear if can reverse declines health productivity exotic honey bee This study determined provide floral resources bees support colony vigour, a highly farmed landscape limited habitat. We hypothesized that would be improved given access strips, this hypothesis was tested multi‐year, replicated, longitudinal on commercial, conventional farms corn soybean without strips. predicted have flowering plants, colonies located these healthier productive than kept at purposefully established vegetation (i.e. control fields). found had plants fields. Colonies fields collected 50% pollen during growing season (June–September), 24% larger end‐of‐season worker populations, 20% higher overwinter survival Furthermore, were heavier when they reached their peak‐weight August, an indicator production. Honey from revealing potential interactions wild However, taxa suggesting not deplete all simultaneously used by Synthesis applications . Our results suggest efforts enhance habitat diversity within croplands increase providing multiple additional important

Язык: Английский

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High rates of nectar depletion in summer grasslands indicate competitive conditions for pollinators

Oikos, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 2024(9)

Опубликована: Май 27, 2024

Competition among pollinators for floral resources is a phenomenon of both basic and applied importance. While competition difficult to measure directly under field conditions, it can be inferred indirectly through the measurement resource depletion. In this study, we conducted pollinator exclusion experiment calculate nectar depletion rates in summer across 16 grassland sites German regions Franconia Saxony‐Anhalt. Overall were estimated at 95% 79% Saxony‐Anhalt, indicating strong limitation likely nectar. Despite being ubiquitous our study regions, honey bees scarce time sampling. This demonstrates that wild alone are capable massive depletion, addition managed communities may intensify already competitive conditions. Nevertheless, manifest diversity indicates other factors, such as non‐trophic constraints or temporal variation limitation, mitigate despite immediate conditions acute scarcity.

Язык: Английский

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Applying plant-pollinator network to identify priority species for conservation in a biodiversity hotspot

Biological Conservation, Год журнала: 2025, Номер 302, С. 110979 - 110979

Опубликована: Янв. 16, 2025

Язык: Английский

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Drought response and urban-pollinator attractiveness of ornamental plant species

Basic and Applied Ecology, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 78, С. 1 - 13

Опубликована: Апрель 21, 2024

Faced with pollinator declines, cities could serve as refuges for biodiversity conservation by managing floral resources in public green spaces. Ornamental plants play an important role attracting pollinators because they form part of urban management. However, knowledge how their traits respond to drought is lacking, and it unknown whether will be suitable under future climates. The main objective this study was determine the covariation ornamental plant species effects on them. To end, a city greenhouse we measured eight commonly used spaces France. We subjected control treatment or treatment, reducing volume frequency watering. observed interspecific variability among these change between pollen quantity nectar treatment. Drought influenced morphological related display more than other traits, mean decreases 28% height, 35% area 58% number units. seemed attractive different morphotypes depending unit number, sugar concentration tube depth, most visits made Hymenoptera. These results are expected encourage green-space managers select according functional characteristics adapt choice climate change.

Язык: Английский

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Urban biodiversity in design: Insights into the debate on native versus non-native plants and bees in Western Australia

Urban forestry & urban greening, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 98, С. 128391 - 128391

Опубликована: Июнь 12, 2024

Native plants in Western Australia have been highly valued urban environments due to their endemicity, adaptivity local conditions and positive impact on identity. However, the process of urbanisation often leads destruction or significant alteration native landscapes meet amenity demands diverse aesthetic preferences, ecological functional requirements that vary across societies over time. This paper examines role non-native plant species areas with particular reference needs bees (both honeybees Australian bees). The analysis draws perspectives, vision, practical experiences landscape practitioners, beekeepers, ecologists specialising pollination. findings suggest biodiversity inherently involves a combination species. Consequently, designing arrangements attract range pollinators, including both bees, necessitates specific approach. results showing all practitioner respondents used design practices acknowledged them as part Australia. All ecologist 31 % beekeeper agreed existence competition between bees. While emphasised significance for they still hold attitude towards use landscapes. research provides valuable guidance support pollinators contribute conservation Three key bee botanic garden selections are: (1) Promoting interdisciplinary collaboration; (2) Maximising site value ecosystem integration when considering selections; (3) Incorporating collections varied purposes, such collection, spontaneous gardens, orchards preserved remnant bush gardens.

Язык: Английский

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Honey bees (Apis mellifera) modify plant-pollinator network structure, but do not alter wild species’ interactions

PLoS ONE, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 18(7), С. e0287332 - e0287332

Опубликована: Июль 13, 2023

Honey bees (Apis mellifera) are widely used for honey production and crop pollination, raising concern wild pollinators, as may compete with pollinators floral resources. The first sign of competition, before changes appear in pollinator abundance or diversity, be to interactions plants. Such a community can measured by looking at metrics resource use overlap plant-pollinator interaction networks. Studies bee effects on networks have usually not distinguished whether alter interactions, if they merely total network structure adding their own interactions. To test this question, we experimentally introduced Canadian grassland varying distances from the hives. We found that increased plant functional complementarity decreased evenness. However, constructed just did affect any calculated. Thus, all structural full (including interactions) were due only bee-plant causing pollinator-plant Given widespread increasing bees, it is important establish communities. Our results suggest foraging patterns system, even year was drier than 20-year average.

Язык: Английский

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