Arlettaz Raphaël
Habitat amount mediates the effect of fragmentation on a pollinator’s reproductive performance, but not on its foraging behaviour
Project Number: Parcs Data Center 43746 / 4D CH-7103
| Project Type: |
Research_Project |
| Project Duration: |
01/01/2020 - 09/12/2020 project completed |
| Funding Source: |
SNSF , |
| Leading Institution: |
Division of Conservation Biology, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern |
| Project Leader: |
Prof. Raphaël Arlettaz
Division of Conservation Biology
Institut für Ökologie und Evolution
Universität Bern
Baltzerstrasse 6
3012 Bern
Phone: +41 (0) 31 631 31 61 ; +41 (0) 31 631 45 11
FAX: +41 (0) 31 631 45 35
e-Mail: raphael.arlettaz(at)iee.unibe.ch
http://www.ecolevol.unibe.ch |
Research Areas:
Disciplines:
Abstract:
Agricultural intensification, with its associated habitat loss and fragmentation, is among the most important drivers of the
ongoing pollination crisis. In this quasi-experimental study, conducted in intensively managed vineyards in southwestern
Switzerland, we tested the separate and interdependent effects of habitat amount and fragmentation on the foraging activity
and reproductive performance of bumblebee Bombus t. terrestris colonies. Based on a factorial design, we selected a series of
spatially replicated study sites across a dual gradient of habitat amount (area of ground-vegetated vineyards) and fragmentation
(density of ground-vegetated vineyard fields) in a landscape predominantly consisting of vineyards with bare grounds.
The foraging activity of individual bumblebees was measured using the radio frequency identification (RFID) technology,
and we assessed final colony size to measure reproductive performance. We found an interactive effect of habitat amount
and fragmentation on colony size. More specifically, the degree of fragmentation had a negative effect on bumblebee colony
size when the amount of habitat was low, while it had a weak positive effect on colony size in landscapes with high amounts
of habitat. At the level of individual vineyard fields, ground vegetation cover exerted a positive effect on bumblebee colony
size. Fragmentation, but not habitat amount, significantly influenced foraging activity, with more foraging trips in sites with
lower degrees of fragmentation. Our results emphasise the importance of studying the separate and interdependent effects of
habitat amount and fragmentation to understand their influence on pollinators,
Publications:
Maurer, C., Bosco, L., Klaus, E., Cushman, S. A., Arlettaz R., Jacot Al. (2021): Habitat amount mediates the effect of fragmentation on a pollinator’s reproductive performance, but not on its foraging behaviour. Oecologia (2020) 193:523–534.
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Last update: 4/5/22
Source of data: ProClim- Research InfoSystem (1993-2024)
Update the data of project: CH-7103
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