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Turo KJ, Reilly JR, Fijen TPM, Magrach A, Winfree R. Insufficient pollinator visitation often limits yield in crop systems worldwide. Nat Ecol Evol 2024:10.1038/s41559-024-02460-2. [PMID: 38961256 DOI: 10.1038/s41559-024-02460-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 07/05/2024]
Abstract
Declining pollinator populations could threaten global food production, especially if current crop yields are limited by insufficient pollinator visitation to flowers, in a phenomenon referred to as 'pollinator limitation'. Here, we assess the global prevalence of pollinator limitation, explore the risk factors, such as crop type or geographic region, that predict where pollinator limitation is more likely and ask by how much increases in pollinator visitation could improve crop yields. We address these questions using 198,360 plant-pollinator interactions and 2,083 yield measurements from 32 crop species grown in 120 study systems. We find that 28-61% of global crop systems are pollinator limited and that this limitation most frequently occurs in blueberry, coffee and apple crops. For a few datasets, we note that the probability of pollinator limitation decreases with greater forest land cover surrounding a crop field at 1 km, although average effect sizes are small. Finally, we estimate that for those crops we identify as pollinator limited, increasing pollinator visitation at all farms to existing levels observed in the 90th percentile of each study system would close 63% of yield gaps between high- and low-yielding fields. Our findings show variations in sensitivity to pollinator limitation across diverse crop systems and indicate that realistic increases in pollinator visitation could mitigate crop yield shortfalls attributable to pollinator limitation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine J Turo
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Natural Resources, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA.
| | - James R Reilly
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Natural Resources, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
| | - Thijs P M Fijen
- Plant Ecology and Nature Conservation Group, Department of Environmental Sciences, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Ainhoa Magrach
- Basque Centre for Climate Change (BC3), Leioa, Spain
- IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao, Spain
| | - Rachael Winfree
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Natural Resources, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
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2
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Pickens V, Maille J, Pitt WJ, Twombly Ellis J, Salgado S, Tims KM, Edwards CC, Peavy M, Williamson ZV, Musgrove TRT, Doherty E, Khadka A, Martin Ewert A, Sparks TC, Shrestha B, Scribner H, Balthazor N, Johnson RL, Markwardt C, Singh R, Constancio N, Hauri KC, Ternest JJ, Gula SW, Dillard D. Addressing emerging issues in entomology: 2023 student debates. JOURNAL OF INSECT SCIENCE (ONLINE) 2024; 24:11. [PMID: 39095324 PMCID: PMC11296816 DOI: 10.1093/jisesa/ieae080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2024] [Revised: 06/05/2024] [Accepted: 07/16/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024]
Abstract
The Entomological Society of America (ESA) Student Debates is an annual student competition at the ESA Annual Meeting organized by Student Debates Subcommittee (SDS) members of the ESA Student Affairs Committee. In conjunction with the 2023 ESA Annual Meeting theme, 'Insects and influence: Advancing entomology's impact on people and policy', the theme of this year's student debate was 'Addressing emerging issues in entomology'. With the aid of ESA membership, the SDS selected the following debate topics: (1) Should disclosure of artificial intelligence large language models in scientific writing always be required? and (2) Is it more important to prioritize honey bee or native pollinator health for long-term food security within North America? Four student teams from across the nation, composed of 3-5 student members and a professional advisor, were assigned a topic and stance. Over the course of 5 months, all team members researched and prepared for their assigned topic before debating live with an opposing team at the 2023 ESA Annual Meeting in National Harbor, Maryland. SDS members additionally prepared and presented introductions for each debate topic to provide unbiased backgrounds to the judges and audience for context in assessing teams' arguments. The result was an engaging discussion between our teams, judges, and audience members on emerging issues facing entomology and its impact on people and policy, such as scientific communication and food security, that brought attention to the complexities involved when debating topics concerning insects and influence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria Pickens
- Department of Entomology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA
