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Delivery of crop pollination services is an insufficient argument for wild pollinator conservation

Author

Listed:
  • David Kleijn

    (Animal Ecology Team, Center for Ecosystem Studies, Alterra, Wageningen UR
    Resource Ecology Group, Wageningen University)

  • Rachael Winfree

    (Evolution and Natural Resources, Rutgers University)

  • Ignasi Bartomeus

    (Estación Biológica de Doñana (EDB-CSIC))

  • Luísa G Carvalheiro

    (School of Biology, University of Leeds
    Naturalis Biodiversity Center)

  • Mickaël Henry

    (UR 406 Abeilles et Environnement, INRA, CS 40509
    UMT Protection des Abeilles dans l’Environnement, INRA, CS 40509)

  • Rufus Isaacs

    (Michigan State University)

  • Alexandra-Maria Klein

    (Nature Conservation and Landscape Ecology Group, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Freiburg)

  • Claire Kremen

    (Policy and Management, University of California)

  • Leithen K M'Gonigle

    (Policy and Management, University of California)

  • Romina Rader

    (School of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England)

  • Taylor H Ricketts

    (Gund Institute for Ecological Economics, University of Vermont)

  • Neal M Williams

    (University of California, Davis)

  • Nancy Lee Adamson
  • John S Ascher

    (National University of Singapore)

  • András Báldi

    (Institute of Ecology and Botany, MTA Centre for Ecological Research)

  • Péter Batáry

    (Agroecology Group, Georg-August-University)

  • Faye Benjamin

    (Evolution and Natural Resources, Rutgers University)

  • Jacobus C Biesmeijer

    (Naturalis Biodiversity Center)

  • Eleanor J Blitzer

    (Cornell University)

  • Riccardo Bommarco

    (Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences)

  • Mariëtte R Brand

    (South African National Biodiversity Institute, Kirstenbosch Research Centre
    Conservation Ecology and Entomology, Stellenbosch University
    Iziko South African Museum)

  • Vincent Bretagnolle

    (Centre d’Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, UMR 7372, CNRS and Université La Rochelle)

  • Lindsey Button

    (Simon Fraser University)

  • Daniel P Cariveau

    (Evolution and Natural Resources, Rutgers University)

  • Rémy Chifflet

    (Plateforme Régionale d'Innovation "Agriculture Biologique et Périurbaine Durable")

  • Jonathan F Colville

    (South African National Biodiversity Institute, Kirstenbosch Research Centre)

  • Bryan N Danforth

    (Cornell University)

  • Elizabeth Elle

    (Centre d’Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, UMR 7372, CNRS and Université La Rochelle)

  • Michael P.D. Garratt

    (Centre for Agri-Environmental Research, School of Agriculture, Policy and Development, University of Reading)

  • Felix Herzog

    (Agricultural Landscapes and Biodiversity)

  • Andrea Holzschuh

    (Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland)

  • Brad G Howlett

    (Sustainable Production, The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited)

  • Frank Jauker

    (Justus Liebig University Giessen)

  • Shalene Jha

    (University of Texas at Austin)

  • Eva Knop

    (Community Ecology Group, University of Bern)

  • Kristin M Krewenka

    (Agroecology Group, Georg-August-University)

  • Violette Le Féon

    (UR 406 Abeilles et Environnement, INRA, CS 40509)

  • Yael Mandelik

    (The Hebrew University of Jerusalem)

  • Emily A May

    (Michigan State University)

  • Mia G Park

    (Cornell University)

  • Gideon Pisanty

    (The Hebrew University of Jerusalem)

  • Menno Reemer

    (EIS Kenniscentrum Insecten, Naturalis Biodiversity Center)

  • Verena Riedinger

    (Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland)

  • Orianne Rollin

    (UR 406 Abeilles et Environnement, INRA, CS 40509
    UMT Protection des Abeilles dans l’Environnement, INRA, CS 40509
    ITSAP – Institut de l’abeille)

  • Maj Rundlöf

    (Lund University)

  • Hillary S Sardiñas

    (Policy and Management, University of California)

  • Jeroen Scheper

    (Animal Ecology Team, Center for Ecosystem Studies, Alterra, Wageningen UR)

  • Amber R Sciligo

    (Policy and Management, University of California)

