| Abstract Detail
Ecology Fenster, Charles [1]. Pollinator contribution to the yield of the new oil crop Brassica carinata. We investigated the contribution of pollinators to carinata yield and in turn whether this nectar and pollen-providing flower contributes to pollinator health. In 2017 and 2018 we planted 19 and 16 x 1-acre carinata plots, respectively, in eastern South Dakota within 30 miles of Brookings. We quantified pollinator contributions to carinata yield across three common agricultural practices, Till vs. No-Till, Seed treated with neonicotinoid insecticide vs. Untreated seed, and fields with Honey Bee hives added vs. not added in a fully factorial design. To determine the contribution of pollinators to carinata yield we compared yield with and without pollinators and quantified the relationship between yield and number of pollinator visits. We found that pollinator exclusion severely depressed seed yield. High pollinator visitation and high pollinator and insect diversity in our plots significantly increases yield. An increasingly diverse landscape (more natural area, more types of crops) results in increased pollinator and insect diversity. Furthermore there is a direct positive relationship between landscape diversity and carianta yield. Sites with honey bee hive supplementation, seed treatment and tilling show high yields. However, these farming practices decoupled ecosystem services provided by pollinators and become dispensable with increasing insect diversity. Carinata provides important resources to increasing honey bee hive health but hives exposed to neonicotinoid insecticide had lower hive mass than hives in carinata fields without neonicotinoid treatment.
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Related Links:
CBFenster Lab
1 - South Dakota State University, Department of Biology and Microbioloby, Dairy Science building, SDSU, Brookings, South Dakota, 57007
Keywords:
Pollination
Landscape ecology
Pollinator health
pollinator
crop yield.
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: ECO1, Ecology 1: Species Interactions
Location: Tucson A/Starr Pass
Date: Monday, July 29th, 2019
Time: 10:30 AM
Number: ECO1008
Abstract ID:1080
Candidate for Awards:None |
