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Parallel declines in pollinators and insect-pollinated plants in Britain and the Netherlands

Biesmeijer, JC; Roberts, SPM; Reemer, M; Ohlemuller, R; Edwards, M; Peeters, T; Schaffers, AP; Potts, SG; Kleukers, R; Thomas, CD; Settele, J; Kunin, WE

Authors

JC Biesmeijer

SPM Roberts

M Reemer

R Ohlemuller

M Edwards

T Peeters

AP Schaffers

SG Potts

R Kleukers

CD Thomas

J Settele

WE Kunin



Abstract

Despite widespread concern about declines in pollination services, little is known about the patterns of change in most pollinator assemblages. By studying bee and hoverfly assemblages in Britain and the Netherlands, we found evidence of declines (pre-versus post-1980) in local bee diversity in both countries; however, divergent trends were observed in hoverflies. Depending on the assemblage and location, pollinator declines were most frequent in habitat and flower specialists, in univoltine species, and/or in nonmigrants. In conjunction with this evidence, outcrossing plant species that are reliant on the declining pollinators have themselves declined relative to other plant species. Taken together, these findings strongly suggest a causal connection between local extinctions of functionally linked plant and pollinator species.

Citation

Biesmeijer, J., Roberts, S., Reemer, M., Ohlemuller, R., Edwards, M., Peeters, T., …Kunin, W. (2006). Parallel declines in pollinators and insect-pollinated plants in Britain and the Netherlands. Science, 313(5785), 351-354. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1127863

Journal Article Type Article
Publication Date Jul 1, 2006
Deposit Date May 18, 2007
Journal Science
Print ISSN 0036-8075
Electronic ISSN 1095-9203
Publisher American Association for the Advancement of Science
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 313
Issue 5785
Pages 351-354
DOI https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1127863