Biocultural approaches to pollinator conservation

Pollinators underpin sustainable livelihoods that link ecosystems, spiritual and cultural values, and customary governance systems with indigenous peoples and local communities (IPLC) across the world. Biocultural diversity is a short-hand term for this great variety of people-nature interlinkages that have developed over time in specific ecosystems. Biocultural approaches to conservation explicitly build on the conservation practices inherent in sustaining these livelihoods. We used the Conceptual Framework of the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services to analyse the biocultural approaches to pollinator conservation by indigenous peoples and local communities globally. The analysis identified biocultural approaches to pollinators across all six elements of the Conceptual Framework, with conservation-related practices occurring in sixty countries, in all continents except Antarctica. Practices of IPLC that are significant for biocultural approaches to pollinator conservation can be grouped into three categories: the practice of valuing diversity and fostering biocultural diversity; landscape management practices; and diversified farming systems. Particular IPLCs may use some or all of these practices. Policies that recognise customary tenure over traditional lands, strengthen Indigenous and Community Conserved Areas, promote heritage listing and support diversified farming within a food sovereignty approach, are among several identified that strengthen biocultural approaches to pollinator conservation, and thereby deliver mutual benefits for pollinators and people

The economic and cultural values of stingless bees (Hymenoptera: Meliponini) among ethnic groups of tropical America

Stingless honey bees— commonly known as stingless bees— have long provided food and materials to the inhabitants of tropical America. We conducted a literature search to codify available information, including non-peer reviewed ‘grey literature’, on the purported value of stingless bees to indigenous people. Among >400 species of Neotropical stingless bees several are widely used in beekeeping. Varied cultural and economic values are associated with their use, and in some cases husbandry, as a consequence of ongoing contact between people and these social insects. Adapting new species to husbandry is being attempted in many countries. The bees remain culturally important, and beliefs associated with them are significant for different groups, beyond utilization as commodities. We find values in food, craft, religion and medicine, with cultural values ranging from utilitarian to mythological.Values transmitted across generations allow cohesion and communal identity of native organisms associated with any indigenous society. Such cultural values seem in danger of extinction, primarily due to external factors. We provide examples of successful regional strategies in averting cultural and economic loss in natural human heritage, in this case bees that provide honey and other benefits. Preserving stingless bees and the cultural heritage around them provides a good example on how the sustainable use of native species can help in the development of indigenous communities. Bees are important agents for conservation of the environment

Nectar production dynamics and daily pattern of pollinator visits in Brazil nut (Bertholletia excelsa Bonpl.) plantations in Central Amazon: implications for fruit production

We investigated composition and secretion patterns of nectar in the Brazil nut tree (Bertholletia excelsa) and visitation patterns and glossa length of the main flower visitors along the anthesis, aiming to understand the implications for pollination and fruit production. Nectar sugar composition was dominated by sucrose and nectar secretion was continuous until 15:30 h, although flowers secreted, respectively, almost 50 and 80% of the total nectar volume and solutes in the hours immediately following flower opening, which coincides with peak flower visitation by bees. We observed a total of 19 bee species visiting the flowers to collect nectar throughout the day that can be considered pollinators. The three most abundant bee species were Xylocopa frontalis, Eufriesea flaviventris, and Eulaema mocsaryi that accounted for about 90% of the visits. In open flowers, nectar was generally scarce, encouraging bees to move among trees, and likely increasing xenogamous pollen transfer in natural habitats. However, in the large-scale Brazil nut tree plantation studied here, where genetically identical (clone) individuals are planted together in high densities, even where bees move between trees, they seem to promote functional geitonogamy, determining pollen limitation.Fil: Cavalcante, Marcelo C.. Universidad Federal Rural Pernambuco; Brasil. Universidade Estadual do Ceará; BrasilFil: Galetto, Leonardo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal; ArgentinaFil: Maués, Marcia M.. Ministerio da Agricultura Pecuaria e Abastecimento de Brasil. Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuaria; BrasilFil: Pacheco Filho, Alípio José S.. Universidade Estadual do Ceará; BrasilFil: Bomfim, Isac Gabriel A.. Universidade Estadual do Ceará; BrasilFil: Freitas, Breno M.. Universidade Estadual do Ceará; Brasi

High bee functional diversity buffers crop pollination services against Amazon deforestation

