From research to action: enhancing crop yield through wild pollinators

© The Ecological Society of America www.frontiersinecology.org F covers more than 35% of Earth’s ice-free terrestrial area, and agriculture is expanding and intensifying in many regions to meet the growing demands of human populations (FAO 2013). This trend threatens biodiversity and the ecosystem services on which agriculture depends, including crop pollination (Garibaldi et al. 2011a). Indeed, recent reviews have highlighted how multiple anthropogenic pressures lead to a decline in wild pollinators such as bees, flies, beetles, and butterflies (Vanbergen and the Insect Pollinators Initiative 2013). However, practices to enhance wild pollinators in agroecosystems are still in development (Kremen et al. 2007; FAO 2008; Menz et al. 2011), and considerable uncertainty remains regarding their effects on crop yield (production per area) and farmers’ profits. Here we review recent research on the topic, including the impacts of certain practices on wild pollinators, crop pollination, yield, and profits (WebFigure 1). We focus on practices that enhance the carrying capacity of habitats for wildinsect assemblages that may then provide crop pollination services; practices to conserve or manage a particular pollinator species are outside our scope although they have received attention elsewhere (eg Bohart 1972). We offer general science-based advice to land managers and policy makers and highlight knowledge gaps. Throughout, we emphasize the need to consider population-level processes, rather than just short-term behavioral responses of pollinators to floral resources.