Search Results (282)

Kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa) is a globally important crop presenting challenges for ensuring cross-pollination. This study aimed to (1) record the entomological fauna visiting flowers; (2) evaluate the visitation frequency of pollinators; and (3) test the use of lavender extract to enhance cross-pollination by honeybees and assess the impacts on fruit quality. Nine species of floral visitors were recorded as pollinators, although the most frequent were the exotic honeybee (Apis mellifera) and the native bees Bombus pauloensis and Xylocopa augusti. Honeybees increased their visitation to flowers when the attractant was used, improving pollination service and fruit quality compared to the control-bagged treatment, resulting in fruits that were 20 g heavier (115.4 g vs. 95.6 g, 95% CI). Similarly, the number of seeds per fruit and the fruit shape index (FSI) increased in treatments exposed to bee visitation when compared to the bagged control. However, differences in bee visitation among treatments suggested a non-linear relationship between bee activity and fruit quality. Nevertheless, achieving high-quality fruit standards across treatments could be explained by the extended floral lifespan, which allowed for a high number of visits and ensured pollination. Finally, we did not observe any bias in honeybee visitation by applying sugar syrup combined with the attractant. Hence, to increase honeybees’ visits to flowers, we recommend applying the scent directly in a water solution. Full article

Megachilidae are crucial pollinators of cultivated and wild vegetation, playing a vital role in ecosystem pollination services, however, there is still a lack of information regarding the ecology and behavior of these species. This study aims to analyze the nesting ecology strategies of four sympatric species of leafcutting bees and their interactions with pollen source plants. Data were collected from April to October from 2019 to 2022 in the Jiyuan section of the Taihang Mountain National Nature Reserve (approximately 35°10′–35°25′ N, 111°55′–112°10′ E) using trap nest methods. Through the dissection of nesting tubes, their structural characteristics were revealed, and the pollen sources collected by the bees were identified. Our results showed that nesting activity of leafcutting bees lasted from May to October, with a preference for nesting tubes of 6 to 10 mm in diameter and 131 to 170 mm in length. We documented 48 plant species used as foraging sources, belonging to 17 orders, 24 families, and 33 genera, with the Fagaceae family (9 species) being predominant. The results indicate that the distinctive traits of these species—such as the asynchronous nesting periods, the types of nesting materials, the dimensions of cavities, and differential utilization of floral resources—likely play a critical role in niche differentiation among sympatric species, thereby ensuring the maintenance and persistence of Megachilidae populations in this region. Full article

Arecaceae (palms) constitute a highly diversified family of monocots, distributed especially in tropical and subtropical areas, including approximately 2600 species and 180 genera. Palms originated by the end of the Early Cretaceous, with most genus-level cladogenetic events occurring from the Eocene and Oligocene onward. Meligethinae (pollen beetles) are a large subfamily of Nitidulidae (Coleoptera), including just under 700 described species, and some 50 genera. Meligethinae are widespread in the Palearctic, Afrotropical, and Oriental Regions. All meligethine species are associated with flowers or inflorescences of several plant families, both dicots (the great majority) and monocots (around 7%); approximately 80% of known species are thought to be monophagous or strictly oligophagous at the larval stage. The origin of Meligethinae is debated, although combined paleontological, paleogeographical, and molecular evidence suggests placing it somewhere in the Paleotropics around the Eocene–Oligocene boundary, ca. 35–40 Mya. This article reviews the insect–host plant relationships of all known genera and species of Meligethinae associated with Arecaceae, currently including some 40 species and just under ten genera (including a possibly new African one). The role of adults as effective and important pollinators of their host palms (also in terms of provided ecosystem services) has been demonstrated in some common palm species. All Meligethinae living on palms show rather close phylogenetic relationships with one another and with the mainly Eastern Palearctic genus Meligethes Stephens, 1830 and related genera (associated with dicots of the families Rosaceae, Brassicaceae, or Cleomaceae). Molecular data suggests that the palm-associated Paleotropical genus Meligethinus Grouvelle, 1906 constitutes the sister-group of Meligethes and allied genera. Some hypotheses are presented on the evolution of Meligethinae associated with palms and their probably rather recent (early Miocene–Pleistocene) radiation on their host plants. Meligethinae likely radiated on palms long after the diversification of their hosts, and their recent evolution was driven by repeated radiation on pre-existing and diverse palm taxa, rather than ancient host associations and coevolution. Finally, this article also briefly summarized the relationships that other unrelated groups of Nitidulidae have established with palms around the world. Full article

