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 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?
Abstract
Slugs represent one of the main pests for vegetable farmers. In Norway, the invasive Spanish slug, Arion vulgaris, is especially damaging and is listed as a severe threat on the Norwegian list of alien species. In small-scale, diversified horticultural systems, like market gardens and allotment gardens, pest problems may be exacerbated because of organic cultivation methods with limited use of conventional pest management. On the other hand, small-scale horticultural systems may foster greater local biodiversity through their diversified growing practices and limited pest management, and are often situated in areas more favourable to biodiversity compared to intensive, monocultural farmlands. Greater local biodiversity, in turn, might provide improved pest control by natural enemies. Carabid beetles are natural enemies of slugs, and earlier studies have shown that some species feed on eggs and juveniles of the Spanish slug. However, for many carabid beetles, it is unclear if, and to what extent, the Spanish slug, and other common slug pests, are preyed upon. In this project, we aim to: 1) quantify the abundance and species richness of carabid beetles in Norwegian market gardens and allotment gardens, 2) correlate carabid abundance and richness with slug abundance in market gardens, and 3) use molecular methods to establish whether common carabid species found in Norwegian smallscale horticultural systems contain slug DNA in their gut.
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.