sustainable pollination on your farm - Sustainable Farming on the … · 2019-12-19 · Non-native...
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Farming for bees: sustainable pollination on your farm Rufus Isaacs & Julianna Tuell Department of Entomology, Michigan State University
Transcript of sustainable pollination on your farm - Sustainable Farming on the … · 2019-12-19 · Non-native...
Farming for bees: sustainable pollination on your farm
Rufus Isaacs & Julianna TuellDepartment of Entomology, Michigan State University
72% of crop plants require bee-mediated pollination
35% of human food is dependent upon bees for pollination Klein et al. 2006
Presenter
Presentation Notes
One third of the food we eat and some of the plants we use for textiles require the assistance of bees in order to produce fruit and seeds such as the ones shown here. From top to bottom, left to right: greenhouse tomatoes, cherries, apples, blueberries, strawberries, squash, alfalfa (hay), cotton, almonds, and coffee.
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Some species are very efficient crop pollinators: Bombus, Osmia….
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Native bees are adapted to local weather conditions
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Some species emerge in synchrony with specific crops to pollinate them exclusively
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Long term sustainability of pollination: $3 billion of fruit and vegetable pollination
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May be considered ‘pollination insurance’
Why consider native bees for crop pollination?
Presenter
Presentation Notes
“Some native bees are efficient pollinators...” such as the bumble bee that pollinates 12 times more flowers per minute than honey bees on average.
Pollinator diversity to ensure crop pollination
0
2000
4000
6000
8000
10000
12000
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Year
Avg
. yie
ld/a
cre
(pou
nds)
Honeybees onlyHoneybees+native bees
10 year blueberry yields – my fictional data!!
Michigan Agricultural LandscapesAgricultural landscapes
Landscape provides
-Flowering plants
-Nesting sites
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Presentation Notes
Plants that do well in these habitats do well in open cropland, orchards., and home garden/landscape!
Varying intensity of crop management
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Presentation Notes
Growers face the challenge of producing a product free of pest damage, while doing as little harm as possible to beneficial insects such as natural enemies and pollinators.
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Unmanaged land generally benefits native bee communitiesKremen
et al. 2002, Greenleaf and Kremen
2006, Winfree
2007
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Wild bees perform better in organic vs. conventionally managed crop landscapes.
Gabriel and Tscharntke
2007, Holzuch
et al. 2008
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Bee communities are generally suppressed by insecticides –
Fenitrothion
application caused native bee declines
Kevan
1997, Kevan
and Plowright
1989
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Pesticide program less important than proximity to native landscape Kremen
et al. 2002, 2004
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Tillage reduces populations of ground-nesting bees. Schuler et al. 2006
Response of native bees to agricultural intensification
Increase native bees on farmland by providing…
1. Nectar and pollen–
selective mowing of ditches and field borders.–
combine flowering plant species to provide overlapping blooms. –
insect conservation strips at edges of fields.–
integrate woody and herbaceous plants for early and late-blooming flowers.
2. Nesting habitat–
undisturbed open sandy soil–
old trees, snags, woodland
3. Environment free of toxic insecticides-
adopt IPM/organic practices-
selective insecticides-
use biological controls
Research questions
1.
Which species of native bee are present in blueberry fields?
2.
How do local habitat type and management intensity in and around blueberry fields influence native bees?
3.
Do insecticides targeted at pests after bloom affect abundance of native bees during bloom the following year?
Which native bees are present during blueberry bloom?
andrenid bees45%
sweat bees45%
mason bees1%
cellophane bees1%
bumble bees and carpenter
bees8%
Sampled twice during bloom at 15 farms in 2004, 2005, 2006
digger bees
NN
Presenter
Presentation Notes
The proportion of honey bees to native bees in my traps was 2:1 in 2004 and 2005, and 1:1 in 2006.
-1.0 2.0
-1.5
1.5
Andrenid
bees
Halictid
bees
other native beesinsecticide program
soil cult.
perimeter woodstreeline
ditches
other fl crops
adj. blueberry
meadows
floral abundance
plant sp
2005
Native bee abundance is affected by farm management practices
0102030405060708090
100
pre bloom1
bloom2
bloom3
post 1 post 2 post 3
No.
bee
s tra
pped
per
day An. carlini
An. carolina
Au. striataL. pilosum
sample time in relation to blueberry bloom
Many native bee species are active through the year
focus on blueberry
visit different species’
flowers throughout spring
and summer
Presenter
Presentation Notes
Talk about what the bees active after bloom need.
Overlap between pollinator activity and pest activity
April May June July Aug Sept
Osmia beesandrenid
beeshalictid
beesBombus queensBombus workers
= Blueberry bloom
Presenter
Presentation Notes
Set it up here: we expect the impact on bees of pesticide applications made in the previous year would be evident the following year.
