Pollination ecosystem services in South African agricultural systems

Authors

  • Annalie Melin 1. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Kirstenbosch Research Centre, Cape Town, South Africa 2. Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
  • Mathieu Rouget Centre for Invasion Biology, School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
  • Jeremy J. Midgley Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
  • John S. Donaldson 1. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Kirstenbosch Research Centre, Cape Town, South Africa 2. Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/sajs.2014/20140078

Keywords:

pollination services, honeybees, supporting ecosystem services, deciduous fruit, landscape level floral resources

Abstract

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.

Published

2014-11-26

Issue

Section

Review Article

How to Cite

Melin, A., Rouget, M., Midgley, J. J., & Donaldson, J. S. (2014). Pollination ecosystem services in South African agricultural systems. South African Journal of Science, 110(11/12), 9. https://doi.org/10.1590/sajs.2014/20140078
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