Landscape heterogeneity increases the spatial stability of pollination services to almond trees through the stability of pollinator visits

Lázaro, Amparo; Alomar, David

doi:10.1016/j.agee.2019.02.009

Cited by 24 publications

(29 citation statements)

References 53 publications

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“…A majority of respondents to the survey were willing to pay for the conservation of the traditional olive groves within natural forest systems, being cultural and regulating ecosystem services the most valued ones. In addition, [62] demonstrated that preserving a heterogeneous habitat of high quality in the surroundings of almond orchards may help to maintain a stable fruit production as a consequence of the stability of pollination services associated to a heterogeneous landscape.…”

Section: Assessment Of Agro-environmental Problems and Priorities For Actionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Barriers and Opportunities for the Implementation of Sustainable Farming Practices in Mediterranean Tree Orchards

et al. 2021

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This study identifies, through consultation with relevant stakeholders, low-input farming practices that can help to minimize the most pressing agronomic and environmental problems in some of the most relevant Mediterranean woody crops in Spain (almond, citrus, and olive) and enhance their sustainability. The results illustrate stakeholders’ perception regarding how each cropping system could be oriented towards a more sustainable production. Despite each case study’s particularities, there is consensus in the need for a shift towards the use of organic fertilizers, the maintenance of vegetation in the edges of plots and the use of integrated pest control strategies. On the contrary, stakeholders have selected different tillage and soil cover practices that are consistent with the characteristics and problems of each cropping system. This study also identifies relevant strengths and drawbacks for the implementation of low-input agricultural practices in each crop and study area. While stakeholders find the identified low-impact farming practices as easy and not costly, suggesting a significant potential for their successful implementation, the results also point out at the reduced knowledge of the practical benefits of some farming practices and the need for improved technical advice to foster the adoption of others.

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Section: Assessment Of Agro-environmental Problems and Priorities For Actionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Barriers and Opportunities for the Implementation of Sustainable Farming Practices in Mediterranean Tree Orchards

et al. 2021

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“…Indeed, previous studies have reported that plant richness increases with landscape heterogeneity as measured with different indices [ 25 – 27 ]. Similarly, previous studies have shown that beta diversity of bird communities increases [ 28 ] and that pollinator visits to crops stabilize [ 29 ] with landscape heterogeneity in Mediterranean agricultural landscapes.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 68%

The role of landscape composition and heterogeneity on the taxonomical and functional diversity of Mediterranean plant communities in agricultural landscapes

et al. 2020

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The expansion of agriculture is a major driver of biodiversity loss worldwide, through changes generated in the landscape. Despite this, very little is still known about the complex relationships between landscape composition and heterogeneity and plant taxonomical and functional diversity in Mediterranean ecosystems that have been extensively managed during millennia. Although according to the Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis (IDH) plant richness might peak at intermediate disturbance levels, functional diversity might increase with landscape heterogeneity and decrease with the intensity of disturbance. Here, we evaluated the associations of landscape composition (percentage of crops) and heterogeneity (diversity of land-cover classes) with plant taxonomical diversity (richness, diversity, evenness), local contribution to beta diversity, and functional diversity (functional richness, evenness, divergence and dispersion) in 20 wild Olea europaea communities appearing within agricultural landscapes of Mallorca Island (Western Mediterranean Basin). In accordance with the IDH, we found that overall plant richness peaked at intermediate levels of crops in the landscape, whereas plant evenness showed the opposite pattern, because richness peak was mainly related to an increase in scarce ruderal species. Plant communities surrounded by very heterogeneous landscapes were those contributing the most to beta diversity and showing the highest functional richness and evenness, likely because diverse landscapes favour the colonization of new species and traits into the communities. In addition, landscape heterogeneity decreased functional divergence (i.e., increased trait overlap of dominant species) which may enhance community resilience against disturbances through a higher functional redundancy. However, a large extent of agriculture in the landscape might reduce such resilience, as this disturbance acted as an environmental filter that decreased functional dispersion (i.e, remaining species shared similar traits). Overall, our study highlights the importance of considering several indices of taxonomical and functional diversity to deeply understand the complex relationships between ecosystems functions and landscape context.

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“…Agroforestry systems, in which large woody perennials are integrated into agricultural landscape, can increase landscape complexity (Tanentzap et al 2015;Kovacs-Hostyanszki et al 2017;Lázaro & Alomar 2019), providing nesting sites for bees that result in higher pollinator diversity and abundance, and increasing pollination success (Klein et al 2008;Garibaldi et al 2017;Imbach et al 2017). While outcomes are likely to be crop-dependent, agroforestry systems in SSA are heterogeneous and flower-rich, favourable for beekeeping and have been suggested to hold higher abundance of managed and wild pollinator populations important for mass flowering agricultural crops pollination, such as coffee and oil crops (Eardley et al 2009;Archer et al 2014;Samnegård et al 2014).…”

Section: Pollinator Management With Agricultural Practices In Ssamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Sustainable agriculture involves maximizing the productivity of the land and improving the well-being of people, under the constraint of minimal damage to natural resources (Pretty 2008;Pretty & Bharucha 2014). It relies on ecosystem services (Gemmill-Herren et al 2014;Lázaro & Alomar 2019), that can replace, complement, or interact synergistically with external agricultural inputs (Martins 2013;Garibaldi et al 2016). Ideally, sustainable agriculture should involve making the best use of agricultural technologies for crops, animals and management of agricultural ecosystems (Godfray & Garnett 2014;Struik & Kuyper 2017;Weiner 2017).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Pollination services are an essential element of maximizing production in sustainable agriculture (Kevan et al 1990;Knapp et al 2016;Kovacs-Hostyanszki et al 2017). They are critical for food production and human livelihoods, and directly link wild ecosystems with agricultural production systems (Bommarco et al 2013;Sharma & Abrol 2014;Lázaro & Alomar 2019).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Insect pollination and sustainable agriculture in Sub-Saharan Africa

Kumsa

Ballantyne

2021

J Poll Ecol

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We are currently seeing an expansion of pollinator-dependent crops in many parts of the world, but also growing evidence for pollinator population declines and loss of pollinator habitat. Climate change and population growth will place additional demands on crop production, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Despite the wealth of evidence that improved management of insect pollinators can lead to substantial gains in crop yield, agricultural improvement strategies in SSA still emphasize the manipulation of abiotic factors and do not fully exploit the value of pollinators. In this article we review the importance of pollination services in sustainable agriculture, how global perspectives can inform our understanding of the situation in SSA, discuss successful pollination management, highlight where research and development are required, and suggest possible solutions to enhance the contribution of pollination services to sustainable agriculture in the region.

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Landscape heterogeneity increases the spatial stability of pollination services to almond trees through the stability of pollinator visits

Cited by 24 publications

References 53 publications

Barriers and Opportunities for the Implementation of Sustainable Farming Practices in Mediterranean Tree Orchards

Barriers and Opportunities for the Implementation of Sustainable Farming Practices in Mediterranean Tree Orchards

The role of landscape composition and heterogeneity on the taxonomical and functional diversity of Mediterranean plant communities in agricultural landscapes

Insect pollination and sustainable agriculture in Sub-Saharan Africa

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