Pollination ecosystem services in South African agricultural systems

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dc.contributor.authorMelin, Annalie
dc.contributor.authorRouget, Mathieu
dc.contributor.authorMidgley, Jeremy J
dc.contributor.authorDonaldson, John S
dc.date.accessioned2021-10-08T07:16:09Z
dc.date.available2021-10-08T07:16:09Z
dc.date.issued2014
dc.description.abstractInsect pollinators, both managed and wild, have become a focus of global scientific, political and media attention because of their apparent decline and the perceived impact of this decline on crop production. Crop pollination by insects is an essential ecosystem service that increases the yield and quality of approximately 35% of crops worldwide. Pollinator declines are a consequence of multiple environmental pressures, e.g. habitat transformation and fragmentation, loss of floral resources, pesticides, pests and diseases, and climate change. Similar environmental pressures are faced in South Africa where there is a high demand for pollination services. In this paper, we synthesise data on the importance of different pollinators as a basis for services to South African crops and on the status of managed honeybees. We also focus on insect pollination services for the Western Cape deciduous fruit industry, which is worth ZAR9800 million per year and is heavily reliant on pollination services from managed honeybees. We discuss landscape and regional level floral resources needed to maintain sufficient numbers of managed honeybee colonies. In summary, the available literature shows a lack of data on diversity and abundance of crop pollinators, and a lack of long-term data to assess declines. We highlight key areas that require research in South Africa and emphasise the critical role of floral resource availability at the landscape and regional scale to sustain pollinators. We conclude that understanding the dynamics of how floral resources are used will help inform how landscapes could be better managed in order to provide long-term sustainable pollination services.
dc.identifier.apacitationMelin, A., Rouget, M., Midgley, J. J., & Donaldson, J. S. (2014). Pollination ecosystem services in South African agricultural systems. <i>South African Journal of Science</i>, 110(43416), 1 - 9. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/34783en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationMelin, Annalie, Mathieu Rouget, Jeremy J Midgley, and John S Donaldson "Pollination ecosystem services in South African agricultural systems." <i>South African Journal of Science</i> 110, 43416. (2014): 1 - 9. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/34783en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationMelin, A., Rouget, M., Midgley, J.J. & Donaldson, J.S. 2014. Pollination ecosystem services in South African agricultural systems. <i>South African Journal of Science.</i> 110(43416):1 - 9. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/34783en_ZA
dc.identifier.issn0038-2353
dc.identifier.issn1996-7489
dc.identifier.ris TY - Journal Article AU - Melin, Annalie AU - Rouget, Mathieu AU - Midgley, Jeremy J AU - Donaldson, John S AB - Insect pollinators, both managed and wild, have become a focus of global scientific, political and media attention because of their apparent decline and the perceived impact of this decline on crop production. Crop pollination by insects is an essential ecosystem service that increases the yield and quality of approximately 35% of crops worldwide. Pollinator declines are a consequence of multiple environmental pressures, e.g. habitat transformation and fragmentation, loss of floral resources, pesticides, pests and diseases, and climate change. Similar environmental pressures are faced in South Africa where there is a high demand for pollination services. In this paper, we synthesise data on the importance of different pollinators as a basis for services to South African crops and on the status of managed honeybees. We also focus on insect pollination services for the Western Cape deciduous fruit industry, which is worth ZAR9800 million per year and is heavily reliant on pollination services from managed honeybees. We discuss landscape and regional level floral resources needed to maintain sufficient numbers of managed honeybee colonies. In summary, the available literature shows a lack of data on diversity and abundance of crop pollinators, and a lack of long-term data to assess declines. We highlight key areas that require research in South Africa and emphasise the critical role of floral resource availability at the landscape and regional scale to sustain pollinators. We conclude that understanding the dynamics of how floral resources are used will help inform how landscapes could be better managed in order to provide long-term sustainable pollination services. DA - 2014 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town IS - 43416 J1 - South African Journal of Science LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PY - 2014 SM - 0038-2353 SM - 1996-7489 T1 - Pollination ecosystem services in South African agricultural systems TI - Pollination ecosystem services in South African agricultural systems UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/34783 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/34783
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationMelin A, Rouget M, Midgley JJ, Donaldson JS. Pollination ecosystem services in South African agricultural systems. South African Journal of Science. 2014;110(43416):1 - 9. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/34783.en_ZA
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Biological Sciences
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Science
dc.sourceSouth African Journal of Science
dc.source.journalissue43416
dc.source.journalvolume110
dc.source.pagination1 - 9
dc.source.urihttps://dx.doi.org/10.1590/sajs.2014/20140078
dc.subject.otherpollination services
dc.subject.otherhoneybees
dc.subject.othersupporting ecosystem services
dc.subject.otherdeciduous fruit
dc.subject.otherlandscape level floral resources
dc.titlePollination ecosystem services in South African agricultural systems
dc.typeJournal Article
uct.type.publicationResearch
uct.type.resourceJournal Article
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