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  1. Article ; Online: A minimum of 15% semi-natural habitat facilitates adequate wild pollinator visitation to a pollinator-dependent crop

    Eeraerts, Maxime

    Biological Conservation. 2023 Feb., v. 278 p.109887-

    2023  

    Abstract: The continued expansion of pollinator-dependent crops increases our reliance on insect pollinators, with wild pollinators providing a considerable proportion of pollination services depending on the crop and landscape context. To ensure pollination ... ...

    Abstract The continued expansion of pollinator-dependent crops increases our reliance on insect pollinators, with wild pollinators providing a considerable proportion of pollination services depending on the crop and landscape context. To ensure pollination services delivered by wild pollinators, it is suggested to conserve semi-natural habitat (SNH) in agricultural landscapes. However, quantitative thresholds of the required amount of SNH to inform policy and farmers are lacking. This study assessed how non-linear models can predict the relationship between wild pollinator visitation and SNH near sweet cherry orchards in Belgium. In addition, I determined a threshold of the required amount of SNH to support pollinator visitation. The relationship between total wild pollinator visitation, bumble bee visitation, solitary bee visitation and wild pollinator richness was best predicted by a non-linear relationship with the proportion of SNH within 250 m around the fields. This study provides empirical evidence on the benefit of using non-linear models to increase our understanding between landscape structure and pollinator visitation. 15% of SNH is the estimated threshold beyond which pollinator visitation did not increase any further. Increasing the amount of SNH to 15%, if it is below this threshold, is recommended to enhance crop pollination in this specific system and region. Conservation of SNH at higher levels than 15% should be maintained for biodiversity conservation and ecosystem functioning.
    Keywords Bombus ; Prunus avium ; biodiversity conservation ; ecosystems ; habitats ; issues and policy ; landscapes ; pollination ; pollinators ; solitary bees ; Belgium ; Agroecology ; Bees ; Hover flies ; Land use ; Native habitat
    Language English
    Dates of publication 2023-02
    Publishing place Elsevier Ltd
    Document type Article ; Online
    ISSN 0006-3207
    DOI 10.1016/j.biocon.2022.109887
    Database NAL-Catalogue (AGRICOLA)

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  2. Article: Increasing wild bee richness and abundance on sequentially flowering cultivars of a pollinator-dependent crop

    Eeraerts, Maxime

    Agriculture, ecosystems & environment. 2022 Feb. 28, v. 325

    2022  

    Abstract: Many insects have a crucial role as pollinators in both natural ecosystems and agricultural systems. Reports of declining pollinator populations highlight the question how we can support them. Next to semi-natural habitat, different land use types can ... ...

    Abstract Many insects have a crucial role as pollinators in both natural ecosystems and agricultural systems. Reports of declining pollinator populations highlight the question how we can support them. Next to semi-natural habitat, different land use types can provide resources for pollinators. However, whether and how different cultivars of pollinator-dependent crops support pollinator populations has not been studied to date. This preliminary study investigated how the abundance of Osmia cornuta and the richness, abundance and community composition of wild pollinators (i.e. wild bees and hover flies) fluctuates throughout the bloom period of three sequentially flowering sweet cherry (Prunus avium) cultivars. Total pollinator richness and abundance increased throughout the bloom period of the different cherry cultivars. This increase was driven by an increase of wild bee richness and abundance, coupled with a decrease of nest-searching bees. The abundance of O. cornuta was found to increase throughout the bloom period. Furthermore, the composition of the pollinator community was significantly different across the different cultivars. Results of this preliminary study reflect the dynamics of wild bee emergence, mating and nest construction, which results in an increase in pollinator diversity and abundance in spring. This study also provides the first evidence that sequentially flowering cultivars of a pollinator-dependent crop can provide complementary floral resources that support complementary pollinator communities. Given the importance of wild pollinators for crop pollination, these results have implications for crop production and pollinator persistence in agricultural landscapes.
    Keywords Osmia cornuta ; Prunus avium ; agriculture ; bees ; cherries ; community structure ; crop production ; cultivars ; environment ; habitats ; land use ; nests ; pollination ; pollinators ; spring
    Language English
    Dates of publication 2022-0228
    Publishing place Elsevier B.V.
    Document type Article
    ZDB-ID 602345-9
    ISSN 1873-2305 ; 0167-8809
    ISSN (online) 1873-2305
    ISSN 0167-8809
    DOI 10.1016/j.agee.2021.107745
    Database NAL-Catalogue (AGRICOLA)

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  3. Article: Cardboard nesting cavities may promote the development of Osmia cornuta and reduce infestation of kleptoparasitic mites

    Eeraerts, Maxime

    Journal of applied entomology. 2020 Sept., v. 144, no. 8

    2020  

    Abstract: Mason bees (Osmia spp.) are receiving increasing attention as they are very effective pollinators of multiple crops. However, different bee‐associated kleptoparasites are known which can be detrimental to the development of the bees’ offspring. To date, ... ...

