The Bee Community of Cannabis sativa and Corresponding Effects of Landscape Composition

2019 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
pp. 197-202
Author(s):  
Nathaniel Ryan Flicker ◽  
Katja Poveda ◽  
Heather Grab
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Species Richness ◽  
Agricultural Landscape ◽  
Cannabis Sativa ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Flowering Phenology ◽  
Landscape Composition ◽  
Agricultural Landscapes ◽  
Phenotypic Traits ◽  
Pollination Services

Abstract Industrial hemp, Cannabis sativa (Cannabaceae), is a newly introduced and rapidly expanding crop in the American agricultural landscape. As an exclusively wind-pollinated crop, hemp lacks nectar but produces an abundance of pollen during a period of floral dearth in agricultural landscapes. These pollen resources are attractive to a range of bee species but the diversity of floral visitors and their use of hemp across a range of agricultural contexts remains unclear. We made repeated sweep net collections of bees visiting hemp flowers on farms in New York, which varied in both landscape context and phenotypic traits of hemp varieties. We identified all bee visitors to the species level and found that hemp supported 16 different bee species. Landscape simplification negatively impacted the abundance of bees visiting hemp flowers but did not affect the species richness of the community. Plant height, on the other hand, was strongly correlated with bee species richness and abundance for hemp plots with taller varieties attracting a broader diversity of bee species. Because of its temporally unique flowering phenology, hemp has the potential to provide a critical nutritional resource to a diverse community of bees during a period of floral scarcity and thereby may help to sustain agroecosystem-wide pollination services for other crops in the landscape. As cultivation of hemp increases, growers, land managers, and policy makers should consider its value in supporting bee communities and take its attractiveness to bees into account when developing pest management strategies.

scholarly journals Gefährlich und nützlich zugleich: Strategien zum Management der invasiven Robinie

2018 ◽  
Vol 169 (2) ◽  
pp. 77-85 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michaela Vítková ◽  
Marco Conedera ◽  
Jiří Sádlo ◽  
Jan Pergl ◽  
Petr Pyšek
Keyword(s):  
Time Management ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Agricultural Landscape ◽  
Black Locust ◽  
Robinia Pseudoacacia ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Habitat Type ◽  
Agricultural Landscapes ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Intensively Managed

Dangerous and useful at the same time: management strategies for the invasive black locust The North American black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) is considered controversial as many other introduced tree species because of its both positive and negative properties. Based on a literature review and own data we analyze the occurrence of black locust in Czechia and Switzerland and present the management approaches in place. In both countries, black locust is on the blacklist of invasive introduced species. It can grow in a wide range of habitats from urban and agricultural landscape to dry grassland and forest. Meanwhile, the species became in many places part of the environment and human culture, so that neither unrestricted cultivation nor large-scale eradication is feasible. We suggest a context-dependent management which respects the different needs and takes into account the local environmental conditions, land-use, habitat type, risk of spread as well as economic, cultural and biodiversity aspects. To this purpose we propose three management strategies: 1) control respectively gradual suppression of black locust in forests where the species is not welcome, 2) its eradication in sensitive ecosystems as dry grasslands or clear and dry forests and 3) its tolerance in intensively managed agricultural landscapes and in urban environment.

scholarly journals The Huerta Agricultural Landscape in the Spanish Mediterranean Arc: One Landscape, Two Perspectives, Three Specific Huertas

Land ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 460
Author(s):  
Pablo Martí ◽  
Clara García-Mayor
Keyword(s):  
Urban Areas ◽  
Water Distribution ◽  
Agricultural Landscape ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Agricultural Landscapes ◽  
Territorial Planning ◽  
Mediterranean Countries ◽  
Environmental Goals ◽  
Vega Baja

The Huerta is recognised as one of the 13 specific agricultural landscapes in Europe, present in only three Mediterranean countries, namely Spain, Italy, and Greece. In the case of Spain, three areas fall within the established Huerta agricultural classification: the Huertas de Valencia, Murcia, and Vega Baja. While all of them share common landscape features, each Huerta has distinguishing singularities which are approached through two perspectives: firstly, the structural tangible elements, related to functional networks—water distribution, pathways networks, settlement patterns, and the agricultural production system; and secondly, the role of the intangible components—connotations of the word Huerta, water management, canal and path upkeep rules, and the administration of these territories. The analysis of the tangible elements and intangible components in the three Spanish Huertas shows these territories as complex and balanced systems that have historically counterbalanced the environmental drawbacks in one of the most arid European regions. Despite being a highly appreciated environmental and productive asset, these Huertas are under intense pressure from urban development in highly urbanized metropolitan areas. This study shows Huertas’ uniqueness through their historical role in the territorial planning and management strategies at the local level, finally depicting Huertas as a present strategical opportunity for reaching environmental goals in peri-urban areas.

