Crop pollination performed by wild pollinators is arguably the best understood animal-based ecosystem service. Pollination by wild pollinators originating from natural habitats is recognised as an important ecosystem service; in contrast, managed pollinators – overwhelmingly represented by Apis mellifera (the European honey bee) – are regarded by most as an agricultural input.1-3 Globally, both wild and managed insect pollinators are important for crops requiring pollination.2,4-6 The principal difference between these two pollination services is that wild pollinators are residents while managed pollinators are imported for crop pollination (Figure 1). However, there are cases in which managed honey bee hives are kept at permanent locations. These managed honey bees, akin to resident wild pollinators, follow the available forage resources found within flying distance
Are managed pollinators ultimately linked to the pollination ecosystem service paradigm?
Year: 2018