Insecticides applied by study cooperators 2003-2005
InsecticideActive Ingredient Chemical Class Targeted pests
LD50 µg/bee
Diazinon
50 WP diazinon OP BBA 0.14
Guthion
50 WP azinphos-methyl OP FW, OBLR 0.06
Imidan
70 WP phosmet OP BBM, JB, OBLR 0.61
Aqua Malathion malathion OP BBM, JB 0.27
Asana XL 0.66 EC esfenvalerate pyrethroid FW, BBA 0.06
Lannate methomyl carbamate FW, BBA 0.08
Sevin
80 WSP carbaryl carbamate BBM, JB, OBLR 1.50
Sevin
XLR+ carbaryl carbamate BBM, JB, OBLR 26.70
Provado
1.6 F imidacloprid neonicotinoid BBM, JB, BBA 0.050
Spintor
2 SC spinosad naturalyte BBM 0.025
Confirm 2 F tebufenozide IGR FW, OBLR 234.00
Dipel B. thuringiensis biological FW, OBLR >500.00
LD50
= Dose killing 50% of worker Apis mellifera after 24 hours. Topical application method.
Index of pesticide risk to bees
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Grower spray records obtained for each season prior to bee monitoring, starting in 2003.
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An insecticide program toxicity (IPT) score for each field each year was calculated:
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Determine relationship between native bee counts and insecticide
intensity from the year prior to each sample during bloom.
insecticide program toxicity = ∑ amount of active ingredient (kg) / HaLD50 for honeybees
insecticide program toxicity = ∑ amount of active ingredient (kg) / HaLD50 for honeybees
amount of active ingredient (kg) / HaLD50 for honeybees
Presenter
Presentation Notes
I developed this index because if you only look at the number of times an insecticide is sprayed or the amount of active ingredient, you miss knowing anything about the toxicity of the product. The LD50 for honey bees was used because it is the most complete data set and it should be generally representative of the bee community. With this equation, as the LD50 decreases, the IPT score increases. Likewise, if more AI is used, the IPT score increases.
Native bees declined with increasing IPT score this trend was seen in two of three sampling years
2004 data
Pesticide toxicity (IPT) in previous year
abundance= 0.44
P = 0.007
050
100150200250300
0 20 40
R2
abundance= 0.44
P = 0.007
050
100150200250300
0 20 40
R2 = 0.44P = 0.007
050
100150200250300
0 20 40
= 0.44P = 0.007
050
100150200250300
0 20 40
R2R2
richness= 0.33
P = 0.03
0
10
20
30
40
0 20 40
R2richness
= 0.33P = 0.03
0
10
20
30
40
0 20 40
R2 = 0.33P = 0.03
0
10
20
30
40
0 20 40
= 0.33P = 0.03
0
10
20
30
40
0 20 40
R2R2
Number of bees Number of bee species
Presenter
Presentation Notes
Make graphs larger
Summary
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Blueberry fields contain a diversity of native bee species during bloom, with variable nesting biology, timing, and specialization.
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The abundance and richness of native bees are affected by some in-field management practices, and by adjacent land use.
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Fields receiving pest control programs with higher pesticide toxicity have lower native bee abundance and richness.
Presenter
Presentation Notes
I developed this index because if you only look at the number of times an insecticide is sprayed or the amount of active ingredient, you miss knowing anything about the toxicity of the product. The LD50 for honey bees was used because it is the most complete data set and it should be generally representative of the bee community. With this equation, as the LD50 decreases, the IPT score increases. Likewise, if more AI is used, the IPT score increases.
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Reducing toxicity of pest control practices will support greater bee abundance and richness.
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Foraging and nesting resources are needed throughout the season.
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Flower and nesting resources near to crop fields can help support the native bee community.
Implications for bee conservation on farms
Midwest prairie plants most attractive to beneficial insects
Benefits
Enhance native biodiversity
Restoration of imperiled habitats
Less likely to be invasive
Adapted to local climate
Provide habitat permanency
Potential negativesMulti-year establishmentAvailabilityCost
funded by
Presenter
Presentation Notes
Non-native plants have traditionally been used to provide beneficial insects with nectar, pollen, and habitat. Native plants have their own set of benefits.
• Bees: sweat bees, digger bees, cuckoo bees, small and large carpenter bees, and bumble bees
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Natural enemies: chalcid wasps, minute pirate bug, spiders
Yellow coneflower
(Ratibida pinnata)
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Bloom: late July -
mid August
Range
Sunlightsun shade
RangedryMoisture
wet
Presenter
Presentation Notes
Also called pinnate prairie coneflower. Flowers have yellow petals, which are really ray flowers, that stretch below the dark flower center on stalks 3-5 ft tall. Yellow coneflower is naturally occurring in full sun in wet meadows and thickets, in floodplains, along river banks, and borders of woods. This species is easily grown from seed, and is prone to deer grazing. Seed heads attract birds.
