The conservation and enhancement of bumblebees in intensively farmed landscapes

摘要

Bumblebees provide an important pollination service for many crops and wildflowers, but intensive farming has contributed to declines in the abundance andrange of several bumblebee species across Europe. Here we review research whichhas underpinned the development of prescriptions to benefit bumblebees inintensively managed landscapes. Analysis of national scale plant species datasetshas shown that bumblebee forage plants experienced significantly greater declinesthan other native species during the 20~(th)Century. At the 1 km scale, 76% of forageplants declined in frequency, including those of particular value for threatenedbumblebee species. As a result, agri-environment prescriptions were developed toprovide suitable foraging resources and nesting habitats within arable and grasslandsystems. Monitoring has confirmed that the abundance and diversity of foragingbumblebees is significantly enhanced by sowing a targeted, legume-based 'pollenand nectar' mixture along field margins. Farmer training and technology transferbetween policy, scientific and agronomic sectors will be important for successfulscheme implementation.