Bjørn Arild Hatteland
Research Scientist
(+47) 404 79 306
bjorn.hatteland@nibio.no
Place
Bergen
Visiting address
Thormøhlensgate 55, 5006 Bergen
Authors
Linn Vassvik Anders Nielsen Michael P. D. Garratt Bjørn Arild Hatteland Joseph Chipperfield Erik Trond AschehougAbstract
Apples are dependent upon pollinators for the transfer of pollen between cultivars to ensure high quality fruit production. Agricultural intensification has reduced the availability of stable floral resources for wild bees, leading to widespread declines of important pollinators of apples. Managed honeybees are commonly used to supplement pollination services in apple orchards, but honeybees are less efficient pollinators compared to wild bees. We investigated whether increased flower abundance in the understory vegetation of apple orchards can increase pollinator activity to apple flowers. We compared bee visitation in five orchards in Eastern Norway: three unmowed orchards, and two mowed orchards. In unmowed orchards, dandelions ( Taraxacum spp.) dominated the understory vegetation. Bee observations were conducted on the understory vegetation and apple trees, via manual observations and time-lapse cameras. Wild bees preferentially visited apple flowers over dandelions, while honeybees did not differ in their visits to apple flowers and dandelion flowers. We also found that the abundance of dandelion flowers in the understory increased visits by wild bees to apple flowers. Taken together, this suggests that within orchard floral resources do not compete for pollinators but instead increase apple visitation and improve pollination success. Our results highlight the importance of managing apple orchards for wild bee populations and the potential short-term benefits of understory floral resources on apple production. Implications for insect conservation Our results show that understory vegetation should be left unmowed to increase pollination of apple flowers and provide pollinators with alternate floral resources before, during, and after apple flowering.
Authors
Linn Vassvik Anders Nielsen Michael Garratt Bjørn Arild Hatteland Joseph Chipperfield Erik Trond AschehougAbstract
In 1968 Free published a paper titled "Dandelion as a competitor to fruit trees for bee visits", and since then mwoing the understory vegetation has been common practice in apple orchards. However, Free's study only included honeybees, and recent research shows that apple flowers need a diverse pollinator community for optimal quality and yield. Wild bees need a diverse floral diet to survive, raising the following questions: Do wild bees also prefer dandelions over apple flowers? And will dandelions compete with apple flowers when all pollinators are considered?
Authors
Linn Vassvik Bjørn Arild Hatteland Erik Trond Aschehoug Anders Nielsen Anne Mathilde KnudsenAbstract
Eple er Norges mest produserte frukt, likevel er de fleste eplene vi spiser importerte. Kan nye eplesorter og tilrettelegging for villbier øke produksjonen og derigjennom forbedre Norges selvforsyningsgrad?
Division of Food Production and Society
The role of diversified small-scale horticulture in a transition towards more sustainable food systems with healthier diets (SmallHort)
SmallHort investigates how diversified small-scale horticulture can contribute to more sustainable food systems, healthier diets, stronger local communities and increased food preparedness in Norway.
Division of Biotechnology and Plant Health
Pesticides in buffer zones and exposure of beneficial insects
The project is aimed at the Action Plan for Sustainable Use of Pesticides and its goal of promoting sustainable use of pesticides and the call's scientific priorities to increase knowledge about the effect of pesticide use on habitats for beneficial insects and their activity.
Division of Biotechnology and Plant Health
IPM-fruit: IPM strategies for future fruit production
IPM fruit will investigate how preventive and alternative control measures can be used for sustainable fruit production. The project will study how natural enemies, physical control, and biologicals as well as combinations of these can be best applied under Norwegian conditions. The project will be carried out in collaboration with the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), the Norwegian advisory service (NLR), NIAB East Malling (UK), IRTA (Sapin), and also in close collaboration with fruit growers.