Designing multi-purpose habitats: utilisation of wild bird seed species by pollinating insects

Pywell, R. F. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6431-9959; Meek, W .R.; Hulmes, L.; Nowakowski, M.. 2010 Designing multi-purpose habitats: utilisation of wild bird seed species by pollinating insects. In: AAB 100. Agri-environment schemes - what have they achieved and where do we go from here? Association of Applied Biologists, 421-426. (Aspects of Applied Biology, 100).

Full text not available from this repository.

Abstract/Summary

There are now many competing pressures on farmland to provide space for urban development, transport, wildlife habitat, and a wide range of essential ecosystem goods and services. Future agri-environment schemes will need to be multi-functional and more efficient in their use of the land resource. We present the results of an experiment to examine the feasibility of developing high quality, multi-purpose habitats for both birds and pollinating insects on field margins. Foraging activity of bumblebees and butterflies was recorded in stands of nine seed crops species and four pollen- and nectar-rich species between May and September. Most perennial species did not flower until year 2 when they provided a similar flower resource to that of the annual species. Short-tongued bees showed a marked preference for annual seed crop species. Long-tongued bees showed a significant preference for perennial legumes. Butterfly abundance was also highest on the perennial legumes.

Item Type:	Publication - Book Section
Programmes:	CEH Topics & Objectives 2009 - 2012 > Biodiversity > BD Topic 3 - Managing Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in a Changing Environment > BD - 3.2 - Develop and test practical measures to ameliorate the effects ...
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	Pywell
Additional Keywords:	Pollination service, seed resource, flowers, bumblebees, birds
NORA Subject Terms:	Agriculture and Soil Science Ecology and Environment
Related URLs:	Publisher
Date made live:	29 Apr 2010 10:44 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/9637

Actions (login required)

View Item

Document Downloads

More statistics for this item...