scholarly journals Agricultural Landscape Composition Linked with Acoustic Measures of Avian Diversity

Land ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 145
Author(s):  
Adam P. Dixon ◽  
Matthew E. Baker ◽  
Erle C. Ellis
Keyword(s):  
High Resolution ◽  
Vegetation Cover ◽  
Agricultural Landscape ◽  
Acoustic Monitoring ◽  
Landscape Composition ◽  
Agricultural Landscapes ◽  
Landscape Patterns ◽  
Landscape Configuration ◽  
High Resolution Mapping ◽  
Resolution Mapping

Measuring, monitoring, and managing biodiversity across agricultural regions depends on methods that can combine high-resolution mapping of landscape patterns with local biodiversity observations. This study explores the potential to monitor biodiversity in agricultural landscapes by linking high-resolution remote sensing with passive acoustic monitoring. Land cover maps produced using a small unmanned aerial system (UAS) and PlanetScope (PS) satellite imagery were used to investigate relationships between landscape patterns and an acoustically derived biodiversity index (vocalizing bird species richness) across 12 agricultural sample locations equipped with acoustic recorders in Iowa, USA during the 2018 growing season. Statistical assessment revealed a significant direct association between vocalizing bird richness and percent noncrop vegetation cover. High spatial resolution (1 m) UAS mapping produced stronger statistical associations than PS-based maps (3 m) for landscape composition metrics. Landscape configuration metrics (Shannon’s diversity index, contagion, perimeter-area-ratio, and circumscribing circle index) were either cross-correlated with composition metrics or unusable owing to complete landscape homogeneity in some agricultural landscape samples. This study shows that high resolution mapping of noncrop vegetation cover can be linked with acoustic monitoring of unique bird vocalizations to provide a useful indicator of biodiversity in agricultural landscapes.

scholarly journals Nocturnal pollinators strongly contribute to pollen transport of wild flowers in an agricultural landscape

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (5) ◽  
pp. 20190877 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard E. Walton ◽  
Carl D. Sayer ◽  
Helen Bennion ◽  
Jan C. Axmacher
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Landscape ◽  
Agricultural Landscapes ◽  
Wild Plant ◽  
Conservation Strategies ◽  
Pollination Services ◽  
Pollen Transport ◽  
Plant Families ◽  
Nocturnal Pollinators ◽  
Flower Visiting ◽  
Plant Pollinator

Dramatic declines in diurnal pollinators have created great scientific interest in plant–pollinator relationships and associated pollination services. Existing literature, however, is generally focused on diurnal pollinating insect taxa, especially on Apidae (Hymenoptera) and Syrphidae (Diptera) pollinators, while nocturnal macro-moths that comprise extremely species-rich flower-visiting families have been largely neglected. Here, we report that in agricultural landscapes, macro-moths can provide unique, highly complex pollen transport links, making them vital components of overall wild plant–pollinator networks in agro-ecosystems. Pollen transport occurred more frequently on the moths' ventral thorax rather than on their mouthparts that have been traditionally targeted for pollen swabbing. Pollen transport loads suggest that nocturnal moths contribute key pollination services for several wild plant families in agricultural landscapes, in addition to providing functional resilience to diurnal networks. Severe declines in richness and abundance of settling moth populations highlight the urgent need to include them in future management and conservation strategies within agricultural landscapes.

scholarly journals Nectar and Pollen Production and Insect Visitation on Ornamentals from the Genus Hosta Tratt. (Asparagaceae)

2015 ◽  
Vol 59 (2) ◽  
pp. 115-125 ◽  
Author(s):  
Małgorzata Bożek ◽  
Monika Strzałkowska-Abramek ◽  
Bożena Denisow
Keyword(s):  
Pollen Grains ◽  
Polar View ◽  
Shape Index ◽  
Flowering Phenology ◽  
Botanical Garden ◽  
Agricultural Landscapes ◽  
Phenotypic Traits ◽  
Pollen Production ◽  
Insect Visitation ◽  
Perianth Tube