Phacelia tanacetifolia Benth. is a species of annual plant that has been gaining importance in recent years. Initially, it was treated as an ornamental plant and valuable only to bees. Over the years, this species has become more widely known, and many more of its advantages have been discovered. The aim of this study was to learn about the contemporary economic importance of Phacelia tanacetifolia Benth. The extraordinary, rapid increase in the plant’s biomass means that it is valued as a fodder plant and at the same time is included in the group of leaders among catch crops. It is characterized by low requirements for soil quality. The main advantage of this plant is its high resistance to drought and frost. A great advantage of this plant is its high drought resistance. It is recommended for sowing both in monoculture and in mixtures with other species. In the light of current standards and assumptions, it fits perfectly into the framework of sustainable development. It is a valuable link in the biodiversity chain, as well as support for a number of ecosystem services such as CO₂ sequestration, retention of nutrients in the soil or protection of its structure. Phacelia is seen as having great potential as a plant that provides food for a number of pollinators. The latest research also focuses on assessing the possibility of using it for energy purposes (biogas). Efforts are being made to introduce phacelia on a wider scale to eliminate crop monocultures and significantly strengthen biodiversity in a given area. Phacelia plays an important role in various agronomic systems and effectively supports the protection of the natural environment. The contribution of this species to the development of ecosystem services to date is undeniable. It should be assumed that this plant will continue to significantly support a number of activities for sustainable development. Full article

Climate change can severely impact plant-pollinator interactions and have serious effects on ecosystem services such as pollination. This study was carried out in 2023 and 2024, and it examined the effects of drought on flowering and nectar production in one cultivar of white mustard (Brassica alba cv. Palma), an important entomophilous crop of the temperate zone with several attributes that make it promising for sustainable agricultural practices. Drought-stressed plants delayed the flowering time, shortened the flowering duration, and developed significantly fewer flowers. Nectar production in white mustard depends on soil moisture levels and short-term changes in meteorological conditions (e.g., air humidity, air temperature). At reduced soil moisture, the total sugar yield per plant decreased by 60%, compared to control plants, resulting in lower availability of caloric food resources, which should be considered when developing strategies supporting pollinators. Changes in floral traits resulted in differences in the frequency of insect visits, which may exert a negative impact on white mustard pollination under drought stress and may have indirect consequences for seed yield resulting from increased drought intensity associated with climate change. The results provide important data for the management of the white mustard crop and indicate the need for broader evaluation of cultivars to promote drought-resistant B. alba cultivars. Full article

The wild tomato (Solanum sisymbriifolium) is a globally distributed shrubby weed with both negative and positive impacts, including its invasive properties and the potential for pharmaceutical and traditional medicinal uses. Despite its ecological significance, the plant’s reproductive biology and pollination ecology remain poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate the floral biology, pollination ecology, and plant reproduction of the weed species. Some flower traits, such as flowering intensity, flower display size, and pollen and ovule production, peaked during spring, summer, and the monsoon, while flower longevity and stigmatic receptivity were the longest in winter. The plant species was self-compatible (ISI = 0.02), heavily depended on pollinators (IDP = 0.72), and experienced minimal pollination limitation (D = 0.10) under open-pollination conditions. Flower visitors’ traits (e.g., abundance, diversity, and richness) were higher in the spring, summer, and the monsoon, and these were lower in winter. The vital pollination service was provided by Amegilla zonata, Ceratina binghami, Lasioglossum cavernifrons, Nomia (Curvinomia) strigata, Tetragonula pagdeni, Xylocopa aestuans, Xylocopa amethystina, Xylocopa fenestrata, and Xylocopa latipes. Reproductive success, as indicated by fruit and seed set, varied seasonally, being higher during the spring–monsoon period and lower in winter. These findings support effective management of this weed species and help conserve the associated bee populations. Full article