  • Henrik G Smith

    (Lund University
    Centre of Environmental and Climate Research, Lund University)

  • Ingolf Steffan-Dewenter

    (Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland)

  • Robbin Thorp

    (University of California, Davis)

  • Teja Tscharntke

    (Agroecology Group, Georg-August-University)

  • Jort Verhulst
  • Blandina F Viana

    (Biology Institute, Federal University of Bahia, Rua Barão de Jeremoabo, s/n, Campus Universitário de Ondina)

  • Bernard E Vaissière

    (UR 406 Abeilles et Environnement, INRA, CS 40509
    UMT Protection des Abeilles dans l’Environnement, INRA, CS 40509)

  • Ruan Veldtman

    (South African National Biodiversity Institute, Kirstenbosch Research Centre
    Conservation Ecology and Entomology, Stellenbosch University)

  • Kimiora L. Ward

    (University of California, Davis)

  • Catrin Westphal

    (Agroecology Group, Georg-August-University)

  • Simon G Potts

    (Centre for Agri-Environmental Research, School of Agriculture, Policy and Development, University of Reading)

Abstract

There is compelling evidence that more diverse ecosystems deliver greater benefits to people, and these ecosystem services have become a key argument for biodiversity conservation. However, it is unclear how much biodiversity is needed to deliver ecosystem services in a cost-effective way. Here we show that, while the contribution of wild bees to crop production is significant, service delivery is restricted to a limited subset of all known bee species. Across crops, years and biogeographical regions, crop-visiting wild bee communities are dominated by a small number of common species, and threatened species are rarely observed on crops. Dominant crop pollinators persist under agricultural expansion and many are easily enhanced by simple conservation measures, suggesting that cost-effective management strategies to promote crop pollination should target a different set of species than management strategies to promote threatened bees. Conserving the biological diversity of bees therefore requires more than just ecosystem-service-based arguments.

Suggested Citation

  • David Kleijn & Rachael Winfree & Ignasi Bartomeus & Luísa G Carvalheiro & Mickaël Henry & Rufus Isaacs & Alexandra-Maria Klein & Claire Kremen & Leithen K M'Gonigle & Romina Rader & Taylor H Ricketts , 2015. "Delivery of crop pollination services is an insufficient argument for wild pollinator conservation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 6(1), pages 1-9, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:6:y:2015:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms8414
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms8414
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    Cited by:

    1. Frederik Noack & Ashley Larsen & Johannes Kamp & Christian Levers, 2022. "A bird's eye view of farm size and biodiversity: The ecological legacy of the iron curtain," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 104(4), pages 1460-1484, August.
    2. Maderson, Siobhan, 2023. "Co-producing agricultural policy with beekeepers: Obstacles and opportunities," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 128(C).
    3. Kleftodimos, Georgios & Gallai, Nicola & Rozakis, Stelios & Képhaliacos, Charilaos, 2021. "A farm-level ecological-economic approach of the inclusion of pollination services in arable crop farms," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 107(C).
    4. Patrick José Jeetze & Isabelle Weindl & Justin Andrew Johnson & Pasquale Borrelli & Panos Panagos & Edna J. Molina Bacca & Kristine Karstens & Florian Humpenöder & Jan Philipp Dietrich & Sara Minoli &, 2023. "Projected landscape-scale repercussions of global action for climate and biodiversity protection," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-14, December.
    5. Stefanie Christmann & Youssef Bencharki & Soukaina Anougmar & Pierre Rasmont & Moulay Chrif Smaili & Athanasios Tsivelikas & Aden Aw-Hassan, 2021. "Farming with Alternative Pollinators benefits pollinators, natural enemies, and yields, and offers transformative change to agriculture," Post-Print hal-03355596, HAL.
    6. Gruener, Sven & Soliev, Ilkhom & Pirscher, Frauke, 2024. "Multiple crises in mind, biodiversity out of sight? Insights from a behavioral study in Germany," OSF Preprints q4upd, Center for Open Science.
    7. Xiaohui Wang & Yao Wu & Kiril Manevski & Manqi Fu & Xiaogang Yin & Fu Chen, 2021. "A Framework for the Heterogeneity and Ecosystem Services of Farmland Landscapes: An Integrative Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-17, November.

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