Latest Articles from Nature Conservation Latest 2 Articles from Nature Conservation https://natureconservation.pensoft.net/ Fri, 29 Mar 2024 12:13:38 +0200 Pensoft FeedCreator https://natureconservation.pensoft.net/i/logo.jpg Latest Articles from Nature Conservation https://natureconservation.pensoft.net/ Roads may act as barriers to flying insects: species composition of bees and wasps differs on two sides of a large highway https://natureconservation.pensoft.net/article/12314/ Nature Conservation 18: 47-59

DOI: 10.3897/natureconservation.18.12314

Authors: Petter Andersson, Anna Koffman, N. Erik Sjödin, Victor Johansson

Abstract: Roads may act as barriers to animal movements, but direct barrier effects on insects have rarely been studied. In this study we collected data on bees and wasps along two sides of a large road in Sweden using yellow pan traps. We then analyzed if the species composition differed between the two sides of the road; first for the whole community, and then only for the smallest species (which typically are poorer dispersers). As a complement, we analyzed if different vegetation variables differed between the two sides of the road, as this may also affect differences in species composition. Finally, we analyzed if species richness and abundance in general differed between the two sides and how these two response variables were explained by the vegetation variables. There was a significant difference in species composition between the eastern and the western side of the road when analyzing the whole community, and this relationship became even stronger when the largest species were excluded. The vegetation variables did not strongly differ between the two sides, and there was no difference in species richness and abundance of bees and wasps either. Abundance was, however, explained by the number of flowering plants in the surroundings of the trap. Even though using a rather limited data set, our results indicate that large roads may act as barriers on the movement of bees and wasps, especially for small species with poor dispersal ability. On the other hand, road verges may be important habitat for many species, which leads to a potential conflict that is important to consider in the planning of green infrastructure.

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Research Article Tue, 11 Jul 2017 09:11:30 +0300
Pollination services mapping and economic valuation from insect communities: a case study in the Azores (Terceira Island) https://natureconservation.pensoft.net/article/11523/ Nature Conservation 18: 1-25

DOI: 10.3897/natureconservation.18.11523

Authors: Ana Picanço, Artur Gil, François Rigal, Paulo A.V. Borges

Abstract: Insect pollinators provide vital ecosystem services through its maintenance of plant biological diversity and its role in food production. Indeed, adequate pollination services can increase the production and quality of fruit and vegetable crops. This service is currently challenged by land use intensification and expanding human population growth. Hence, this study aims: (1) to assess the pollination services in different land uses with different levels of disturbance through GIS mapping technique using insect pollinators abundance and richness as indicators, and (2) estimate the economic value of pollination by insects in agricultural crops. Our study takes place in a small oceanic island, Terceira (Azores, Portugal). Our results showed, remarkably, that not only the pristine vegetation areas, but also the orchards and agricultural areas have relatively high values of pollination services, even though both land uses have opposite disturbance levels. For the economic valuation, we analyzed 24 crops in the island and found that 18 depend on pollinators with one-third of these crops having 65% or 95% dependence on pollinators. The economic contribution of pollinators totals 36.2% of the total mean annual agricultural income of the dependent crops, highlighting the importance of insect pollinators in agricultural production and consequent economic gain productions.

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Research Article Fri, 5 May 2017 14:29:59 +0300