Abiotic stressors threaten honeybee health, jeopardizing pollination services critical to agriculture and biodiversity. Here, we identified the AmVgR gene, which encodes a member of the low-density lipoprotein receptor family, and examined its function in the response of Apis mellifera to adverse abiotic stress. AmVgR exhibited peak expression in adult workers and was significantly upregulated under heat, cold, heavy metal, and pesticide exposure. RNAi-mediated knockdown of AmVgR suppressed antioxidant enzyme activities, elevated the levels of oxidative damage markers, and downregulated antioxidant gene expression. Crucially, AmVgR silencing reduced survival under H₂O₂-induced oxidative stress, indicating its essential role in stress resilience. Our findings highlight AmVgR as a key regulator of antioxidant defense during development and environmental adaptation in Apis mellifera. This study provides mechanistic insights into bee stress physiology and proposes AmVgR as a novel target for enhancing pollinator protection strategies. Further research should elucidate its molecular pathways and translational applications in mitigating abiotic stress impacts. Full article

One of the emerging services provided by roadside green infrastructure is its contribution to the quality of landscape phenology, which is measured through the succession of colours and forms throughout the seasons. In the seasonal dynamics of space, flowering phenological patterns play a key role, particularly in early blooming species such as Cornus mas L. Therefore, this paper aims to highlight the significance of the Cornelian cherry as a component of roadside green infrastructure in the southwestern suburban zone of Belgrade. Through an integrative approach to phenological and climatic elements, and by means of a specific case study covering the period from 2007 to 2025, under climate change conditions, the influence of air temperature and precipitation on local flowering patterns of the Cornelian cherry has been assessed. Based on 1140 phenological observations conducted over 19 consecutive years, from January to April, key flowering elements were identified—those that influence pollination, fruiting, and the species’ practical potential. The Mann–Kendall, Sen’s slope, Rayleigh, and Watson–Williams tests were used to examine spatio-temporal changes in flowering patterns, while the Spearman Rank test and circular statistics were applied to quantify correlations among the analysed parameters. The results confirm that Cornelian cherry is an adaptive and sustainable species that continuously provides visual identity during its flowering period, while simultaneously reflecting climate change through phenological responses. These phenological responses are closely linked to local climatic conditions. In addition to enriching landscape phenology with vibrant visual features during the colder months, Cornelian cherry also enhances biodiversity by providing ecosystem services as a nectar-producing species, with its pollen serving as an early and valuable food source for bees. The study also confirms that the seasonal dynamics of landscape phenology can be used as a scientifically valid criterion for assessing the ecological quality of roadside green infrastructure. Full article

During the past quarter-century, the natural populations of giant honey bees (Apis dorsata) have declined markedly. The loss of nesting sources is one of the many reasons for its decline. This has threatened the pollination services of several agricultural and wild plants in areas of its natural habitat. To sustain pollination services in the natural habitat of this honey bee, conservation efforts are crucial. For this purpose, 1 m-long, 15 cm-wide, and 0.5 m-deep wooden nesting planks were designed and prepared. The latter were hung on the eaves/projections of university buildings to attract the migratory swarms of this honey bee. The occupancy of these planks confirmed that the bees accepted them as nesting sites. The experimental trial was conducted with four treatments, each replicated four times over a period of 10 years. This honey bee accepted, occupied, and nested on only those wooden planks that were treated with molten beeswax or contained traces of beeswax and were tightly fixed to the surface of the eaves/building projections. The occupation and re-occupation indices revealed that this honey bee had strong site preferences. Spraying water on live colonies was the most effective method for safely handling this honey bee, while smoking was slightly less effective. Frequently disturbed colonies showed less aggressiveness than the undisturbed colonies. This study aids in the domestication, handling, and conservation of this honey bee in its natural habitat, where the continuous removal of nesting sources threatens the sustainability of pollination services. Full article

