POLLINATORS POLLINATION AND FOOD PRODUCTION

THE ASSESSMENT REPORT ON POLLINATORS, POLLINATION AND FOOD PRODUCTION
TABLE 6.4.4
Summary of evidence for responses relating to pollinator management and beekeeping
Response
(section of chapter
6)
Main driver(s)
(section of
chapter 2)
Type of
response Status Scientific evidence
Improve managed
bee husbandry:
general management
(6.4.4.1.1)
Pollinator
management
(2.3.3)
Technical
Established,
tested, or
proposed
depending on
specific response
Management techniques can reduce losses of managed
bees and increase production of hive products (WELL
ESTABLISHED), but many specific techniques remain untested
or poorly tested, especially in bees other than honey bees
Improve managed bee
husbandry: manage
disease threats
(6.4.4.1.1.2)
Pollinator
parasites and
pathogens
(2.3.1 And
2.3.2)
Technical
Established,
tested, or
proposed
depending on
specific response
Disease management techniques can reduce morbidity /
mortality of managed pollinators (WELL ESTABLISHED), but
many specific techniques and treatments remain untested or
poorly tested
Improve managed
bee husbandry:
genetic management
(6.4.4.1.1.3)
Pollinator
management
(2.3.3)
Technical
Established,
tested, or
proposed
depending on
specific response
Successful honey bee breeding programs have been carried out
for disease resistance and other traits (WELL ESTABLISHED);
strong evidence that genetic diversity enhances disease
resistance in social bees (WELL ESTABLISHED); some
evidence that locally adapted strains can outperform non-local
strains of honey bees (ESTABLISHED BUT INCOMPLETE);
and preliminary work has been done in creation of transgenic
honey bees (INCONCLUSIVE). Maintenance of breeding efforts
in typical apiary situations is challenging and there remains no
testing of management for genetic diversity or of transgenic bees.
Improve managed
bee husbandry:
manage pesticide
threats (at the level
of the beekeeper or
pollinator manager,
distinct from general
management of
pesticide threats)
(6.4.4.1.1.4)
Improve managed
bee husbandry:
management of
pollinator symbionts
(6.4.4.1.1.5)
Improve pollination
efficacy of managed
pollinators
(6.4.4.1.2)
Develop alternative
managed pollinators
(both existing and
new)
(6.4.4.1.3)
Provide resources for
managed pollinators
(nectar/nesting)
(6.4.4.1.4)
Pesticides
(2.2.1)
Pollinator
management
(2.3.3)
Pollinator
management
(2.3.3)
Pollinator
management
(2.3.3)
Land use and
its changes
(2.1.1)
Technical Established Improved diet confers some pesticide resistance to bees
(ESTABLISHED BUT INCOMPLETE EVIDENCE); veterinary
prophylaxis or treatment (i.e. antidotes) to limit or prevent
pesticide damage could be developed. N/A (INCONCLUSIVE)
Technical Proposed Gut bacterial communities of bees can help to support health
(ESTABLISHED BUT INCOMPLETE), and macro-symbionts
such as mites and pseudoscorpions could potentially improve
colony or individual pollinator health (INCONCLUSIVE). No
known explicit testing of management interventions.
Technical
Technical
- Technicalsocial
/
behavioural
Established,
tested, or
proposed
depending on
specific response
Established and
proposed; unclear
how established
information would
transfer to new
developments
Tested
These actions are focused on improving plant pollination
outcomes, rather than on pollinator outcomes. They include
optimizing pollinator stocking densities and configurations
(ESTABLISHED BUT INCOMPLETE EVIDENCE); chemical
attractants and feeding adjuvants (INCONCLUSIVE);
and adjustment of glasshouse / polytunnel environmental
parameters such as lighting, temperature, and humidity
(ESTABLISHED BUT INCOMPLETE) to increase pollination and
crop production.
Management strategies for several previously unmanaged
pollinator species have been developed over the last 30
years. While there is high confidence that previous efforts
were successful, it is unclear how that will translate to new
developments. ESTABLISHED BUT INCOMPLETE
While there is strong evidence that enhanced resource provision
on farms can increase pollinator diversity and abundance, and
widespread agreement among migratory beekeepers for the
need for greater access to floral resources, there is no direct
evidence as yet that increased resource provision will improve
outcomes for managed pollinators ESTABLISHED BUT
INCOMPLETE
407
6. RESPONSES TO RISKS AND OPPORTUNITIES ASSOCIATED
WITH POLLINATORS AND POLLINATION
Boost native
pollinators by
translocation
(6.4.4.1.5)
Pollinator
management
(2.3.3)
Technical Proposed Pollinators could be moved between locations to enhance plant
pollination or pollinator population outcomes (distinct from
migratory beekeeping) INCONCLUSIVE
Regulate import of
hive pests & trade in
managed pollinators
(6.4.4.2)
Pollinator
management
(2.3.3)
Legal
Established;
proposed
Can prevent or limit the spread of parasites and pathogens of
managed pollinators. ESTABLISHED BUT INCOMPLETE
Product certification
for products from
managed pollinators
(6.4.4.3)
Pollinator
management
(2.3.3)
Economic Proposed Certification improves livelihoods for beekeepers and
other pollinator managers, but no formal assessment if
certification improves pollinator or plant pollination outcomes
ESTABLISHED BUT INCOMPLETE