Abstract Properly arranged ornamental gardens in both urban and agricultural landscapes can be of a benefit to bees. In this study, we observed the flowering phenology, nectar, and pollen production of the ornamental Hosta species and varieties (H. sieboldiana Engler, H. capitata Nakai, H. crispula Maekawa, H. fluctuans Maekawa, syn. H. sieboldiana var. fluctuans hort., H. undulata var. univittata Miquel (Hylander), syn. H. univittata). Our experiment was conducted in the 2012 - 2014 time period, at the UMCS Botanical Garden in Lublin, Poland (51° 14’ N, 21° 34’ E). The total sugar yield varied almost 5-fold among Hosta ornamentals; the lowest amount was calculated for H. fluctuans (2.31 g per 10 m2) and the highest for H. capitata (11.80 g per 10 m2). The average pollen yield was from 0.24 g per 10 m2 (H. undulata var. univittata) to 9.53 g per 10 m2 (H. capitata). Pollen grains were bilaterally symmetrical, and large-sized. In polar view, they were prolatum (shape index 1.33 - 1.61), while in equatorial view, oblatum (shape index 0.5 - 0.7). Hosta species can complete the summer pasture mainly for bumblebees. In four of the five Hosta representatives, bumblebees accounted for 60 - 70% of the total visits. The honeybee predominated only on the flowers of H. capitata (54 - 71%). Solitary bees were rarely observed (3 - 9% of visits). The phenotypic traits of Hosta flowers (the accumulation of nectar in the deep and narrow perianth tube) reduced the access to nectar reward and restricted an array of insect visitors.

scholarly journals Bees (Hymenoptera, Apoidea, Apiformes) in the Agricultural Landscape of Bulgaria: Species Diversity

2014 ◽  
Vol 58 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-49 ◽  
Author(s):  
Józef Banaszak ◽  
Bojana Dochkova
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Brassica Napus ◽  
Raphanus Sativus ◽  
Agricultural Landscape ◽  
Agricultural Landscapes ◽  
Wild Bees ◽  
Crop Fields ◽  
Forage Plants ◽  
Dominance Structure ◽  
Bee Communities

Abstract Wild bees (Apiformes) were studied in 4 crop fields and 8 refuge habitats for 2 - 5 years in agricultural landscapes in the Pleven and Plovdiv regions of Bulgaria. In total, 233 bee species were recorded. Bee forage plants visited by the honey bee and wild Apiformes are listed for each refuge habitat. Species composition is given for individual habitats, including fields of alfalfa (Medicago sativa), oilseed rape (Brassica napus), sunflower (Helianthus annuus), and radish (Raphanus sativus). Species richness and dominance structure of bee communities in the 2 regions are compared, and species responsible for significant differences are identified.

scholarly journals Linking pollinator occurrence in field margins to pollinator visitation to a mass-flowering crop

2021 ◽  
Vol 28 ◽  
pp. 153-166
Author(s):  
Marjaana Toivonen ◽  
Irina Herzon ◽  
Jenni Toikkanen ◽  
Mikko Kuussaari
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Landscape Heterogeneity ◽  
Agricultural Landscapes ◽  
Field Margins ◽  
Natural Habitats ◽  
Pollination Services ◽  
Pollinator Visitation ◽  
Mass Flowering ◽  
Pollinator Abundance ◽  
Management Approaches

Uncultivated field margins are important refugia for pollinating insects in agricultural landscapes. However, the spill-over of pollination services from field margins to adjacent crops is poorly understood. This study (i) examined the effects of landscape heterogeneity on pollinator occurrence in permanent field margins and pollinator visitation to adjacent mass-flowering turnip rape (Brassica rapa ssp. oleifera) in boreal agricultural landscapes, and (ii) tested whether pollinator abundance and species richness in field margins predict abundance and species richness of crop visitors. Pollinators visiting the crop were more affected by landscape heterogeneity than pollinators in adjacent margins. Species richness, total abundance, and the abundance of syrphid flies visiting the crop increased with increasing landscape heterogeneity, whereas, in field margins, landscape heterogeneity had little effect on pollinators. In field-dominated homogeneous landscapes, wild pollinators rarely visited the crop even if they occurred in adjacent margins, whereas in heterogeneous landscapes, differences between the two habitats were smaller. Total pollinator abundance and species richness in field margins were poor predictors of pollinator visitation to adjacent crop. However, high abundances of honeybees and bumblebees in margins were related to high numbers of crop visitors from these taxa. Our results suggest that, while uncultivated field margins help pollinators persist in boreal agricultural landscapes, they do not always result in enhanced pollinator visitation to the adjacent crop. More studies quantifying pollination service delivery from semi-natural habitats to crops in different landscape settings will help develop management approaches to support crop pollination. 

scholarly journals The effect of Agricultural Landscape Type on Field Margin Flora in South Eastern Poland

2016 ◽  
Vol 75 (2) ◽  
pp. 217-225 ◽  
Author(s):  
Małgorzata Wrzesień ◽  
Bożena Denisow
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Species Diversity ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Agricultural Landscape ◽  
Vascular Plant ◽  
Detrended Correspondence Analysis ◽  
Agricultural Landscapes ◽  
Plant Species Diversity ◽  
Field Margins ◽  
Landscape Type