| | - Jacqueline Maille
- Department of Entomology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA
| | - William Jacob Pitt
- Tree Fruit Research & Extension Center, Washington State University, Wenatchee, WA, USA
| | | | - Sara Salgado
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of Florida, Fort Pierce, FL, USA
| | - Kelly M Tims
- Department of Entomology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | | | - Malcolm Peavy
- Department of Entomology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | | | - Tyler R T Musgrove
- Department of Entomology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA
| | - Ethan Doherty
- Department of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, USA
- Department of Forestry and Environmental Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, USA
| | - Arjun Khadka
- Department of Entomology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA
| | | | - Tanner C Sparks
- Department of Entomology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA
| | - Bandana Shrestha
- Department of Entomology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA
| | - Hazel Scribner
- Department of Entomology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA
| | - Navi Balthazor
- Department of Entomology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA
| | - Rachel L Johnson
- Department of Entomology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA
| | - Chip Markwardt
- Department of Entomology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA
| | - Rupinder Singh
- Department of Entomology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA
| | - Natalie Constancio
- Department of Entomology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Kayleigh C Hauri
- Department of Entomology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - John J Ternest
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Scott W Gula
- Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - DeShae Dillard
- Department of Entomology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
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3
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Rering CC, Rudolph AB, Li QB, Read QD, Muñoz PR, Ternest JJ, Hunter CT. A quantitative survey of the blueberry (Vaccinium spp.) culturable nectar microbiome: variation between cultivars, locations, and farm management approaches. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2024; 100:fiae020. [PMID: 38366934 PMCID: PMC10903978 DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiae020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Revised: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Microbes in floral nectar can impact both their host plants and floral visitors, yet little is known about the nectar microbiome of most pollinator-dependent crops. In this study, we examined the abundance and composition of the fungi and bacteria inhabiting Vaccinium spp. nectar, as well as nectar volume and sugar concentrations. We compared wild V. myrsinites with two field-grown V. corymbosum cultivars collected from two organic and two conventional farms. Differences in nectar traits and microbiomes were identified between V. corymbosum cultivars but not Vaccinium species. The microbiome of cultivated plants also varied greatly between farms, whereas management regime had only subtle effects, with higher fungal populations detected under organic management. Nectars were hexose-dominant, and high cell densities were correlated with reduced nectar sugar concentrations. Bacteria were more common than fungi in blueberry nectar, although both were frequently detected and co-occurred more often than would be predicted by chance. "Cosmopolitan" blueberry nectar microbes that were isolated in all plants, including Rosenbergiella sp. and Symmetrospora symmetrica, were identified. This study provides the first systematic report of the blueberry nectar microbiome, which may have important implications for pollinator and crop health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caitlin C Rering
- Chemistry Research Unit, Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, 1700 SW 23rd Dr, Gainesville, FL 32608, United States
| | - Arthur B Rudolph
- Chemistry Research Unit, Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, 1700 SW 23rd Dr, Gainesville, FL 32608, United States
| | - Qin-Bao Li
- Chemistry Research Unit, Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, 1700 SW 23rd Dr, Gainesville, FL 32608, United States
| | - Quentin D Read
- Agricultural Research Service, Southeast Area, United States Department of Agriculture, 840 Oval Drive, Raleigh, NC 27606, United States
| | - Patricio R Muñoz
- Horticultural Sciences Department, University of Florida, 2550 Hull Rd, Gainesville, FL 32611, United States
| | - John J Ternest
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of Florida, 1881 Natural Area Dr, Gainesville, FL 32611, United States
| | - Charles T Hunter
- Chemistry Research Unit, Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, 1700 SW 23rd Dr, Gainesville, FL 32608, United States
