Within-bloom shift in abundance of a wild pollinator mediates pollen deposition rates to blueberry
Intra-seasonal variation in abiotic and biotic conditions can have profound consequences for pollinator community compositions and foraging movement, with flow-on effects upon pollination services. Yet, few studies have related such variations to pollination services in crop systems. In a cultivated...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2023-11-01
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| Series: | Basic and Applied Ecology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1439179123000336 |
| _version_ | 1827793880068653056 |
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| author | Ulrika Samnegård Liam K. Kendall Martin E. Brummell Maurizio Rocchetti Karen Cristine Bezerra da Silva Santos Henrik G. Smith Romina Rader |
| author_facet | Ulrika Samnegård Liam K. Kendall Martin E. Brummell Maurizio Rocchetti Karen Cristine Bezerra da Silva Santos Henrik G. Smith Romina Rader |
| author_sort | Ulrika Samnegård |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Intra-seasonal variation in abiotic and biotic conditions can have profound consequences for pollinator community compositions and foraging movement, with flow-on effects upon pollination services. Yet, few studies have related such variations to pollination services in crop systems. In a cultivated highbush blueberry system with two primary pollinators — the managed European honey bee and a wild stingless bee species — we investigated how pollinator abundances, bee foraging behaviour, and con- and heterospecific stigmatic pollen loads changed over early, mid, and late blueberry blooming. Both con- and heterospecific stigmatic pollen loads declined following early bloom. This shift was associated with a decline in the abundance of stingless bees, whereas the abundance of honey bees only declined during late bloom. Simultaneously, honey bees were more likely to forage for blueberry pollen, and stigmatic pollen loads, relative to bee abundance, increased during late bloom. Although mixed pollen loads were common on pollinator bodies, especially on pollen foraging honey bees, heterospecific pollen deposition on blueberry stigmas was low. Given the similar effectiveness of honey bees and stingless bees as pollinators of blueberries, we contend that the observed seasonal variation in pollen deposition is likely caused by the decline in stingless bee abundances, as honey bees were not able to fully compensate for the loss of stingless bees during late bloom. Greater consideration of seasonal heterogeneity of pollinator abundance and behaviour, as part of pollination management plans, may aid in ensuring high pollination services throughout the entirety of crop bloom. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T18:24:55Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4ab02e2dc7b74cc7a63464c4aadfc3c0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1439-1791 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T18:24:55Z |
| publishDate | 2023-11-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Basic and Applied Ecology |
| spelling | doaj.art-4ab02e2dc7b74cc7a63464c4aadfc3c02023-10-14T04:44:19ZengElsevierBasic and Applied Ecology1439-17912023-11-01726473Within-bloom shift in abundance of a wild pollinator mediates pollen deposition rates to blueberryUlrika Samnegård0Liam K. Kendall1Martin E. Brummell2Maurizio Rocchetti3Karen Cristine Bezerra da Silva Santos4Henrik G. Smith5Romina Rader6Department of Biology, Lund University, 223 62 Lund, Sweden; School of Environmental and Rural Sciences, University of New England, Armidale, NSW, Australia; Corresponding author.Centre for Environmental and Climate Science, Lund University, 223 62 Lund, SwedenSchool of Environmental and Rural Sciences, University of New England, Armidale, NSW, AustraliaCosta Exchange Pty Ltd, Dirty Creek, NSW, AustraliaSchool of Environmental and Rural Sciences, University of New England, Armidale, NSW, AustraliaCentre for Environmental and Climate Science, Lund University, 223 62 Lund, SwedenSchool of Environmental and Rural Sciences, University of New England, Armidale, NSW, AustraliaIntra-seasonal variation in abiotic and biotic conditions can have profound consequences for pollinator community compositions and foraging movement, with flow-on effects upon pollination services. Yet, few studies have related such variations to pollination services in crop systems. In a cultivated highbush blueberry system with two primary pollinators — the managed European honey bee and a wild stingless bee species — we investigated how pollinator abundances, bee foraging behaviour, and con- and heterospecific stigmatic pollen loads changed over early, mid, and late blueberry blooming. Both con- and heterospecific stigmatic pollen loads declined following early bloom. This shift was associated with a decline in the abundance of stingless bees, whereas the abundance of honey bees only declined during late bloom. Simultaneously, honey bees were more likely to forage for blueberry pollen, and stigmatic pollen loads, relative to bee abundance, increased during late bloom. Although mixed pollen loads were common on pollinator bodies, especially on pollen foraging honey bees, heterospecific pollen deposition on blueberry stigmas was low. Given the similar effectiveness of honey bees and stingless bees as pollinators of blueberries, we contend that the observed seasonal variation in pollen deposition is likely caused by the decline in stingless bee abundances, as honey bees were not able to fully compensate for the loss of stingless bees during late bloom. Greater consideration of seasonal heterogeneity of pollinator abundance and behaviour, as part of pollination management plans, may aid in ensuring high pollination services throughout the entirety of crop bloom.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1439179123000336Floral constancyForaging behaviourHeterospecific pollenHoney beePhenologyPollination |
| spellingShingle | Ulrika Samnegård Liam K. Kendall Martin E. Brummell Maurizio Rocchetti Karen Cristine Bezerra da Silva Santos Henrik G. Smith Romina Rader Within-bloom shift in abundance of a wild pollinator mediates pollen deposition rates to blueberry Basic and Applied Ecology Floral constancy Foraging behaviour Heterospecific pollen Honey bee Phenology Pollination |
| title | Within-bloom shift in abundance of a wild pollinator mediates pollen deposition rates to blueberry |
| title_full | Within-bloom shift in abundance of a wild pollinator mediates pollen deposition rates to blueberry |
| title_fullStr | Within-bloom shift in abundance of a wild pollinator mediates pollen deposition rates to blueberry |
| title_full_unstemmed | Within-bloom shift in abundance of a wild pollinator mediates pollen deposition rates to blueberry |
| title_short | Within-bloom shift in abundance of a wild pollinator mediates pollen deposition rates to blueberry |
| title_sort | within bloom shift in abundance of a wild pollinator mediates pollen deposition rates to blueberry |
| topic | Floral constancy Foraging behaviour Heterospecific pollen Honey bee Phenology Pollination |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1439179123000336 |
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