Abstract Plant species diversity is threatened in many agricultural landscapes due to the changes it has to undergo. Although the modification of the agricultural landscape pattern is observed across Europe, both extensive and intensive agricultural landscapes still co-exist in Poland. The objective of the study was to examine the flora in field margins in intensively and extensively managed agricultural landscapes, located across three regions in SE Poland. The flora was compared with respect to species richness, diversity, and evenness indices. Detrended correspondence analysis was employed to characterise variation in species composition. Agricultural landscape type made a higher contribution than the topography or geology to species richness and composition in field margins. Field margins function as important habitats for general vascular plant species diversity and are useful for the conservation of rare, threatened, endangered or bee plants. A significant decline in species diversity was observed over a distance of 1000 m from the habitat elements. Plants growing on field margins are mainly perennials; however participation of annuals clearly increases in intensive landscapes. The participation of wind-dispersed species decreased in an open-spaced intensive landscape. Animal-dispersed plants predominated in an extensive landscape with forest islands. Irrespective of landscape type, native species predominated. However, these habitats create the biota and corridors for alien-invasive species as well.

scholarly journals Landscape Effects on the Abundance of Apolygus lucorum in Cotton Fields

Insects ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 185
Author(s):  
Minlong Li ◽  
Long Yang ◽  
Yunfei Pan ◽  
Qian Zhang ◽  
Haibin Yuan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Landscape ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Northern China ◽  
Landscape Composition ◽  
Population Abundance ◽  
Spatial And Temporal Scales ◽  
Apolygus Lucorum ◽  
Cotton Fields

Resource-continuity over spatial and temporal scales plays a central role in the population abundance of polyphagous pests in an agricultural landscape. Shifts in the agricultural land use in a region may alter the configuration of key resource habitats, resulting in drastic changes in pest abundance. Apolygus lucorum (Meyer-Dür) (Hemiptera: Miridae) is a pest of cotton in northern China that has become more serious in recent years following changes in the region’s cropping systems. However, no evidence from the landscape perspective has yet been gathered to account for the increasing population of A. lucorum in China. In this study, we investigated the effects of landscape composition on the population abundance of A. lucorum in cotton fields in July and August of 2016, respectively. We found that increased acreage planted to cotton actually had a negative effect on the abundance of A. lucorum, while planting of other crops (e.g., vegetables, soybean, and peanut) was positively associated with the mirid’s population abundance in cotton fields. Maize production only displayed a positive effect on population abundance in August. Our results suggested that the decreasing of cotton area may weaken the trap-kill effect on A. lucorum, and the extension of other crops and maize potentially enhance the continuity of resources needed by A. lucorum. Combined effects of these two aspects may promote an increased population density of A. lucorum in the agriculture district. In the future, when possible, management strategies in key regional crops should be coordinated to reduce resource continuity at the landscape or area-wide scale to lower A. lucorum populations across multiple crops.

scholarly journals Land-Use and Climate Drive Shifts in Bombus Assemblage Composition

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Morgan Elizabeth Christman ◽  
Lori R Spears ◽  
James P Strange ◽  
William D Pearse ◽  
Emily K Burchfield ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Land Use ◽  
Relative Humidity ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Landscape Composition ◽  
Agricultural Landscapes ◽  
Suitable Habitat ◽  
Urban Landscapes ◽  
Increased Risk

Abstract ContextPollinators play pivotal roles in maintaining agricultural and natural plant communities, yet some bee populations are declining. The conversion of agricultural and semi-natural lands for urban use has reduced bee abundance and diversity. Meanwhile, climate change has affected bee distributions and led to disruption of plant-pollinator synchrony, impacting ecosystem processes. However, how these factors co-occur to influence bee assemblages is poorly understood.ObjectivesWe linked differences in bumble bee (Bombus) diversity to landscape composition and climate in agroecosystems in order to understand their co-occurring effects.MethodsWe evaluated Bombus assemblages in relation to the proportion of agricultural, semi-natural, and urban landscapes and interannual variation in temperature, precipitation, and relative humidity in Utah agroecosystems from 2014 to 2018.ResultsBombus species richness and diversity was highest in agricultural landscapes characterized by low temperatures and high relative humidity during the growing season, and lowest in urban areas with high temperatures and low relative humidity. Ongoing and future urbanization and climate change may therefore lead to reduced Bombus diversity in Utah. Although some historically uncommon species, such as B. pensylvanicus, may thrive under future land-use and climate scenarios, others (e.g., B. sylvicola, B. californicus, and B. occidentalis) are at increased risk of extirpation due to loss of suitable habitat.ConclusionsContinually monitoring Bombus populations will help document shifts in assemblages and potential consequential impacts to ecosystem services. These findings emphasize that management strategies moving forward should consider the effect of co-occurring factors as opposed to single factors in order to foster future resiliency of Bombus populations.

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