Location and Creation of Nest Sites for Ground-Nesting Bees in Apple Orchards
Wild ground-nesting bees are key pollinators of apple (<i>Malus domestica</i>). We explored, (1) where they choose to nest, (2) what influences site selection and (3) species richness in orchards. Twenty-three orchards were studied over three years; twelve were treated with additional he...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-05-01
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| Series: | Insects |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/14/6/490 |
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| author | Michelle T. Fountain Konstantinos Tsiolis Celine X. Silva Greg Deakin Michael P. D. Garratt Rory O’Connor Claire Carvell Richard F. Pywell Michael Edwards Simon G. Potts |
| author_facet | Michelle T. Fountain Konstantinos Tsiolis Celine X. Silva Greg Deakin Michael P. D. Garratt Rory O’Connor Claire Carvell Richard F. Pywell Michael Edwards Simon G. Potts |
| author_sort | Michelle T. Fountain |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Wild ground-nesting bees are key pollinators of apple (<i>Malus domestica</i>). We explored, (1) where they choose to nest, (2) what influences site selection and (3) species richness in orchards. Twenty-three orchards were studied over three years; twelve were treated with additional herbicide to increase bare ground with the remainder as untreated controls. Vegetation cover, soil type, soil compaction, nest number and location, and species were recorded. Fourteen species of ground-nesting solitary/eusocial bee were identified. Most nests were in areas free of vegetation and areas treated with additional herbicide were utilised by ground nesting bees within three years of application. Nests were also evenly distributed along the vegetation-free strips underneath the apple trees. This area was an important ground-nesting bee habitat with mean numbers of nests at peak nest activity of 873 per ha (range 44–5705), and 1153 per ha (range 0–4082) in 2018 and 2019, respectively. Increasing and maintaining areas of bare ground in apple orchards during peak nesting events could improve nesting opportunities for some species of ground-nesting bee and, combined with flowers strips, be part of a more sustainable pollinator management approach. The area under the tree row is an important contributor to the ground-nesting bee habitat and should be kept bare during peak nesting. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T02:19:41Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b0f1e27e4ee344af99bb08c23549b4f9 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-4450 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T02:19:41Z |
| publishDate | 2023-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Insects |
| spelling | doaj.art-b0f1e27e4ee344af99bb08c23549b4f92023-11-18T10:55:33ZengMDPI AGInsects2075-44502023-05-0114649010.3390/insects14060490Location and Creation of Nest Sites for Ground-Nesting Bees in Apple OrchardsMichelle T. Fountain0Konstantinos Tsiolis1Celine X. Silva2Greg Deakin3Michael P. D. Garratt4Rory O’Connor5Claire Carvell6Richard F. Pywell7Michael Edwards8Simon G. Potts9NIAB, New Road, East Malling, Kent ME19 6BJ, UKNIAB, New Road, East Malling, Kent ME19 6BJ, UKNIAB, New Road, East Malling, Kent ME19 6BJ, UKNIAB, New Road, East Malling, Kent ME19 6BJ, UKCentre for Agri-Environmental Research, School of Agriculture, Policy and Development, University of Reading, Reading RG6 6EU, UKCentre for Agri-Environmental Research, School of Agriculture, Policy and Development, University of Reading, Reading RG6 6EU, UKUK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Benson Lane, Wallingford, Oxon OX10 8BB, UKUK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Benson Lane, Wallingford, Oxon OX10 8BB, UKLea Side, Carron Lane, Midhurst GU29 9LB, UKCentre for Agri-Environmental Research, School of Agriculture, Policy and Development, University of Reading, Reading RG6 6EU, UKWild ground-nesting bees are key pollinators of apple (<i>Malus domestica</i>). We explored, (1) where they choose to nest, (2) what influences site selection and (3) species richness in orchards. Twenty-three orchards were studied over three years; twelve were treated with additional herbicide to increase bare ground with the remainder as untreated controls. Vegetation cover, soil type, soil compaction, nest number and location, and species were recorded. Fourteen species of ground-nesting solitary/eusocial bee were identified. Most nests were in areas free of vegetation and areas treated with additional herbicide were utilised by ground nesting bees within three years of application. Nests were also evenly distributed along the vegetation-free strips underneath the apple trees. This area was an important ground-nesting bee habitat with mean numbers of nests at peak nest activity of 873 per ha (range 44–5705), and 1153 per ha (range 0–4082) in 2018 and 2019, respectively. Increasing and maintaining areas of bare ground in apple orchards during peak nesting events could improve nesting opportunities for some species of ground-nesting bee and, combined with flowers strips, be part of a more sustainable pollinator management approach. The area under the tree row is an important contributor to the ground-nesting bee habitat and should be kept bare during peak nesting.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/14/6/490<i>Andrena</i>blossom<i>Lasioglossum</i>Galahabitat managementinsect |
| spellingShingle | Michelle T. Fountain Konstantinos Tsiolis Celine X. Silva Greg Deakin Michael P. D. Garratt Rory O’Connor Claire Carvell Richard F. Pywell Michael Edwards Simon G. Potts Location and Creation of Nest Sites for Ground-Nesting Bees in Apple Orchards Insects <i>Andrena</i> blossom <i>Lasioglossum</i> Gala habitat management insect |
| title | Location and Creation of Nest Sites for Ground-Nesting Bees in Apple Orchards |
| title_full | Location and Creation of Nest Sites for Ground-Nesting Bees in Apple Orchards |
| title_fullStr | Location and Creation of Nest Sites for Ground-Nesting Bees in Apple Orchards |
| title_full_unstemmed | Location and Creation of Nest Sites for Ground-Nesting Bees in Apple Orchards |
| title_short | Location and Creation of Nest Sites for Ground-Nesting Bees in Apple Orchards |
| title_sort | location and creation of nest sites for ground nesting bees in apple orchards |
| topic | <i>Andrena</i> blossom <i>Lasioglossum</i> Gala habitat management insect |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/14/6/490 |
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