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Rering CC, Lanier AM, Peres NA. Blueberry floral probiotics: nectar microbes inhibit the growth of Colletotrichum pathogens. J Appl Microbiol 2023; 134:lxad300. [PMID: 38061796 DOI: 10.1093/jambio/lxad300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Revised: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/29/2023]
Abstract
AIMS To identify whether microorganisms isolated from blueberry flowers can inhibit the growth of Colletotrichum, an opportunistic plant pathogen that infects flowers and threatens yields, and to assess the impacts of floral microbes and Colletotrichum pathogens on artificial nectar sugars and honey bee consumption. METHODS AND RESULTS The growth inhibition of Colletotrichum (Colletotrichum acutatum, Colletotrichum fioriniae, and Colletotrichum gloeosporioides) was screened using both artificial nectar co-culture and dual culture plate assays. All candidate nectar microbes were screened for antagonism against a single C. acutatum isolate. Then, the top four candidate nectar microbes showing the strongest inhibition of C. acutatum (Neokomagataea thailandica, Neokomagataea tanensis, Metschnikowia rancensis, and Symmetrospora symmetrica) were evaluated for antagonism against three additional C. acutatum isolates, and single isolates of both C. fioriniae and C. gloeosporioides. In artificial nectar assays, single and three-species cultures inhibited the growth of two of four C. acutatum isolates by ca. 60%, but growth of other Colletotrichum species was not affected. In dual culture plate assays, inhibition was observed for all Colletotrichum species for at least three of four selected microbial antagonists (13%‒53%). Neither honey bee consumption of nectar nor nectar sugar concentrations were affected by any microbe or pathogen tested. CONCLUSIONS Selected floral microbes inhibited growth of all Colletotrichum species in vitro, although the degree of inhibition was specific to the assay and pathogen examined. In all microbial treatments, nectar sugars were preserved, and honey bee preference was not affected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caitlin C Rering
- Chemistry Research Unit, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Gainesville, FL 32608, United States
| | - Alexia M Lanier
- Chemistry Research Unit, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Gainesville, FL 32608, United States
| | - Natalia A Peres
- Department of Horticulture, Gulf Coast Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Wimauma, FL 33598, United States
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Osterman J, Benton F, Hellström S, Luderer‐Pflimpfl M, Pöpel‐Eisenbrandt A, Wild BS, Theodorou P, Ulbricht C, Paxton RJ. Mason bees and honey bees synergistically enhance fruit set in sweet cherry orchards. Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e10289. [PMID: 37435028 PMCID: PMC10329911 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2022] [Revised: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Mason bees (Osmia spp.) are efficient fruit tree pollinators that can be encouraged to occupy and breed in artificial nesting material. In sweet cherry orchards, they are occasionally used as an alternative managed pollinator as a replacement for or in addition to honey bees (Apis mellifera). Yet, the lack of practical guidelines on management practices, for example optimal stocking rates, for both mason bee nesting material and honey bees might compromise pollination service provision. In this study, we assessed the relationship between stocking rates (honey bee hives and mason bee nesting material) and the abundance of honey bees and mason bees in 17 sweet cherry (Prunus avium) orchards in Central Germany. We furthermore performed a pollination experiment to explore the interactive effect of mason bees and honey bees on sweet cherry fruit set. In the orchards, both honey bee and mason bee abundance increased with increasing stocking rates of hives or nesting material, respectively. Honey bee abundance increased linearly with stocking rates. In contrast, mason bee abundance asymptoted at 2-3 nesting boxes per ha, beyond which more boxes resulted in little increase in visitation rate. Our pollination experiment demonstrated that orchards were pollen limited, with only 28% of insect-pollinated flowers setting fruit versus 39% of optimally hand-pollinated flowers. Honey bees and mason bees enhanced sweet cherry fruit set, but only when both were present and not when either was present alone in an orchard. Our findings demonstrate that offering nesting material for mason bees and employing honey bee hives can enhance bee abundance in sweet cherry orchards. By increasing honey bee abundance in combination with enhanced mason bee abundance, farmers can substantially boost fruit set and potentially sweet cherry yield. To enhance pollination services, farmers should consider the benefits of increasing pollinator biodiversity as an immediate benefit to improve crop yields.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Osterman
