Introduction
The decline of pollinator abundance and diversity has garnered a great deal of public attention, especially for the European honeybee (Apis mellifera); as a result, a large proportion of pollination studies are focused on this charismatic species. In Alberta, however, native pollinators (Figure 1) are valuable for the pollination of both native plants (Figure 2) and crops. Pollination is an essential ecosystem service for the economy, as well as critical for maintaining the biodiversity and fitness of native plants (Biesmeijer et al., 2006; Fontaine et al., 2006). Globally, honeybees contribute pollination services to approximately 30% of flowering crops, though wild pollinators contribute to these services as well (Chavarria, 2000).
There is a gaining interest into the question of how non-native, introduced, managed pollinators, like A. mellifera, may impact native plant-pollinator interactions. Some studies suggest that high abundances of introduced honeybees may have negative impacts, such as competition and pathogen transmission, on native pollinators (Mallinger et al., 2017). However, some studies have also suggested that there are neutral and positive effects of honeybees when examining interactions (Mallinger et al., 2017). |
A recent study in the Canary Islands found that intense beekeeping activity reduced the diversity of native pollinators and disrupted interactions in plant-pollinator networks (Valido et al., 2019). While this study supports the notion that a high abundance of honeybees can impact plant-pollinator networks, the answer to whether honeybees are beneficial, neutral, or harmful to the richness and abundance of native pollinators has not been clearly identified, especially in western Canada, where data on wild pollinators is limited.
The objectives of this research are to determine whether the increased presence of A. mellifera has impacts on the composition of native pollinator groups in Alberta, and whether these impacts differ between parkland and prairie regions. As honeybees are generalist pollinators, it is expected that they will compete with native pollinators for floral resources, and alter the community composition in areas where they are high in abundance. If this conclusion is supported, it would supplement recent findings that honeybees are potentially impactful on wild pollinators.
The outcome of this research intends to inform management decisions in central and southern Alberta, where agricultural activity is high, and thus the use of managed honeybees is also higher. The results of this study may inform decision makers in their use of honeybees across the landscape, and may instead attempt to promote pollination of both crops and wild plants by native pollinators.
The outcome of this research intends to inform management decisions in central and southern Alberta, where agricultural activity is high, and thus the use of managed honeybees is also higher. The results of this study may inform decision makers in their use of honeybees across the landscape, and may instead attempt to promote pollination of both crops and wild plants by native pollinators.
References
Biesmeijer, J., et al. (2006). Parallel declines in pollinators and insect-pollinated plants in Britain and the Netherlands. Science 313:351-354.
Chavarria, G. (2000). Pollinator Conservation. Renewable Resources Journal 17(4), 18-22.
Fontaine, C., et al. (2006). Functional diversity of plant-pollinator interaction webs enhances the persistence of plant communities. Plos Biology 4:129-135.
Mallinger, R., et al. (2017). Do managed bees have negative effects on wild bees? A systematic review of the literature. PLoS ONE 12: e0189268.
Valido, A., et al. (2019). Honeybees disrupt the structure and functionality of plant-pollinator networks. Scientific Reports 9: 4711.
Chavarria, G. (2000). Pollinator Conservation. Renewable Resources Journal 17(4), 18-22.
Fontaine, C., et al. (2006). Functional diversity of plant-pollinator interaction webs enhances the persistence of plant communities. Plos Biology 4:129-135.
Mallinger, R., et al. (2017). Do managed bees have negative effects on wild bees? A systematic review of the literature. PLoS ONE 12: e0189268.
Valido, A., et al. (2019). Honeybees disrupt the structure and functionality of plant-pollinator networks. Scientific Reports 9: 4711.