Effect of bees-pollinators on yield

 

    




Research conducted by American entomologists showed that the more species of bees pollinate blueberries, the greater the harvest.

Blueberries – one of the most popular berries in North Carolina, and its industrial production makes a significant contribution to the economy of the state. But scientists were not looking for a way to increase the yield, and wanted to find out if the practical benefits of biodiversity.

Researchers at the University of North Carolina has divided the local bees that pollinate the blueberries, into five groups – bees, European honey bees, southeastern blueberry bees, bees-carpenters team and a group of local indigenous species. In pursuing this work, the entomologists have had to show remarkable patience. Noticing that the bee of the same species visited the newly opened flower, they are tied around the stem color of the thread corresponding to this group of bees, and the hive was closed with a mesh bag to other types of bees are already on it not sat. 50 days after pollination, the researchers returned to count the marked stems and to estimate the harvest.

Once it was about economic efficiency, that influence the species composition of bees-pollinators on the yield measured in money. It turned out that with the addition of each type of bees the cost of berries increases by $ 311 per acre (1 acre is equal to 0,405 hectares). If the field is pollinated by two bee groups, the increase will be $ 311 per acre, and three – on 622.





Different types of bees better do the work of pollination under different weather conditions. "We believe that the benefits of biodiversity lies in the behavioral differences of the insect depending on the weather. The widespread European honeybee is only good in warm Sunny weather, and the best way to cope with the pollination of the few local species of bees," – commented on the results of the studies that have been published in the journal "PloS ONE", one of the authors Dr. David Tagro, adjunct Professor, entomology North Carolina state University. And local South-Eastern blueberry bee vibrating wings, creating a sound wave that causes the flower to vibrate and drop all the pollen, thus making pollination more efficient. "A perfect bee must work in any weather and good to collect pollen. Perfect bees do not exist. But together different types of bees doing great," assessed the results of another study author Dr. Hannah Burak.

Blueberry in North Carolina, blooms in March-April, at a time when the weather is very changeable, and therefore the division of labour between insects, weather conditions can significantly affect productivity. The next object of study will be the wild vegetation close to blueberry plantings. Scientists want to find out the living conditions of wild bees and what determines the number of wild bees.

 

 

Source: nkj.ru