Original Article
Spatial and temporal variation in pollinator community structure relative to a woodland–almond plantation edge
Abstract
- Agricultural landscape elements, such as field edges, are not always a barrier to insects but can influence their distribution and dispersal behaviour.
- The present study investigated spatial and temporal patterns in wild pollinator (fly, wasp and non‐Apis bee) distribution across an edge between natural mallee woodland and monoculture almond plantations in southern Australia, during the critical almond flowering period. This is the first study of variation in pollinator community distribution on both sides of an edge between natural vegetation and flowering tree crop plantations. Species richness, diversity and evenness (SHE) analysis was also used to identify changes in pollinator community structure relative to the edge.
- It is shown that the spatial distribution and structure of pollinator communities can vary across a habitat edge with an abrupt temporal changes in resources. Our results suggest that the plantation edge did not prevent wild pollinators spilling over from woodlands, although vegetation homogeneity and phenological changes in resources most likely influenced the dispersal of pollinators into plantation interiors.
- The findings of the present study contribute to our knowledge of edge responses by insects in managed landscapes and could motivate growers to adopt ecological management practices in commercial plantations. Future studies of insects near farmland edges should include samples on both sides of the edge and should also consider the landscape context.
Citing Literature
Number of times cited according to CrossRef: 11
- Manuel Ernesto Narjes, Christian Lippert, The Optimal Supply of Crop Pollination and Honey From Wild and Managed Bees: An Analytical Framework for Diverse Socio-Economic and Ecological Settings, Ecological Economics, 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2018.11.018, 157, (278-290), (2019).
- Shoko Nakamura, Gaku Kudo, The influence of garden flowers on pollinator visits to forest flowers: comparison of bumblebee habitat use between urban and natural areas, Urban Ecosystems, 10.1007/s11252-019-00891-5, (2019).
- Dawid Moroń, Piotr Skórka, Magdalena Lenda, Disappearing edge: the flowering period changes the distribution of insect pollinators in invasive goldenrod patches, Insect Conservation and Diversity, 10.1111/icad.12305, 12, 2, (98-108), (2018).
- Ola Lundin, Kimiora L. Ward, Derek R. Artz, Natalie K. Boyle, Theresa L. Pitts-Singer, Neal M. Williams, Wildflower Plantings Do Not Compete With Neighboring Almond Orchards for Pollinator Visits, Environmental Entomology, 10.1093/ee/nvx052, 46, 3, (559-564), (2017).
- Benoît Geslin, Violette Le Féon, Morgane Folschweiller, Floriane Flacher, David Carmignac, Eric Motard, Samuel Perret, Isabelle Dajoz, The proportion of impervious surfaces at the landscape scale structures wild bee assemblages in a densely populated region, Ecology and Evolution, 10.1002/ece3.2374, 6, 18, (6599-6615), (2016).
- B.A Woodcock, J.M Bullock, M. McCracken, R.E Chapman, S.L Ball, M.E Edwards, M. Nowakowski, R.F Pywell, Spill-over of pest control and pollination services into arable crops, Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 10.1016/j.agee.2016.06.023, 231, (15-23), (2016).
- Violette Le Féon, Mickaël Henry, Laurent Guilbaud, Clémentine Coiffait-Gombault, Eric Dufrêne, Emilie Kolodziejczyk, Michael Kuhlmann, Fabrice Requier, Bernard E. Vaissière, An expert-assisted citizen science program involving agricultural high schools provides national patterns on bee species assemblages, Journal of Insect Conservation, 10.1007/s10841-016-9927-1, 20, 5, (905-918), (2016).
- Fernanda Teixeira Saturni, Rodolfo Jaffé, Jean Paul Metzger, Landscape structure influences bee community and coffee pollination at different spatial scales, Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 10.1016/j.agee.2016.10.008, 235, (1-12), (2016).
- Manu E. Saunders, Resource connectivity for beneficial insects in landscapes dominated by monoculture tree crop plantations, International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability, 10.1080/14735903.2015.1025496, 14, 1, (82-99), (2015).
- Rebecca K. Peisley, Manu E. Saunders, Gary W. Luck, A Systematic Review of the Benefits and Costs of Bird and Insect Activity in Agroecosystems, Springer Science Reviews, 10.1007/s40362-015-0035-5, 3, 2, (113-125), (2015).
- Manu E. Saunders, Gary W. Luck, Geoff M. Gurr, Keystone resources available to wild pollinators in a winter‐flowering tree crop plantation, Agricultural and Forest Entomology, 10.1111/afe.12084, 17, 1, (90-101), (2014).