• Bees: sweat bees, small carpenter bees, digger bees, bumble bees
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Natural enemies: minute pirate bug, predatory plant bug, Chalcid
wasps, soldier beetle, spiders
Boneset
(Eupatorium perfoliatum)
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Bloom: August –
early September
Range
Sunlightsun shade
RangedryMoisture
wet
www.nativeplants.msu.edu
Bloom phenology
and relative attractiveness of native plants
Native plantwild strawberrygolden alexandersCanada anemonepenstemonangelicacow parsnipsand coreopsisshrubby cinquefoilIndian hemplate figwortswamp milkweedCulver's rootyellow coneflowernodding wild onionmeadowsweetyellow giant hyssophorsemintMissouri ironweedcup plantpale Indian plantainbonesetblue lobeliapale-leaved sunflowerRiddell's
goldenrodNew England astersmooth aster
Natural enemies AugMay Jun Jul Sep Oct
Bloom periodBees
KEY
good
better
best
Fiedler et al. (2007)Also at: www.nativeplants.msu.edu
Presenter
Presentation Notes
The 26 Most Attractive Michigan Native Perennials: This table shows the most attractive native plants out of 43 that were tested, and when they bloomed (indicated by the white and yellow bars) in 2005. Yellow indicates when each plant was in full bloom. The number of stars after each plant indicates its relative attractiveness to insect natural enemies (predators and parasitoids) and bees (pollinators).
Season-long bee-attractive native floral resources
beardtongue, Penstemon hirsutus
Native plant
golden Alexanders, Zizia aureacommon ninebark, Physocarpus opulifolius
late figwort, Scrophularia marilandicaswamp milkweed, Asclepias incarnataCulver's root, Veronicastrum virginicumyellow coneflower, Ratibida pinnatanodding wild onion, Allium cernuummeadowsweet, Spiraea albayellow giant hyssop, Agastache nepetoideshorsemint/spotted beebalm, Monarda punctataMissouri ironweed, Vernonia missuricacup plant, Silphium perfoliatumpale Indian plantain, Cacalia atriplicifoliaboneset, Eupatorium perfoliatumblue lobelia, Lobelia siphiliticapale-leaved sunflower, Helianthus strumosusRiddell's
goldenrod, Solidago riddelliiNew England aster, Aster novae-angliaesmooth aster, Aster laevis
AugMay Jun Jul Sep OctApproximate Bloom Period
American elder, Sambucus canadensis
Apr
willow, Salix spp.
wild cherry, Prunus spp.black chokecherry, Aronia melanocarpa
silky dogwood, Cornus amomum
Presenter
Presentation Notes
The 26 Most Attractive Michigan Native Perennials: This table shows the most attractive native plants out of 43 that were tested, and when they bloomed (indicated by the white and yellow bars) in 2005. Yellow indicates when each plant was in full bloom. The number of stars after each plant indicates its relative attractiveness to insect natural enemies (predators and parasitoids) and bees (pollinators).
Enhancing pollinator conservation on farmland
avoid bee toxic pesticidesduring bloom
flowering perimeters
flowering ground cover
limited tillage
nesting habitats
clean water
only use bee safe pesticides
natural area refuges
landscape management
Research on crop-specific and regionally appropriate practices
Cost : benefit analyses
Financial incentives
Demonstration programs
Information delivery
Incentive payments for working lands
Farm Bill conservation programs: EQIP, WHIP, GRP, WRP, CRP, CSP,
etc.
Many USDA-NRCS “conservation practices”
can be used to provide habitat for pollinators
An increasing number of sources to help fund pollinator conservation practices
State Acres for Wildlife Grants (SAFE)
Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) now targeting pollinator projects (new in 2008)
Conservation Security Program (CSP) has a specific nectar corridor enhancement
The new Farm Bill?
Pollinator conservation informationwww.nativeplants.msu.edu
More information at www.xerces.org and www.pollinator.org
CollaboratorsAnna Fiedler Doug LandisJohn Ascher, AMNHMace Vaughn, Xerces
Soc.
Research assistantsSteve Van TimmerenJack LangdonMatthew TuellCasey McLeanJessie Siemen
Grower CooperatorsLarry BodtkeRandy BowermanBob CariniJoe DeGranchampBeverly DeJongeKarlis
GalensR.J. Rant Dave StansbyTerry TilesDoug WassinkJan Woods
Thanks!
Funding
