Naturbaserte løsninger med fokus på pollineringstjenester i landbruket

As global agricultural systems face increasing pressure from multiple stressors like climate change and biodiversity loss, attention is brought upon strategies for integrating natural ecosystems and promoting their sustainability to support livelihoods and food production. This project explores opportunities and constraints to integrating agro-biodiversity in food production, in the context of pollinators. Research focus is centered on exploring the role of pollinators and the services they provide in agricultural systems. In the first year of the project period (2024), two field campaigns were conducted: 1. In the spring of 2024, pollination assessment surveys were carried out in an apple orchard in western Norway. Around 400 flowers were selected randomly, caged to exclude pollinators before blooming, and later exposed to observe visitation. Approximately 200 sessions over 1425 minutes of pollinator activity were recorded. During the surveys, the cages were removed to allow for pollinator visitation. Each recording captured the timing and species of each visitor. Upon visitation, the species of the visiting pollinator was recorded and the specimen sampled if not identified on site. After each visitation, the relevant flowers were bagged and picked after the formation of fruits to measure single visit effectiveness in terms of seed and fruit formation. 2. In coordination with the SamBi project, surveys of pollinator diversity and abundance, and plant-pollinator networks were recorded at 36 sites across Hallingdal with varying land use characteristics and in the previous year different densities of honeybee hives. Sampling was conducted over three periods from early May to late July using entomological nets along 50m transects to sample pollinators visiting flowers, and pan traps in blue, yellow and white colors were put out to capture the background community of pollinators. Specimens are currently being identified in the lab, and further fitness measurements will be undertaken. Datasets that have been generated from the project so far: 1. Pollinator visitation frequencies and single-visit effectiveness on fruit set within an apple orchard in western Norway 2. Pollinator diversity and abundance across different land use intensities and in the previous year different densities of honeybee hives across Hallingdal The project seeks to enhance our understanding of the role pollinators play in agriculture and explore their potential to improve the pollination of our food crops. By studying the interactions between different bee species, flowers and land use, the projects seek to promote sustainable solutions that can boost food production and preserve biodiversity.