Brassica campestris L. var. toria, a major oilseed crop cultivated in India, is primarily an entomophilic species. Hymenopteran flower-visiting species provide important ecological services like pollination or pest control in Brassica crops. In this context, a study was conducted during 2015–2017 in three localities in Assam, a state in northeast India that falls under two global biodiversity hotspots—Indo–Burma and Himalayan—to bring data on the diversity of hymenopteran flower visitors of toria crops by using multiple sampling techniques and to compare the efficiency of these techniques. Altogether, nine sampling treatments were used. To assess the sampling effectiveness of the different treatments, the data from the two cropping periods of toria in each locality were analysed cumulatively and comparatively. Variable transect outperformed the other sampling methods with the highest number of hymenopteran flower visitor species recorded in toria crops at 54, representing 84.4% of the total number of species, and was followed by standard transect (34 species, 53.1%), elevated yellow trap (22 species, 34.4%), and observation plot (21 species, 32.8%). However, the importance of multiple sampling methods in this diversity study was noticed; one method alone could not sample all the species recorded. The cluster of traps and netting with transect walks was proven to be complementary and considered useful for future research studies in the upstream basin of the Burhidihing River of Assam, India. Full article

Urbanization often negatively impacts pollinator abundance and richness; however, its effects on different pollination components and plant reproductive success are highly variable. Previous research efforts have also shown geographic and taxonomical bias, with non-insect-pollinated plant species in tropical cities underrepresented in the literature. Although bats represent the most persistent mammal group in urban ecosystems, studies addressing the effect of urbanization on chiropterophilous plants are scarce. Here, we addressed the impacts of urbanization on flowering phenology, pollination, and reproductive success in the chiropterophilous tree Ceiba pentandra (L.) Gaertn. (Malvaceae) in two major tropical cities of the Yucatan Peninsula. We found that urbanization has led to an earlier flowering phenology; however, no effect of urbanization was detected in the two pollination components evaluated: pollinator visitation rate and pollen deposition. Finally, the effects of urbanization on the reproductive success of C. pentandra were mixed. While marginally negative effects of urbanization were found in fruit set, positive effects were found in seed germination. These findings suggest that urban pollinators can provide similar levels of pollination services and thus lead to comparable reproductive success for C. pentandra in forests and cities. Full article

Current understanding of synergistic trait effects in plant–pollinator systems remains limited, particularly regarding combined visual and mechanical screening mechanisms. Given the specialized flower opening mechanisms and diverse color signals in the Papilionoideae of Fabaceae, this study examines how floral color and mechanical traits jointly mediate pollinator selection in five co-flowering sympatric species. The flower structure of Papilionoideae typically features a keel formed by fused petal lobes that encloses reproductive organs, with flower operative strength thresholds directly reflecting the mechanical resistance required to dehisce the keel and access nectar/pollen. Flower operative strength thresholds and insect mechanical capabilities were quantified, and visitation behaviors were observed under natural conditions. Significant interspecific variation in flower mechanical strength (12.59–20.25 mN) was identified, with visiting insects consistently exhibiting strengths exceeding these thresholds, suggesting mechanical barriers selectively filter pollinators. Non-visiting insects exhibited either insufficient or excessive strength relative to floral thresholds, which is related to the flower-visiting preferences of different insects. Although no linear correlation was found between flower color (RGB color space) and mechanical strength, the combined analysis revealed synergistic screening where color attracted specific pollinators from a subset capable of overcoming mechanical barriers. These findings demonstrate that flower color and mechanical traits function as complementary filters, optimizing pollinator efficiency and excluding ineffective visitors. The study highlights the necessity to explore multi-trait interactions in plant–pollinator co-evolution, with implications for biodiversity conservation and ecosystem service management. Full article

