Phenological overlap between crop and pollinators: contrasting influence of native and non-native bees on raspberry fruit over the flowering season

SÁEZ, AGUSTÍN; GARIBALDI, LUCAS A.

JOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY

WILEY-BLACKWELL PUBLISHING, INC

Lugar: Londres; Año: 2023

0021-8901

1. Phenological overlap between crop flowering and pollinators is a crucial trait for10 the pollination of more than 75% of the world’s crops. However, crop11 management rarely considers the seasonal aspect of plant-pollinator mutualism.12 Here, we explore the phenological overlap between crops and pollinators and13 how it affects pollination and fruit production.14 2. We measured the abundance and richness of native and non-native pollinators15 visiting raspberry flowers at two different times during the flowering season16 (i.e., early and late flowering periods) and examined their effects on crop yield17 in 16 fields.18 3. The community of pollinators foraging on raspberry flowers was more diverse19 and dominated by native pollinators during the early flowering period, when20 most native plants were in flower. Later in the season, when native flower21 resources in the environment declined, raspberry flowers were visited mainly by22 two non-native bees: managed honeybees and the invasive bumblebee Bombus23 terrestris.24 4. Pollinator contribution to raspberry yield was twice as high in the early25 flowering period compared to the late period (61% vs 31% increase in drupelet26 set, respectively). Flower damage caused by extremely high visitation frequency27 by non-native bees was also six times lower in the early than in the late28 flowering period (5% vs 30% of damaged flowers, respectively).29 5. Synthesis and applications – Providing sufficient pollen and nectar resources to30 support wild pollinators over extended periods in agricultural landscapes can31 contribute to crop pollination and ensure high fruit weight and quality. This can32 be achieved by restoring natural and semi-natural areas next to crop fields with33 native, long-flowering-plant species. Additionally, growers and crop breeding34 programmes should consider selection of flowering time to coincide with the35 period of high diversity or abundance of native pollinators in order to reduce36 dependence on managed pollinators.