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Publication
Hymenoptera pollinator effect on environment
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Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
There are several studies reporting the evidence that pollinators are declining as a result of local and global environmental degradation. Operation Pollinator is an international biodiversity program, supported by Syngenta, to boost the number of pollinating insects on commercial farms. It works by creating specific habitats, tailored to local conditions and native insects.
The aim of this work is to increase the ecological suitability of pollinator populations through improves food availability for pollinator employing strategies for surrounding
landscape.
Two cherry orchards, located in Fundão, Portugal, were studied: one was installed a patch meadow with flowery prairie with the purpose of increasing pollinator’s number;
other with poor native biodiversity. It was identified the main groups of insects visiting the cherry blossoms and the surrounding flora, during the flowering cherry trees.
This review was conducted through observation and analysis of pollen in pollinator’s nests, artificially placed in the orchards in order to evaluate the visiting flowers.
There was a greater number of pollinating insects in the orchard with higher biodiversity and it was found that insects visited other flora along with the cherry blossoms. The
Hymenoptera identified belong to genus: Andrena; Apis; Eucera; Tropinota; Anthophora; Osmia; Xylocopa. The orchard where haven’t been installed the patch meadow, shows a lower number of visiting insects as well as lower species variability. The increasing of pollinators protects the environment and increases the fruit production and quality.
The findings of the sweeter fruit, with the increased number and diversity of insects leads to the conclusion that the environment benefits from the increase in pollinators with more balanced environment, it's a winning environment for everyone.
The conservation of pollinator habitat can also enrich overall biodiversity and the ecosystem services, protect soil and water quality
Description
Keywords
Pollinators hymenoptera Biodiversity Pollen