> In order to reverse declines in pollinator populations, numerous agri-environment schemes have been implemented across Europe, predominantly focused on increasing the availability of floral resources. Whilst several studies have investigated how bees and wasps (aculeates) respond to management at the scale of the scheme (i.e. within the flower patch) there has been little assessment of how schemes affect diversity at the farm scale. In the current work we assessed whether farms implementing flower-rich schemes had richer aculeate communities than farms without such habitats. 

> Increasing the size of pollinator populations is an important aim of environmental stewardship, but management that focuses purely on increasing floral abundance may fail to support a diverse aculeate community. The majority of bee species foraged heavily from naturally regenerating Asteraceae and Apiaceae in non-scheme areas; it is these and other non-Fabaceae plant groups that also need to be encouraged to maintain a diverse bee community. In addition to foraging resources, aculeates require suitable nesting habitat to complete their lifecycles. 

> The creation of pollinator-friendly habitats has not increased the diversity of flowering plants and such schemes will consequently only benefit a limited suite of species. 

Wood, T. J., Holland, J. M., & Goulson, D. (2015). Pollinator-friendly management does not increase the diversity of farmland bees and wasps. Biological Conservation, 187, 120-126. Chicago	

             ***********************************************
The BEE-L mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software.  For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html