- General Zoology, Institute for BiologyMartin‐Luther‐University of Halle‐WittenbergHalle (Saale)Germany
- Department of Computational Landscape EcologyHelmholtz Centre for Environmental Research‐UFZ Leipzig, ESCALATELeipzigGermany
- Nature Conservation and Landscape Ecology, Faculty of Environment and Natural ResourcesUniversity of FreiburgFreiburgGermany
- Gothenburg Global Biodiversity CentreUniversity of GothenburgGöteborgSweden
| | - Frances Benton
- General Zoology, Institute for BiologyMartin‐Luther‐University of Halle‐WittenbergHalle (Saale)Germany
- Queen's University BelfastBelfastUK
| | - Sara Hellström
- General Zoology, Institute for BiologyMartin‐Luther‐University of Halle‐WittenbergHalle (Saale)Germany
| | | | | | - Bilyana Stoykova Wild
- General Zoology, Institute for BiologyMartin‐Luther‐University of Halle‐WittenbergHalle (Saale)Germany
- Faculty of BiologySofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”SofiaBulgaria
| | - Panagiotis Theodorou
- General Zoology, Institute for BiologyMartin‐Luther‐University of Halle‐WittenbergHalle (Saale)Germany
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle‐Jena‐LeipzigLeipzigGermany
| | - Christin Ulbricht
- Dezernat GartenbauLandesanstalt für Landwirtschaft und GartenbauQuedlinburgGermany
| | - Robert J. Paxton
- General Zoology, Institute for BiologyMartin‐Luther‐University of Halle‐WittenbergHalle (Saale)Germany
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle‐Jena‐LeipzigLeipzigGermany
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6
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Stuligross C, Melone GG, Wang L, Williams NM. Sublethal behavioral impacts of resource limitation and insecticide exposure reinforce negative fitness outcomes for a solitary bee. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 867:161392. [PMID: 36621507 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.161392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2022] [Revised: 12/30/2022] [Accepted: 01/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Contemporary landscapes present numerous challenges for bees and other beneficial insects that play critical functional roles in natural ecosystems and agriculture. Pesticides and the loss of food resources from flowering plants are two stressors known to act together to impair bee fitness. The impact of these stressors on key behaviors like foraging and nesting can limit pollination services and population persistence, making it critical to understand these sublethal effects. We investigated the effects of insecticide exposure and floral resource limitation on the foraging and nesting behavior of the solitary blue orchard bee, Osmia lignaria. Bees in field cages foraged on wildflowers at high or low densities, some treated with the common insecticide, imidacloprid, in a fully crossed design. Both stressors influenced behavior, but they had differential impacts. Bees with limited food resources made fewer, but longer foraging trips and misidentified their nests more often. Insecticide exposure reduced bee foraging activity. Additionally, insecticides interacted with bee age to influence antagonistic behavior among neighboring females, such that insecticide-exposed bees were less antagonistic with age. Our findings point towards mechanisms underlying effects on populations and ecosystem function and reinforce the importance of studying multiple drivers to understand the consequences of anthropogenic change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara Stuligross
- Graduate Group in Ecology, University of California, Davis, One Shields Ave, Davis, CA 95616, USA; Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of California, Davis, One Shields Ave, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
| | - Grace G Melone
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of California, Davis, One Shields Ave, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Li Wang
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of California, Davis, One Shields Ave, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Neal M Williams
- Graduate Group in Ecology, University of California, Davis, One Shields Ave, Davis, CA 95616, USA; Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of California, Davis, One Shields Ave, Davis, CA 95616, USA
