10.5061/DRYAD.H18931ZPG
Mota, Lucie
0000-0003-2768-461X
University of Coimbra
Hevia, Violeta
Autonomous University of Madrid
Rad, Carlos
University of Burgos
Alves, Joana
University of Coimbra
Silva, António
University of Coimbra
González, José
Autonomous University of Madrid
Ortega-Marcos, Jorge
Autonomous University of Madrid
Aguado, Oscar
University of Burgos
Alcorlo, Paloma
Autonomous University of Madrid
Azcárate, Francisco M.
Autonomous University of Madrid
Chapinal, Libertad
Autonomous University of Madrid
López, César A.
Autonomous University of Madrid
Loureiro, João
University of Coimbra
Marks, Evan A. N.
University of Burgos
Siopa, Catarina
University of Coimbra
Sousa, José Paulo
University of Coimbra
Castro, Sílvia
University of Coimbra
Flower strips and remnant semi-natural vegetation have different impacts
on pollination and productivity of sunflower crops
Dryad
dataset
2022
FOS: Agricultural sciences
plant-pollinator interactions
visitation rates
productivity
seed number
seed weight
Sunflower
wild bees
pollinators
crop yield
bee pollination
Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia
https://ror.org/00snfqn58
SFRH/BD/116043/2016
Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia
https://ror.org/00snfqn58
SFRH/BPD/123087/2016
European Research Council
https://ror.org/0472cxd90
773554
European Commission
https://ror.org/00k4n6c32
CENTRO-01-0145-FEDER-000020
European Commission
https://ror.org/00k4n6c32
SOE1/P5/E0129
Agroecology
2022-06-20T00:00:00Z
2022-06-20T00:00:00Z
en
1158133 bytes
3
CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication
Intensification of agricultural landscapes to fulfil increased global food
demands has dramatically impacted biodiversity and ecosystem services.
Several pollinator groups, which are vital for the maintenance of
pollinator-dependent crops, have been severely affected by this
intensification process. Management tools, such as the implementation of
agri-environmental schemes, have been widely proposed to improve
pollinator's communities and pollination services, although the
effectiveness of wildflower strips in comparison to existing natural or
semi-natural habitats and the impact on yield has not been fully
demonstrated. Here, we aimed to assess the effect of flower strips
implementation near sunflower fields in two intensive agricultural regions
and to quantify their impact on visitation rates and sunflower
productivity. Data were obtained in two regions in Spain (Burgos and
Cuenca) in sunflower fields with associated semi-natural vegetation
(SNVs), with implemented wildflower strips (WFSs) and without vegetation
structures (NonVs). Visitation rates were monitored over two years by
direct observations, and both sunflower seed production and weight were
assessed in 52 fields per year. Our results revealed regional and
inter-annual variation in visitation rates, likely driven by structural
differences in the landscapes studied. In Cuenca, characterized by more
heterogeneous and floral resources-richer landscapes, the effects of WFSs
were significant in the second year of implementation, with higher
visitation rates and higher productivity values in fields with implemented
wildflower strips compared to those without. In contrast, in Burgos, no
consistent effects among field treatments across years were observed.
Synthesis and applications. The implementation of flower strips or
maintenance of remnant semi-natural habitats adjacent to sunflower fields,
showed context-dependent effects on visitation rates and crop yield. In
highly simplified agroecosystems, these interventions may be insufficient
or may need longer times to produce significant effects. Yet, in regions
where natural and semi-natural patches were already present, the
implementation of flower strips was a successful strategy to promote
pollinators and sunflower productivity.
These data were collected between 2017 and 2018, in two agricultural
regions in Spain (Burgos and Cuenca). A total of 104 sunflower fields (52
per year) were selected with these following treatments: SNV (fields with
remnant semi-natural vegetation), WFS (fields where wild flower strips
were implemented) and NonV (fields without vegetation). Visitation rates
were obtained through direct observations of sunflower-pollinator
interactions (Apis mellifera and wild bees), and productivity was
estimated through both seeds number and weight. Data analyses were
performed in R software.
Microsoft Excel