Campbell Alistair John, Wilby Andrew, Sutton Peter, Wäckers Felix
Embrapa Amazônia Oriental, Tv. Dr Enéas Pinheiro, S/N, Belém, PA 66095-100, Brazil.
Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, UK.
Insects. 2017 Sep 20;8(3):101. doi: 10.3390/insects8030101.
Flower strips are commonly recommended to boost biodiversity and multiple ecosystem services (e.g., pollination and pest control) on farmland. However, significant knowledge gaps remain regards the extent to which they deliver on these aims. Here, we tested the efficacy of flower strips that targeted different subsets of beneficial arthropods (pollinators and natural enemies) and their ecosystem services in cider apple orchards. Treatments included mixes that specifically targeted: (1) pollinators ('concealed-nectar plants'); (2) natural enemies ('open-nectar plants'); or (3) both groups concurrently (i.e., 'multi-functional' mix). Flower strips were established in alleyways of four orchards and compared to control alleyways (no flowers). Pollinator (e.g., bees) and natural enemy (e.g., parasitoid wasps, predatory flies and beetles) visitation to flower strips, alongside measures of pest control (aphid colony densities, sentinel prey predation), and fruit production, were monitored in orchards over two consecutive growing seasons. Targeted flower strips attracted either pollinators or natural enemies, whereas mixed flower strips attracted both groups in similar abundance to targeted mixes. Natural enemy densities on apple trees were higher in plots containing open-nectar plants compared to other treatments, but effects were stronger for non-aphidophagous taxa. Predation of sentinel prey was enhanced in all flowering plots compared to controls but pest aphid densities and fruit yield were unaffected by flower strips. We conclude that 'multi-functional' flower strips that contain flowering plant species with opposing floral traits can provide nectar and pollen for both pollinators and natural enemies, but further work is required to understand their potential for improving pest control services and yield in cider apple orchards.
人们普遍建议使用花卉带，以促进农田生物多样性和多种生态系统服务（如授粉和害虫控制）。然而，在花卉带实现这些目标的程度方面，仍存在重大知识空白。在此，我们测试了针对不同有益节肢动物（传粉者和天敌）子集及其生态系统服务的花卉带在苹果酒果园中的功效。处理措施包括专门针对以下方面的混合物：（1）传粉者（“隐藏花蜜植物”）；（2）天敌（“开放花蜜植物”）；或（3）同时针对这两组（即“多功能”混合物）。在四个果园的巷道中设置了花卉带，并与对照巷道（无花）进行比较。在连续两个生长季节中，对果园中传粉者（如蜜蜂）和天敌（如寄生蜂、捕食性苍蝇和甲虫）对花卉带的访问情况，以及害虫控制措施（蚜虫群落密度、哨兵猎物捕食情况）和果实产量进行了监测。有针对性的花卉带吸引了传粉者或天敌，而混合花卉带吸引了两组，其数量与有针对性的混合物相似。与其他处理相比，含有开放花蜜植物的地块中苹果树上的天敌密度更高，但对非食蚜类群的影响更强。与对照相比，所有开花地块中哨兵猎物的捕食情况都有所增强，但害虫蚜虫密度和果实产量不受花卉带的影响。我们得出结论，包含具有相反花部特征的开花植物物种的“多功能”花卉带可以为传粉者和天敌提供花蜜和花粉，但需要进一步开展工作，以了解其在改善苹果酒果园害虫控制服务和产量方面的潜力。