    Abstract Mason bees (Osmia spp.) are receiving increasing attention as they are very effective pollinators of multiple crops. However, different bee‐associated kleptoparasites are known which can be detrimental to the development of the bees’ offspring. To date, clear evidence‐based guidelines to control these kleptoparasites are lacking for growers. This study investigates whether different types of artificial nesting materials—cardboard tubes and wooden grooved boards—influence the development of the European orchard bee (Osmia cornuta) as well as the infestation rate of kleptoparasitic mites in the bees’ nest. This preliminary study provides insight that cardboard tubes reduce the infestation rate of mites by 81.8% and as such promote successful development of the European orchard bee by 15.5%. Using cardboard tubes over wooden grooved boards should be advised to growers as an effective management strategy to avoid infestation of kleptoparasitic mites and to enhance successful bee development.
    Keywords Osmia cornuta ; bees ; cardboard ; entomology ; nests ; orchards ; progeny
    Language English
    Dates of publication 2020-09
    Size p. 751-754.
    Publishing place John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
    Document type Article
    Note NAL-AP-2-clean ; JOURNAL ARTICLE
    ZDB-ID 631360-7
    ISSN 1439-0418 ; 0044-2240 ; 0931-2048
    ISSN (online) 1439-0418
    ISSN 0044-2240 ; 0931-2048
    DOI 10.1111/jen.12793
    Database NAL-Catalogue (AGRICOLA)

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  4. Article: Linking remote sensing data to the estimation of pollination services in agroecosystems.

    Ariza, Daniel / Meeus, Ivan / Eeraerts, Maxime / Pisman, Matti / Smagghe, Guy

    Ecological applications : a publication of the Ecological Society of America

    2022  Volume 32, Issue 5, Page(s) e2605

    Abstract: Wild bees are key providers of pollination services in agroecosystems. The abundance of these pollinators and the ecosystem services they provide rely on supporting resources in the landscape. Spatially explicit models that quantify wild bee abundance ... ...

    Abstract Wild bees are key providers of pollination services in agroecosystems. The abundance of these pollinators and the ecosystem services they provide rely on supporting resources in the landscape. Spatially explicit models that quantify wild bee abundance and pollination services in food crops are built on the foundations of foraging and nesting resources. This dependence limits model implementation as land-cover maps and pollination experts capable of evaluating habitat resource quality are scarce. This study presents a novel approach to assessing crop pollination services using remote sensing data (RSD) as an alternative to the more conventional use of land-cover data and local expertise on spatially explicit models. We used landscape characteristics derived from remote sensors to qualify nesting resources in the landscape and to evaluate the delivery of pollination services by mining bees (Andrena spp.) in 30 fruit orchards located in the Flemish region of Belgium. For this study, we selected mining bees for their importance as local pollinators and underground nesting behavior. We compared the estimated pollination services derived from RSD with those derived from the conventional qualification of nesting resources. We did not observe significant differences (p = 0.68) in the variation in mining bee activity predicted by the two spatial models. Estimated pollination services derived from RSD and conventional characterizations explained 69% and 72% of the total variation, respectively. These results confirmed that RSD can deliver nesting suitability characterizations sufficient for estimating pollination services. This research also illustrates the importance of nesting resources and landscape characteristics when estimating pollination services delivered by insects like mining bees. Our results support the development of holistic agroenvironmental policies that rely on modern tools like remote sensors and promote pollinators by considering nesting resources.
    MeSH term(s) Animals ; Bees ; Belgium ; Crops, Agricultural ; Ecosystem ; Pollination ; Remote Sensing Technology
    Language English
    Publishing date 2022-05-19
    Publishing country United States
    Document type Journal Article ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
    ZDB-ID 1074505-1
    ISSN 1939-5582 ; 1051-0761
    ISSN (online) 1939-5582
    ISSN 1051-0761
    DOI 10.1002/eap.2605
    Database MEDical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System OnLINE

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  5. Article ; Online: Landscape-level honey bee hive density, instead of field-level hive density, enhances honey bee visitation in blueberry

    Eeraerts, Maxime / Rogers, Emma / Gillespie, Bob / Best, Lincoln / Smith, Olivia M. / DeVetter, Lisa W.

