Encouraging native bees in production and restoration Kimiora Ward Wild bee pollination at UC Davis • Wild bee contributions to crop pollination • Landscape effects on wild bee communities Dr. Neal Williams • Effects of habitat enhancement on bees and pollination • Plant choice for creation of bee habitat Encouraging native bees in production and restoration Outline I. Importance of native bees II. Effectiveness of habitat restoration III. Influence of habitat on crop pollination IV. Harnessing native bees to improve native seed production in the Southwest Encouraging native bees in production and restoration Outline I. Importance of native bees II. Effectiveness of habitat restoration III. Influence of habitat on crop pollination IV. Harnessing native bees to improve native seed production in the Southwest Pollinators – key ecosystem service • 35% of primary food crops benefit from animal • 70% of all pollinators flowering plant species depend on animal pollinators Who are the pollinators? Animalzooguru.com Biology-blog.com Autan @ flickr.com Bat Conservation International Bees are the best Autan @ flickr.com Honey bees Autan @ flickr.com Photos by Kathy Keatley Garvey Diversity of native bees Autan @ flickr.com Native bees contribute to crop pollination Sungold cherry tomatoes • Bumble bees • Mud bees Native pollinators make important contributions to crop pollination Hybrid sunflower seed production • Long-horned bees Watermelon • Sunflower bees • Bumble bees • Bumble bees • Squash bees • Sweat bees • Long-horned bees • Sweat bees Autan @ flickr.com Native bees contribute to crop pollination Single visit pollination Fruit set by honey bees Native pollinators 60 60 make important 50 21% 50 16% contributions to 40 40 crop pollination 30 30 20 20 Native bees can 10 % fruit set per orchard 10 make honey % Visits successful pollination bees better 0 0 without WBs with WBs without WBs with WBs pollinators Orchard Orchard Autan @ flickr.com Fruit set data from 5 trees per orchard for 7 orchards with WBs and 7 without WBs Threats to pollinators • Anthropogenic land use change and associated loss of habitat and forage resources Intensive Agriculture 1 km Threats to pollinators • Anthropogenic land use change and associated loss of habitat and forage resources Intensive Agriculture • Native pollinators can persist where their resource and habitat needs are met. • Managed bees benefit from diverse and reliable forage resources 1 km Pollinator habitat restoration Autan @ flickr.com Does it work?? Encouraging native bees in production and restoration Outline I. Importance of native bees II. Effectiveness of habitat restoration III. Influence of habitat on crop pollination IV. Harnessing native bees to improve native seed production in the Southwest Ecological functioning of pollinator habitat restorations California Michigan New Jersey Sampled 51 sites in CA, MI and NJ, from 2011-2013. 3-6 sites per region each year. • Paired comparison EQIP plantings to best alternative habitat Autan @ flickr.com Ecological functioning of pollinator habitat restorations California Michigan New Jersey Sampled 51 sites in CA, MI and NJ, from 2011-2013. 3-6 sites per region each year. • Paired comparison EQIP plantings to best alternative habitat Autan @ flickr.com • Quantify effects on abundance and diversity of native bees Autan• @ flickr.comIdentify highest value plants If you plant it, they will come! native bee abundance native bee diversity control restored Highest value wildflowers California Great Valley phacelia, Phacelia ciliata California poppy, Eschscholzia californica California phacelia, Phacelia californica valley gumplant, Grindelia camporum ’ sunflower, Helianthus bolanderi vinegarweed, Trichostema lanceolatum Encouraging native bees in production and restoration Outline I. Importance of native bees II. Effectiveness of habitat restoration III. Influence of habitat on crop pollination IV. Harnessing native bees to improve native seed production in the Southwest Influence of habitat on crop pollination Simon Fraser University Oregon State University Michigan State University www.icpbees.org UC Davis Pennsylvania State University University of Florida Influence of habitat on crop pollination California Michigan Michigan State University UC Davis 1. Increase diversity and abundance of bees 2. Increase crop pollination/ yield Influence of habitat on crop pollination • California watermelon 10 sites Control • Michigan - blueberry 8 sites 0 10 20 40 80 • Wildflower and Control borders Border sampling • Flowers • Insects Wildflower enhanced Crop Yield Sampling 0 10 20 40 80 • Multiple distances in crop field • Assess fruit density • Fruit mass Wildflower strip Wildflower • Compared differences between treatment and distance into crop Results: wildflower borders enhance bee communities 120 12 12 6 Abundance p < 0.001 Abundance p = 0.08 • Bee abundance 2-6 times Richness p < 0.001 Richness p = 0.02 100 10 10 5 greater at wildflower borders 80 8 8 4 • Bee richness 2 - 3 times greater at wildflower borders 60 6 6 3 • Overall abundance lower in 4 2 Bee Bee abundance 40 4 Michigan. Bee Bee species richness 20 2 2 1 0 0 0 0 Control Wildflower Control Wildflower Border type Border type Bee abundance Bee richness Results: watermelon fields with wildflower borders are more productive Control 0.8 Melon Density 0 10 20 40 80 0.6 0.4 0.2 0 p = 0.056 -0.2 Wildflower enhanced 0 10 20 40 80 mean z score among sites among sites mean z score -0.4 -0.6 0 20 40 60 80 100 Distance into crop field (m) Wildflower strip Wildflower z score = standardized [grand mean/stdev] within site Benefits develop over time in MI blueberry 8 Control ControlGrass Edge a 7 ControlGrass Interior edge interior Flower Edge 6 ab Flower Interior 5 Flower b 4 3 b 2 Wildflower enhanced edge Grass interior Native Native bees per 15 minutes 1 0 2009 2010 2011 2012 Wildflower strip Wildflower Blaauw & Isaacs 2014 Yield = dollars Flower Grass Blaauw & Isaacs 2014 Encouraging native bees in production and restoration Outline I. Importance of native bees II. Effectiveness of habitat restoration III. Influence of habitat on crop pollination IV. Harnessing native bees to improve native seed production in the Southwest Harnessing native bees in seed production Production field pic Harnessing native bees in seed production SWSP production fields in AZ and NM • horsetail milkweed (Asclepias subverticillata) • tanseyleaf aster (Machaeranthera tanacetifolia) • cota (Thelesperma megapotamicum) • white prairie-clover (Dalea candida) • Rocky Mountain bee plant (Peritoma serrulata) • cutleaf coneflower (Rudbeckia laciniata) • cowpen daisy (Verbesina encelioides) • mountain goldenbanner (Thermopsis montana) University of Florida Provide diverse flowering resources Provide nesting habitat Provide nesting habitat Provide nesting habitat Provide nesting habitat • Reduce mulch • Overwintering sites Provide nesting habitat Artificial nest sites Bee blocks Reed cane bundles Avoid pesticides • Avoid spraying when plants are in bloom • Avoid dusts and microencapsulated formulations; solutions and large particles are better • Spray at night (or dusk, dawn) • Avoid aerial spraying Next steps • Bee response to forb islands in post-burn revegetation • Identify high value plants in NM – See Dreesen and Grasswitz 2015 • Monitor production fields .