Analysis of Pollination Services Provided by Wild and Managed Bees (Apoidea) in Wild Blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium Aiton) Production in Maine, USA, with a Literature Review

Abstract

Maine is the largest producer of wild blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium Aiton) in the United States. Pollination comes from combinations of honey bees (Apis mellifera (L.)), commercial bumble bees (Bombus impatiens Cresson), and wild bees. This study addresses (1) previous research addressing wild-blueberry pollination, (2) effects of wild-bee and honey-bee activity densities on fruit set, yield, and crop value, (3) the economic value of wild-bee communities, and (4) economic consequences of pollinator loss. Bee communities were sampled in 40 fields over three years (2010–2012) and bee activity densities were estimated for bumble bees, honey bees, and other wild bees. These data were applied to an economic model to estimate the value of bee taxa. Bumble bees and honey bees predicted fruit set and reduced its spatial heterogeneity. Other wild bees were not significant predictors of fruit set. Yield was predicted by fruit set and field size, but not pest management tactics. Our analysis showed that disruption in supply of honey bees would result in nearly a 30% decrease in crop yield, buffered in part by wild bees that provide “background” levels of pollination. Honey-bee stocking density and, thus, the activity density of honey bees was greater in larger fields, but not for wild bees. Therefore, a decrease in crop yield would be greater than 30% for large fields due to the proportionally greater investment in honey bees in large fields and a relatively lower contribution by wild bees.

Flower Visitation Time and Number of Visitor Species Are Reduced by the Use of Agrochemicals in Coffee Home Gardens

“…Our finding is in line with existing studies that have found that intensive farming practices in general, not only chemical usage, contribute to lower pollinator diversity, particularly in tropical environments [11,[56][57][58][59]. High pollinator diversity has been shown to improve crop productivity in smallholder farms, increase coffee fruit set and improve the amount and frequency of pollination services [50,[60][61][62]. Consequently, preserving pollinator diversity is essential if we are to address global food insecurities, reverse global pollinator decline and re-establish degraded ecosystem service provision [2,63].…”

“…In our case, and in the case of the Pywell et al [72] study, farmers use a system of land-sharing (i.e., agroforestry), as opposed to land-sparing which intensifies farming in one area whilst sparing other areas for entirely conservation purposes [73]. It could be extrapolated that for areas in which land-sharing is not an option, crop yields may suffer as a result of implementing wildlife-friendly practices to preserve pollination services, such as what is observed in Hardman et al's [62] study. However, whilst crop yields may decline as a result of implementing wildlife-friendly farming practices in few cases, it could be argued that this effect is diminished due to increased pollinator diversity and complementarity providing greater ecosystem resilience and thus, greater security with regard to food production and farmer income [37,38].…”

Honey Bee Health in Maine Wild Blueberry Production

“…Wild blueberry is an obligate insect-pollinated plant, mostly dependent upon bees [5,40]. Migratory honey bee hives are heavily used to supplement or replace the pollination service by native bee species [5,41]. There has been concern by both honey beekeepers and wild blueberry growers about the health of colonies that are brought in for pollination services each year.…”

The Honey Bee Apis mellifera: An Insect at the Interface between Human and Ecosystem Health

“…For watermelon crops, as native solitary bees are effective pollinators but do not allow optimal yield, supplementary pollination services through A. mellifera are suggested, even if in this case native managed stingless bees are preferable because they compete less with native pollinators [ 46 ]. In wild blueberry, both honey bee and bumblebee abundance increases fruit set and reduces spatial heterogeneity in crop production [ 47 ].…”