Population decline of crop bee POLLINATORS - Declinamiento de la población de POLINIZADORES de los cultivos

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Bees are the main pollinators in nature, being of fundamental importance of

many agricultural crops around the world, causing improvements in the

productivity of these crops. The pollination by bees contributes to improving

the quality and / or quantity of produced fruits and seeds. However, despite

all importance, the bees are in the process of disappearing in several parts  

the world, mainly in Europe and in some countries in North America. Recent

surveys are showing a large decline in native bees and honeybees (Apis

mellifera), mainly as a result of environmental changes, that cause severe

negative effects on the availability of food for the bees. So, this review aims

to reinforce the importance of bees in crop pollination, and warn about the

current situation and the population decline of different groups of these

important pollinators.

Source: Mikail Olinda de Oliveira, Acta Apicola Brasilica, 2015. Full text: http://www.gvaa.com.br/revista/index.php/APB

Crucial role of nocturnal pollination in a wild shrub related to BLUEBERRIES - Papel crucial de la polinización nocturna en un arbusto silvestre emparentado con los ARÁNDANOS

Photo source: http://vaplantatlas.org

Studies of pollination biology are largely diurnally biased, especially in plant species whose flowers conform to diurnal pollination syndromes. Though these syndromes can be useful in generating hypotheses regarding a species’ primary pollinators, they may also lead to incorrect assumptions. This study explores the relative contributions of diurnal and nocturnal pollination to fruit set in Lyonia lucida, an ericaceous shrub of the southeastern United States whose floral form suggests pollination by bumble bees. Floral visitation to L. lucida and pollen loads of visitors were quantified in a population of the species in Central Florida (U.S.A.), and the relative contributions of diurnal and nocturnal pollination tested. Mating system characteristics of L. lucida were also examined. Results show L. lucida flowers are visited mainly by nocturnal moths, who are capable of carrying large pollen loads, and nocturnal pollination is the primary driver of fruit set. In addition L. lucida at the study site shows severe barriers to selfing and strong pollen limitation. This is the first time a population of an ericaceous species has been shown to be pollinated primarily by nocturnal floral visitors and suggests pollination biologists should not be so quick to discount these potentially important pollinators.
Source: John W. Benning. 2015. The American Midland Naturalist 174(2):204-217. http://www.bioone.org