Rights statement: This is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Journal for Nature Conservation. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Journal for Nature Conservation, 58, 2020 DOI: 10.1016/j.jnc.2020.125895
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Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - The effect of agri-environment schemes on bees on Shropshire farms
AU - Crowther, L.I.
AU - Gilbert, F.
N1 - This is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Journal for Nature Conservation. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Journal for Nature Conservation, 58, 2020 DOI: 10.1016/j.jnc.2020.125895
PY - 2020/12/1
Y1 - 2020/12/1
N2 - The decline of bees and other invertebrate pollinators is cause for global concern, with modern intensive agriculture identified as a key driver. Government-run agri-environment schemes (AES) have the potential to restore the local landscape to benefit bees. Bee abundance, species richness and foraged plants were surveyed over a season on 18 farms in Shropshire, UK, classified into three treatment groups for comparison: Conventional, Entry-Level Stewardship AES (ELS), and Higher-Level Stewardship AES (HLS). Bee abundance and species diversity were significantly higher on AES-compliant farms: there were only small or non-significant differences between ELS- and HLS-compliant farms. ELS and HLS farms had higher diversity of floral foraging resources than conventionally managed farms. Cirsium, Heracleum sphondylium, and Rubus fruticosus were important resources for bees through the season. Synthesis and applications: These results highlight that key ELS actions, such as set-aside of uncultivated field margins, hedgerow restoration, late-cut meadows and sowing of nectar-rich flower mixes, are effective AES options to improve the landscape for bee communities. Many plants considered agricultural weeds are important forage resources for bees.
AB - The decline of bees and other invertebrate pollinators is cause for global concern, with modern intensive agriculture identified as a key driver. Government-run agri-environment schemes (AES) have the potential to restore the local landscape to benefit bees. Bee abundance, species richness and foraged plants were surveyed over a season on 18 farms in Shropshire, UK, classified into three treatment groups for comparison: Conventional, Entry-Level Stewardship AES (ELS), and Higher-Level Stewardship AES (HLS). Bee abundance and species diversity were significantly higher on AES-compliant farms: there were only small or non-significant differences between ELS- and HLS-compliant farms. ELS and HLS farms had higher diversity of floral foraging resources than conventionally managed farms. Cirsium, Heracleum sphondylium, and Rubus fruticosus were important resources for bees through the season. Synthesis and applications: These results highlight that key ELS actions, such as set-aside of uncultivated field margins, hedgerow restoration, late-cut meadows and sowing of nectar-rich flower mixes, are effective AES options to improve the landscape for bee communities. Many plants considered agricultural weeds are important forage resources for bees.
KW - Agri-environment schemes
KW - Bees
KW - Ecosystem services
KW - Field margins
KW - Floral resources
KW - Pollination
KW - agri-environmental policy
KW - bee
KW - community composition
KW - ecosystem service
KW - foraging behavior
KW - pollinator
KW - species diversity
KW - species richness
KW - England
KW - Shropshire
KW - United Kingdom
KW - Apoidea
KW - Cirsium
KW - Heracleum sphondylium
KW - Invertebrata
KW - Rubus fruticosus
U2 - 10.1016/j.jnc.2020.125895
DO - 10.1016/j.jnc.2020.125895
M3 - Journal article
VL - 58
JO - Journal for Nature Conservation
JF - Journal for Nature Conservation
SN - 1617-1381
M1 - 125895
ER -