Predicting outcomes of land use change on biodiversity and ecosystem services remains a key priority for ecologists, but may be particularly challenging in diverse tropical ecosystems. Trait-based approaches are a key tool to meet this challenge. Such approaches seek functional mechanisms underpinning species’ responses to environmental disturbance and contributions to ecosystem services. Here, we use a functional trait approach to study effects of land use change on stingless bee communities and on pollination services to açaí palm (Euterpe oleracea, Arecaceae) in the eastern Brazilian Amazon. We compared traits of stingless bees visiting açaí inflorescences across a land use intensity gradient (low to high forest cover) to determine: (1) the role of traits in bee species’ responses to deforestation; (2) how deforestation affects functional composition of bee communities; and (3) whether bee traits better explain variation in açaí fruit production than species diversity metrics. We found that bee species’ responses to deforestation were non-random and predicted by body size, with small-sized bees more susceptible to forest loss, and changes in functional diversity of bee communities were important for pollination services. However, not all changes in functional diversity were associated with forest loss. Together, these results suggest that: (1) large tracts of minimally disturbed tropical rainforest are vital for the conservation of diverse stingless bee communities; (2) efficient pollination is contingent on bee species not only having divergent trait values (functional dispersion), but also traits’ relative abundance in communities (functional evenness); and (3) high functional diversity in stingless bee communities buffers açaí pollination services to loss of sensitive species. Thus, conservation strategies must focus on protecting wider biodiversity, not just ecosystem services, to guarantee conservation of native eusocial bee taxa. Doing so will safeguard crop pollination services, the pollination of native plant communities, and the long-term resilience of Amazon forest ecosystems

Areas requiring restoration efforts are a complementary opportunity to support the demand for pollination services in Brazil

Crop pollination is one of Nature’s Contributions to People (NCP) that reconciles biodiversity conservation and agricultural production. NCP benefits vary across space, including among distinct political-administrative levels within nations. Moreover, initiatives to restore ecosystems may enhance NCP provision, such as crop pollination delivered by native pollinators. We mapped crop pollination demand (PD), diversity of pollinator-dependent crops, and vegetation deficit (VD) (vis-a-vis Brazilian legal requirements) across all 5570 municipalities in Brazil. Pollinator-dependent crops represented ∼55% of the annual monetary value of agricultural production and ∼15% of the annual crop production. Municipalities with greater crop PD (i.e., higher degree of pollinator dependence of crop production) also had greater VD, associated with large properties and monocultures. In contrast, municipalities with a greater diversity of pollinator-dependent crops and predominantly small properties presented a smaller VD. Our results support that ecological restoration prompted by legal requirements offers great potential to promote crop productivity in larger properties. Moreover, conservation of vegetation remnants could support food security in small properties. We provided the first steps to identify spatial patterns linking biodiversity conservation and pollination service. Using Brazilian legal requirements as an example, we show that land-use management policies may be successfully used to ensure agricultural sustainability and crop production.Fil: Bergamo, Pedro J.. Jardim Botânico Do Rio de Janeiro; BrasilFil: Wolowski, Marina. Universidade Federal de Alfenas; BrasilFil: Tambosi, Leandro R.. Universidad Federal do Abc; BrasilFil: Garcia, Edenise. The Nature Conservancy Brasil; BrasilFil: Agostini, Kayna. Universidade Federal do São Carlos; BrasilFil: Garibaldi, Lucas Alejandro. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte. Instituto de Investigaciones en Recursos Naturales, Agroecología y Desarrollo Rural. - Universidad Nacional de Rio Negro. Instituto de Investigaciones en Recursos Naturales, Agroecología y Desarrollo Rural; ArgentinaFil: Knight, Tiffany M.. German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research ; Alemania. University Halle-Wittenberg; Alemania. Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research; AlemaniaFil: Nic Lughadha, Eimear. Royal Botanic Gardens; Reino UnidoFil: Oliveira, Paulo E. A. M.. Universidade Federal de Uberlandia (univ. Federal de Uberlandia);Fil: Marques, Marcia C. M.. Universidade Federal do Paraná; BrasilFil: Maruyama, Pietro K.. Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais; BrasilFil: Maués, Márcia M.. Embrapa; BrasilFil: Oppata, Alberto K.. Cooperativa Agrícola Mista de Tomé-Açu; BrasilFil: Rech, André R.. Federal University of the Jequitinhonha and Mucuri Valleys; BrasilFil: Saraiva, Antônio M.. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Silva, Felipe D. S.. Universidade Federal do Mato Grosso do Sul; BrasilFil: Sousa, Gizele. Cooperativa Agrícola Mista de Tomé-Açu; BrasilFil: Tsukahara, Rodrigo Y.. Fundaç ão ABC Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento Agropecuário; BrasilFil: Varassin, Isabela G.. Universidade Federal do Paraná; BrasilFil: Felipe Viana, Blandina. Universidade Federal da Bahia; BrasilFil: Freitas, Leandro. Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden; Brasi

Integrating public engagement to intensify pollination services through ecological restoration.

Globally, human activities impose threats to nature and the provision of ecosystem services, such as pollination. In this context, ecological restoration provides opportunities to create managed landscapes that maximize biodiversity conservation and sustainable agriculture, e.g., via provision of pollination services. Managing pollination services and restoration opportunities requires the engagement of distinct stakeholders embedded in diverse social institutions. Nevertheless, frameworks toward sustainable agriculture often overlook how stakeholders interact and access power in social arenas. We present a perspective integrating pollination services, ecological restoration, and public engagement for biodiversity conservation and agricultural production. We highlight the importance of a comprehensive assessment of pollination services, restoration opportunities identification, and a public engagement strategy anchored in institutional analysis of the social arenas involved in restoration efforts. Our perspective can therefore guide the implementation of practices from local to country scales to enhance biodiversity conservation and sustainable agriculture