Landscape-level honey bee hive density, instead of field-level hive density, enhances honey bee visitation in blueberry

Eeraerts, Maxime; Rogers, Emma; Gillespie, B. R.; Best, Lincoln; Smith, Olivia M.; DeVetter, Lisa W.

doi:10.1007/s10980-022-01562-1

Cited by 11 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 69 publications

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“…Both honeybees and wild bees are strongly influenced by farm management intensity and landscape context. Indeed, some studies with homogenous landscapes with high honeybee hive densities find relative abundances of honeybees over 90% (Cavigliasso et al, 2021; Eeraerts et al, 2023). Studies in more diverse landscapes and smaller fields detect over 80% wild bees (Isaacs & Kirk, 2010; Nicholson & Ricketts, 2019).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This synthesis emphasizes that pollinating insects are essential for blueberry production and that they should be managed as an important agricultural input. Pollen limitation in this crop can be reduced by habitat management which boosts wild pollinator populations (Blaauw & Isaacs, 2014;Eeraerts, 2023) or via honeybee deployment which increases pollinator visitation (Eeraerts et al, 2023).…”

Section: Con Clus Ionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These meta‐analyses also highlight that the main managed pollinator, the honeybee ( Apis mellifera ), does not always have a positive effect on crop pollination. Indeed, the pollination contribution of honeybees depends on farmer management, crop, landscape context, colony size and colony strength (Eeraerts et al, 2023; Geslin et al, 2017; Osterman et al, 2021; Reilly et al, 2020). Furthermore, while wild pollinators can reduce pollen limitation in both self‐compatible and self‐incompatible crops, Sáez et al (2022) found that honeybees only reduce pollen limitation in self‐compatible crops.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Hence, flower visitation by insects that can buzz‐pollinate, including bumblebees and multiple solitary bee species, results in the most effective pollination across different cultivars (Cortés‐Rivas et al, 2023). To achieve pollination at a commercial scale, growers stock fields with honeybee colonies in most production regions (Eeraerts et al, 2023; Reilly et al, 2020). Foraging honeybees can supplement wild bees whose local populations may be low, and whose abundance gets diluted in large, commercial farms (Eeraerts et al, 2023; Isaacs & Kirk, 2010).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…To achieve pollination at a commercial scale, growers stock fields with honeybee colonies in most production regions (Eeraerts et al, 2023; Reilly et al, 2020). Foraging honeybees can supplement wild bees whose local populations may be low, and whose abundance gets diluted in large, commercial farms (Eeraerts et al, 2023; Isaacs & Kirk, 2010).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Synthesis of highbush blueberry pollination research reveals region‐specific differences in the contributions of honeybees and wild bees

Eeraerts,

DeVetter,

Batáry

et al. 2023

Journal of Applied Ecology

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Highbush blueberry production has expanded worldwide in recent decades. To safeguard future yields, it is essential to understand if insect pollination is limiting current blueberry production and which insects contribute to pollination in different production regions. We present a systematic review including a set of meta‐analyses on insect‐mediated pollination in highbush blueberry. We summarize the geographic distribution of research, the abundance of different pollinator taxa and their relative pollination contributions. Using raw data from 21 studies, totalling 496 site replicates, we determine the degree of pollination service and pollen limitation (i.e. combining open pollination levels with experimental bagged and/or hand pollination treatments), as well as the contribution of honeybees and wild bees to pollination (i.e. observational, open pollination). Most studies originate from North America, focusing on only a few cultivars. Honeybees are the dominant pollinator, and wild bees are occasionally abundant. Wild bees are more efficient pollinators on a single‐visit basis compared to honeybees, which increases their relative pollination contribution compared to their relative abundance. Insect‐mediated pollination services increased blueberry fruit set, berry weight and seed set (R2 values: 64.8%, 75.9% and 75.2% respectively). We often detected pollen limitation, indicated by an increase in fruit set, berry weight and seed set (R2: 10.1%, 18.2% and 21.5%, respectively), with additional hand pollination. Increasing visitation of honeybees and wild bees contributed to blueberry pollination by increasing fruit set (R2: 5.4% and 3.5%), berry weight (R2: 6.5% and 2.8%) and seed set (R2: 6.4% and 3.8%) respectively. Bee contributions to fruit set and berry weight were variable across regions. Synthesis and application: A diverse community of insects, primarily bees, contributes to highbush blueberry pollination and yield. However, pollination deficits are common. The finding that both honeybees and wild bees enhance pollination highlights the possibility of adopting different management strategies that utilize honeybees, wild bees or both depending on the specific context and region. This further emphasizes the general importance of conserving pollinator health and diversity. Our synthesis highlights data gaps and areas for future research to better understand the pollination contribution of different pollinators to crops that are expanding globally.

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