Conserved grasslands support similar pollinator diversity as pollinator-specific practice regardless of proximal cropland and pesticide exposure
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- Data Release: USGS data release - Plant and insect pollinator diversity data from Conservation Reserve Program fields across an agricultural gradient in eastern Iowa
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Abstract
Pollinator diversity and abundance are declining globally. Cropland agriculture and the corresponding use of agricultural pesticides may contribute to these declines, while increased pollinator habitat (flowering plants) can help mitigate them. Here we tested whether the relative effect of wildflower plantings on pollinator diversity and counts were modified by proportion of nearby agricultural land cover and pesticide exposure in 24 conserved grasslands in Iowa, USA. Compared with general grassland conservation practices, wildflower plantings led to only a 5% increase in pollinator diversity and no change in counts regardless of the proportion of cropland agriculture within a 1 km radius. Pollinator diversity increased earlier in the growing season and with per cent flower cover. Unexpectedly, neither insecticide nor total pesticide concentrations on above-ground passive samplers were related to pollinator diversity. However, pollinator community composition was most strongly related to date of sampling, total pesticide concentration, and forb or flower cover. Our results indicate very little difference in pollinator diversity between grassland conservation practices with and without wildflower plantings. Given the relatively high economic costs of wildflower plantings, our research provides initial evidence that investment in general grassland conservation may efficiently conserve pollinator diversity in temperate regions of intensive cropland agriculture.
Study Area
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Conserved grasslands support similar pollinator diversity as pollinator-specific practice regardless of proximal cropland and pesticide exposure |
| Series title | Royal Society Open Science |
| DOI | 10.1098/rsos.231093 |
| Volume | 10 |
| Issue | 11 |
| Year Published | 2023 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | The Royal Society Publishing |
| Contributing office(s) | California Water Science Center, Columbia Environmental Research Center, Fort Collins Science Center, New Jersey Water Science Center, Oregon Water Science Center, Central Midwest Water Science Center, Upper Midwest Water Science Center |
| Description | 231093, 12 p. |
| First page | 231093 |
| Country | United States |
| State | Iowa |
| Google Analytic Metrics | Metrics page |