    Landsc Ecol. 2023 Feb., v. 38, no. 2 p.583-595

    2023  

    Abstract: CONTEXT: To date, managing honey bees and wild bees within crop fields remains challenging. Landscape structure is often overlooked when studying the pollination contribution of honey bees. Increasing our understanding on how to predict honey bee ... ...

    Abstract CONTEXT: To date, managing honey bees and wild bees within crop fields remains challenging. Landscape structure is often overlooked when studying the pollination contribution of honey bees. Increasing our understanding on how to predict honey bee visitation in crops is crucial for sustainable management of agroecosystems. OBJECTIVES: With this study we investigated which landscape and field-level variables determine honey bee and wild bee visitation, and whether honey bee or wild bee visitation influence crop pollination. METHODS: Sixteen highbush blueberry fields were surveyed for honey bees, wild bees, and crop pollination in Washington, USA. Additionally, within a radius of 1000 m around each field all honey bee hives were located and the surrounding landscape was characterized. RESULTS: Honey bee hive numbers in the landscape positively correlate with the proportion of blueberry in the landscape. Honey bee visitation was best predicted by landscape-level hive density within a radius of 1000 m, whereas semi-natural habitat and field-level hive density did not impact honey bee visitation. The amount of semi-natural habitat and blueberry within a radius of 1000 m had a positive and negative impact, respectively, on wild bee visitation. Honey bee visitation had a positive effect on blueberry seed set. CONCLUSION: We conclude that honey bee visitation is determined by the number of honey bee hives in the surrounding landscape. Hence, field-level hive density recommendations miss contributions from other hives in the landscape. Furthermore, semi-natural habitat did not impact honey bee visitation and contributes to diversifying pollinator diets and provides wild bee habitat.
    Keywords Vaccinium corymbosum ; agroecosystems ; beehives ; blueberries ; habitats ; honey ; honey bees ; landscapes ; pollination ; pollinators ; seed set
    Language English
    Dates of publication 2023-02
    Size p. 583-595.
    Publishing place Springer Netherlands
    Document type Article ; Online
    ZDB-ID 1027798-5
    ISSN 1572-9761 ; 0921-2973
    ISSN (online) 1572-9761
    ISSN 0921-2973
    DOI 10.1007/s10980-022-01562-1
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  6. Article: Shifting dietary habits linked with contrasting population trends of two sympatric mustelids (Martes foina and Mustela putorius) over 16 years

    Eeraerts, Maxime / Verschelde, Pieter / Gouwy, Jan / Van Den Berge, Sanne / Van Den Berge, Koen

    Global ecology and conservation. 2022 June, v. 35

    2022  

    Abstract: Despite widespread concern about biodiversity declines, few empirical studies exist on long-term population trends of mammal carnivores. In the context of global change, it is essential to understand the population trends and resource use of mammal ... ...

    Abstract Despite widespread concern about biodiversity declines, few empirical studies exist on long-term population trends of mammal carnivores. In the context of global change, it is essential to understand the population trends and resource use of mammal carnivores. Mammal carnivores fulfil an important ecosystem function in terrestrial ecosystems as their top-down role directly and indirectly influences prey populations which affects the entire food web. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether and how the population trends of two sympatric mustelid species, stone marten and polecat, have changed between 1998 and 2013 in Flanders, Belgium. In addition, we explored temporal changes in their dietary habits. From 1998–2013, in collaboration with a citizen science network, we collected road-killed animals over the entire area of Flanders (13,682 km²). Based on the number of collected road-killed animals we detected a decrease in the polecat population during 1998–2013 whereas the stone marten population has increased. By subsequent identification of the stomach contents of the specimens, we detected fluctuations throughout the year of the consumption of certain food types. In addition, the consumption of certain food items decreased (stone marten: fruits, grains and nuts and lagomorphs; polecat: birds, rodents and other mammals) or increased (stone marten: edible waste and polecat: amphibians) throughout this period of opposite population trends. An increase of the degree of specialization of the diet throughout the sampling period was also detected for both mustelid species. In summary, our study concludes contrasting population trends coupled with clear changes in feeding habits of two sympatric carnivore species. Understanding these long-term relationships between species population trends and their dietary ecology is vital for biodiversity conservation and nature management.
    Keywords Lagomorpha ; Martes foina ; Mustela putorius ; biodiversity ; biodiversity conservation ; carnivores ; citizen science ; diet ; ecological function ; food webs ; global change ; stomach ; sympatry ; wastes ; Belgium
    Language English
    Dates of publication 2022-06
    Publishing place Elsevier B.V.
    Document type Article
    ZDB-ID 2814786-8
    ISSN 2351-9894
    ISSN 2351-9894
    DOI 10.1016/j.gecco.2022.e02108
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  7. Article: Nesting material, phenology and landscape complexity influence nesting success and parasite infestation of a trap nesting bee

