Study

Bee preference for native versus exotic plants in restored agricultural hedgerows

  • Published source details Morandin L.A. & Kremen C. (2013) Bee preference for native versus exotic plants in restored agricultural hedgerows. Restoration Ecology, 21, 26-32.

Actions

This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

Action Category

Pollination: Plant hedgerows

Action Link
Mediterranean Farmland

Other biodiversity: Plant hedgerows

Action Link
Mediterranean Farmland
  1. Pollination: Plant hedgerows

    A replicated site comparison in 2009 in farmland in the Sacramento Valley, California, USA, found more bee species on native plants than on exotic plants in mature hedgerows. Implementation options: Species richness of bees was higher on native plants than on exotic plants in mature hedgerows, but not in new hedgerows (mature: 3.7 vs 1 species; new: 4.2 vs 2.8 species). Abundance of bees was higher on native than on exotic plants in both mature and new hedgerows (mature: 17 vs 3 individuals; new: 19 vs 9). Methods: Similar but not identical species of native flowering shrubs and forbs were planted in four mature hedgerows (305–550 m; planted in 1996) and four new hedgerows (350 m x unreported width; planted in 2008). New hedgerows were sampled three times (April–August) and mature hedgerows were sampled four times (May–July). In timed surveys (30 minutes/mature vs 60 minutes/new hedgerow), bees were netted if they touched the reproductive parts of a flower.

     

  2. Other biodiversity: Plant hedgerows

    A replicated site comparison in 2009 in farmland in the Sacramento Valley, California, USA, found higher coverage of exotic plants than native plants in newly planted hedgerows. Implementation options: Exotic plants had higher percent cover than native plants in new hedgerows, but not in mature hedgerows (percent cover not reported). Methods: Similar but not identical species of native flowering shrubs and forbs were planted in four mature hedgerows (305–550 m; planted in 1996) and four new hedgerows (350 m x unreported width; planted in 2008). Plants were sampled in fifty quadrats/hedgerow (1 x 1 m).

     

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