Experimental evidence that honeybees depress wild insect densities in a flowering crop

Lindström, Sandra A MSveriges lantbruksuniversitet,Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences,Lund University,Lunds universitet,Biodiversitet,Biologiska institutionen,Naturvetenskapliga fakulteten,Biodiversity,Department of Biology,Faculty of Science,Swedish Rural Economy and Agricultural Society,Institutionen för ekologi,Department of Ecology,The Rural Economy and Agricultural Societies (author)

While addition of managed honeybees (Apis mellifera) improves pollination of many entomophilous crops, it is unknown if it simultaneously suppresses the densities of wild insects through competition. To investigate this, we added 624 honeybee hives to 23 fields of oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) over 2 years and made sure that the areas around 21 other fields were free from honeybee hives. We demonstrate that honeybee addition depresses the densities of wild insects (bumblebees, solitary bees, hoverflies, marchflies, other flies, and other flying and flower-visiting insects) even in a massive flower resource such as oilseed rape. The effect was independent of the complexity of the surrounding landscape, but increased with the size of the crop field, which suggests that the effect was caused by spatial displacement of wild insects. Our results have potential implications both for the pollination of crops (if displacement of wild pollinators offsets benefits achieved by adding honeybees) and for conservation of wild insects (if displacement results in negative fitness consequences).

Herbertsson, LinaLund University,Lunds universitet,Centrum för miljö- och klimatvetenskap (CEC),Naturvetenskapliga fakulteten,Centre for Environmental and Climate Science (CEC),Faculty of Science(Swepub:lu)cec-lhb (author)
Rundlöf, MajLund University,Lunds universitet,Biodiversitet,Biologiska institutionen,Naturvetenskapliga fakulteten,Biodiversity,Department of Biology,Faculty of Science(Swepub:slu)49265 (author)
Bommarco, RiccardoSveriges lantbruksuniversitet,Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences,Institutionen för ekologi,Department of Ecology(Swepub:slu)50048 (author)
Smith, Henrik G.Lund University,Lunds universitet,Biodiversitet,Biologiska institutionen,Naturvetenskapliga fakulteten,Centrum för miljö- och klimatvetenskap (CEC),Biodiversity,Department of Biology,Faculty of Science,Centre for Environmental and Climate Science (CEC)(Swepub:lu)ekol-hsm (author)
BiodiversitetBiologiska institutionen (creator_code:org_t)
Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet

In:Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences: The Royal Society283:18430962-84521471-2954

By the author/editor: Lindström, Sandr ...; Herbertsson, Lin ...; Rundlöf, Maj; Bommarco, Riccar ...; Smith, Henrik G.

About the subject

AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES: AGRICULTURAL SCI ...; and Other Agricultur ...; and Environmental Sc ...

AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES: AGRICULTURAL SCI ...; and Agriculture Fore ...; and Agricultural Sci ...

By the university: Lund University; Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

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