    Eeraerts, Maxime / Clymans, Rik / Kerckvoorde, Vincent Van / Beliën, Tim

    Agriculture, ecosystems & environment. 2022 July 01, v. 332

    2022  

    Abstract: Solitary bees are receiving increasing attention as they are very effective crop pollinators. However, widespread implementation of pollination management with solitary bees is hampered by a lack of targeted and practical guidelines. Indeed, little ... ...

    Abstract Solitary bees are receiving increasing attention as they are very effective crop pollinators. However, widespread implementation of pollination management with solitary bees is hampered by a lack of targeted and practical guidelines. Indeed, little evidence-based guidelines exist about the preferred type of nesting material, how to control nest-associated macroparasites and how to promote a healthy offspring with sufficient female bees. This study investigated whether different types of artificial nesting materials – paper straws and wooden grooved boards – are preferred by the European orchard bee (Osmia cornuta). In addition, we explored how the bee nesting success and infestation of macroparasites are influenced by type of nesting material, landscape complexity and timing throughout the active nesting period of O. cornuta. We found that O. cornuta preferred to nest in paper straws compared to wooden grooved boards. The number of produced brood cells and the offspring sex-ratio (i.e. the ratio of female:male bees) were higher in wooden grooved boards. Number of brood cells, successful cocoon development and the sex-ratio all decreased throughout the nest-construction period of the bees. The sex-ratio also increased with increasing landscape complexity. Paper straws had a reduced infestation rate of kleptoparasitic mites. In addition, the infestation rate of both kleptoparasitic mites and kleptoparasitic drosophilid flies increased with time throughout the bees' nest-construction period. These findings present relevant evidence to aid successful implementation of solitary bees for crop pollination. Utilization of paper straws, or similar materials, over wooden grooved boards and closing the nests near the end of the bees’ active nest-construction period should be recommended practices. Implementation of these practices will reduce parasite infestation and enhance bee nesting success. Furthermore, conservation of semi-natural habitat or planting pollinator-friendly vegetation around fields is also advised to promote the proportion of female bees in the offspring.
    Keywords Drosophilidae ; Osmia cornuta ; agriculture ; environment ; females ; habitats ; landscapes ; orchards ; paper ; parasitoses ; phenology ; pollination ; progeny ; sex ratio ; vegetation
    Language English
    Dates of publication 2022-0701
    Publishing place Elsevier B.V.
    Document type Article
    ZDB-ID 602345-9
    ISSN 1873-2305 ; 0167-8809
    ISSN (online) 1873-2305
    ISSN 0167-8809
    DOI 10.1016/j.agee.2022.107951
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  8. Article: Linking remote sensing data to the estimation of pollination services in agroecosystems

    Ariza, Daniel / Meeus, Ivan / Eeraerts, Maxime / Pisman, Matti / Smagghe, Guy

    Ecological applications. 2022 July, v. 32, no. 5

    2022  

    Abstract: Wild bees are key providers of pollination services in agroecosystems. The abundance of these pollinators and the ecosystem services they provide rely on supporting resources in the landscape. Spatially explicit models that quantify wild bee abundance ... ...