Urban densification threatens vacant lots in cities, potentially affecting biodiversity and the ecosystem services (ES) they provide. Policymakers require evidence-based tools to balance densification policies and initiatives with the preservation of green spaces. This research proposes a method to assess ecosystem conditions (EC) of vacant lots and combine it with ES demand in order to identify lots that need to be prioritised for preservation and restoration. This method is applied to the Northern Milan intermunicipal area (Italy). By using open-access satellite imagery, indicators for abiotic, biotic, and landscape characteristics were determined for each lot regarding four regulating ES (air purification, runoff mitigation, microclimate regulation, and pollination). The EC assessment provides planners with information on the ecosystems’ qualities and their ability to deliver ecosystem services. Our findings indicate that vacant lots differ in their contribution to ES provision due to variation in abiotic, biotic, and landscape connectivity conditions, underlining the need for a more detailed assessment of the differences between each individual area that composes the green infrastructure. However, challenges related to defining reference levels and the availability of detailed local data need to be addressed to guide planning decisions effectively. Full article

Honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) provide several valuable ecosystem services, including honey provisioning. While pollination by honey bees is well-studied, the scientific assessment of honey-provisioning capacity (HPC) has received less attention. In this study, we performed a qualitative systematic review (critical interpretive synthesis) to identify the main types of models that can be used to map and assess honey provision as an ecosystem service, together with the background and implications of the use of these methodological approaches in the scientific literature (WOS, Scopus, search date: 5 July 2022. resulting in an initial pool of 281 studies). From the initial list, we retained only those studies that presented concrete case studies modelling the capacity of specific sites, landscapes or regions for provisioning honey by A. mellifera (17 studies). We identified three main model types in the reviewed studies: (A) simple rule-based models (“matrix” models), (B) extended rule-based models (incorporating bee foraging-range simulations), and (C) predictive statistical models. The vast majority of studies used rule-based approaches, with varying levels of complexity in their input data and output metrics. Key decision points in the modeling process, including the treatment of seasonality, spatial variability in floral resources, and bee foraging behavior, were identified. We also identified possible sources of methodological uncertainties and suggested potential approaches by which to improve the accuracy and robustness of HPC assessments. Our findings underscore the need for more standardized methodologies, transparent documentation, and integration of local beekeeping knowledge to advance scientific understanding and the practical application of HPC assessments. Furthermore, our experiences also suggest that critical interpretive synthesis has a wide range of applicability in the study of ecosystem services, with great potential for advancing the interoperability of assessment methodologies. Full article

Plastic pollution has become a critical environmental issue, with vast amounts of plastic waste accumulating in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Plastic pollution poses significant risks to biodiversity by introducing toxic chemicals and disrupting biological functions. The drone fly, Eristalis tenax, is perhaps the most globally widespread hoverfly. This success is aided by its development as a rat-tailed maggot in a wide array of aquatic environments where it feeds on decaying organic matter. As an adult, E. tenax is a vital pollinator, visiting a wide range of crops and wild plants, and has been shown to vector pollen over hundreds of kilometres during seasonal migrations. Exposure to microplastics during larval stages has the potential to alter the provision of these ecosystem services and to provide a route for the long-distance vectoring of microplastics. To investigate this, we rear E. tenax in water contaminated with different concentrations of microplastic particles. We show that these plastics are retained in the gut from larval through to pupal to adult developmental stages. This contamination resulted in reductions of 33% and 60% in pupal and adult weight when exposed to the highest concentrations of microplastic particles but resulted in no detectable effects on mortality or developmental length. Our results demonstrate the potential for the vectoring of microplastics by this highly mobile species. However, the associated reductions in body size likely have profound consequences for movement capability in terms of foraging and migration and should be further investigated for their impact on ecosystem service provision. Full article