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DeVetter LW, Chabert S, Milbrath MO, Mallinger RE, Walters J, Isaacs R, Galinato SP, Kogan C, Brouwer K, Melathopoulos A, Eeraerts M. Toward evidence-based decision support systems to optimize pollination and yields in highbush blueberry. FRONTIERS IN SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEMS 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fsufs.2022.1006201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Highbush blueberry (Vaccinium spp.) is a globally important fruit crop that depends on insect-mediated pollination to produce quality fruit and commercially viable yields. Pollination success in blueberry is complex and impacted by multiple interacting factors including flower density, bee diversity and abundance, and weather conditions. Other factors, including floral traits, bee traits, and economics also contribute to pollination success at the farm level but are less well understood. As blueberry production continues to expand globally, decision-aid technologies are needed to optimize and enhance the sustainability of pollination strategies. The objective of this review is to highlight our current knowledge about blueberry pollination, where current research efforts are focused, and where future research should be directed to successfully implement a comprehensive blueberry pollination decision-making framework for modern production systems. Important knowledge gaps remain, including how to integrate wild and managed pollinators to optimize pollination, and how to provide predictable and stable crop pollination across variable environmental conditions. In addition, continued advances in pesticide stewardship are required to optimize pollinator health and crop outcomes. Integration of on- and off-farm data, statistical models, and software tools could distill complex scientific information into decision-aid systems that support sustainable, evidence-based pollination decisions at the farm level. Utility of these tools will require multi-disciplinary research and strategic deployment through effective extension and information-sharing networks of growers, beekeepers, and extension/crop advisors.
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Jones J, Rader R. Pollinator nutrition and its role in merging the dual objectives of pollinator health and optimal crop production. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2022; 377:20210170. [PMID: 35491607 PMCID: PMC9058521 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2021.0170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Bee and non-bee insect pollinators play an integral role in the quantity and quality of production for many food crops, yet there is growing evidence that nutritional challenges to pollinators in agricultural landscapes are an important factor in the reduction of pollinator populations worldwide. Schemes to enhance crop pollinator health have historically focused on floral resource plantings aimed at increasing pollinator abundance and diversity by providing more foraging opportunities for bees. These efforts have demonstrated that improvements in bee diversity and abundance are achievable; however, goals of increasing crop pollination outcomes via these interventions are not consistently met. To support pollinator health and crop pollination outcomes in tandem, habitat enhancements must be tailored to meet the life-history needs of specific crop pollinators, including non-bees. This will require greater understanding of the nutritional demands of these taxa together with the supply of floral and non-floral food resources and how these interact in cropping environments. Understanding the mechanisms underlying crop pollination and pollinator health in unison across a range of taxa is clearly a win–win for industry and conservation, yet achievement of these goals will require new knowledge and novel, targeted methods. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Natural processes influencing pollinator health: from chemistry to landscapes’.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy Jones
- School of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England, Armidale, NSW, Australia
| | - Romina Rader
- School of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England, Armidale, NSW, Australia
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No statistical evidence that honey bees competitively reduced wild bee abundance in the Munich Botanic Garden-a comment on Renner et al. (2021). Oecologia 2022; 198:337-341. [PMID: 35064820 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-022-05112-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2021] [Accepted: 01/11/2022] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
In a recent paper, Renner et al. (Oecologia 195:825-831, 2021) concluded, without supporting statistical evidence, that increased density of managed honey-bee hives between 2019 and 2020 intensified competitive effects of honey bees on non-Apis bee species in the Munich Botanic Garden. Analysis of Renner et al.'s observations revealed that, contrary to their assumption, the change in hive numbers did not statistically alter honey-bee visitation to 29 plant species within or between years. Given this consistency, changes in the proportion of non-Apis bees among visitors of the surveyed plant species between years likely represent their responses to reduced overall availability of floral resources during 2020. Thus, Renner et al.'s observations do not provide convincing evidence that honey bees competitively reduced the abundance of non-Apis bees in the Munich Botanic Garden.
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