    Abstract Wild bees are key providers of pollination services in agroecosystems. The abundance of these pollinators and the ecosystem services they provide rely on supporting resources in the landscape. Spatially explicit models that quantify wild bee abundance and pollination services in food crops are built on the foundations of foraging and nesting resources. This dependence limits model implementation as land‐cover maps and pollination experts capable of evaluating habitat resource quality are scarce. This study presents a novel approach to assessing crop pollination services using remote sensing data (RSD) as an alternative to the more conventional use of land‐cover data and local expertise on spatially explicit models. We used landscape characteristics derived from remote sensors to qualify nesting resources in the landscape and to evaluate the delivery of pollination services by mining bees (Andrena spp.) in 30 fruit orchards located in the Flemish region of Belgium. For this study, we selected mining bees for their importance as local pollinators and underground nesting behavior. We compared the estimated pollination services derived from RSD with those derived from the conventional qualification of nesting resources. We did not observe significant differences (p = 0.68) in the variation in mining bee activity predicted by the two spatial models. Estimated pollination services derived from RSD and conventional characterizations explained 69% and 72% of the total variation, respectively. These results confirmed that RSD can deliver nesting suitability characterizations sufficient for estimating pollination services. This research also illustrates the importance of nesting resources and landscape characteristics when estimating pollination services delivered by insects like mining bees. Our results support the development of holistic agroenvironmental policies that rely on modern tools like remote sensors and promote pollinators by considering nesting resources.
    Keywords Andrena ; agroecosystems ; bees ; fruits ; habitats ; land cover ; landscapes ; pollination ; Belgium
    Language English
    Dates of publication 2022-07
    Publishing place John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
    Document type Article
    Note JOURNAL ARTICLE
    ZDB-ID 1074505-1
    ISSN 1939-5582 ; 1051-0761
    ISSN (online) 1939-5582
    ISSN 1051-0761
    DOI 10.1002/eap.2605
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  9. Article: Increased compositional heterogeneity of mass‐flowering orchard crops does not promote wild bee abundance in orchards

    Pisman, Matti / Eeraerts, Maxime / Ariza, Daniel / Smagghe, Guy / Meeus, Ivan

    Agricultural and forest entomology. 2022 Feb., v. 24, no. 1

    2022  

    Abstract: Due to increasing difficulties to maintain semi‐natural habitat within agricultural landscapes, management of the agricultural matrix may provide a more realistic approach to support farmland biodiversity and associated ecosystem services. We hypothesize ...

    Abstract Due to increasing difficulties to maintain semi‐natural habitat within agricultural landscapes, management of the agricultural matrix may provide a more realistic approach to support farmland biodiversity and associated ecosystem services. We hypothesize that orchard compositional heterogeneity (OCH), that is, different mass‐flowering crops with sequential blooming periods, may support pollinators through continuous abundance of floral resources. We assessed whether increased OCH at the landscape level had a positive effect on wild bee abundances in sweet cherry and apple orchards during bloom. We monitored 15 sweet cherry and 14 apple orchards in Flanders, Belgium, situated along a gradient of OCH. We performed pollinator surveys during bloom to measure wild bee and honey bee abundance and monitored fruit development to assess fruit set and quality. We found no positive effect of OCH on wild pollinator abundance in our study system. Solitary bees showed contrasting responses between crops. Bumble bees showed no response. Wild pollinator abundance had a positive effect on sweet cherry fruit set and apple seed set. Our results imply that increasing crop compositional heterogeneity solely in terms of orchard crops with a limited difference in bloom phenology may prove to be insufficient to support pollinators. We confirm the importance of wild pollinators for pollination services in horticulture.
    Keywords Prunus avium ; apples ; biodiversity ; ecosystems ; entomology ; forests ; fruit set ; habitats ; honey bees ; horticulture ; landscapes ; orchards ; phenology ; pollination ; pollinators ; seed set ; Belgium
    Language English
    Dates of publication 2022-02
    Size p. 8-17.
    Publishing place Blackwell Publishing Ltd
    Document type Article
    Note JOURNAL ARTICLE
    ZDB-ID 1444210-3
    ISSN 1461-9563 ; 1461-9555
    ISSN (online) 1461-9563
    ISSN 1461-9555
    DOI 10.1111/afe.12464
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  10. Article: A Growers' Perspective on Crop Pollination and Measures to Manage the Pollination Service of Wild Pollinators in Sweet Cherry Cultivation.

    Eeraerts, Maxime / Borremans, Lieve / Smagghe, Guy / Meeus, Ivan

    Insects

    2020  Volume 11, Issue 6

    Abstract: Recent declines in insect pollinators and the increasing dependence on insect pollination in agriculture present major challenges to ensuring future food production. As part of the effort to deal with this challenge, there is a pressing need to ... ...

    Abstract Recent declines in insect pollinators and the increasing dependence on insect pollination in agriculture present major challenges to ensuring future food production. As part of the effort to deal with this challenge, there is a pressing need to understand growers' perceptions with regard to pollinator diversity and crop pollination management. At present, many growers are dependent on domesticated honey bees (
    Language English
    Publishing date 2020-06-15
    Publishing country Switzerland
    Document type Journal Article
    ISSN 2075-4450
    ISSN 2075-4450
    DOI 10.3390/insects11060372
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