Author:
Kleijn David,Winfree Rachael,Bartomeus Ignasi,Carvalheiro Luísa G,Henry Mickaël,Isaacs Rufus,Klein Alexandra-Maria,Kremen Claire,M'Gonigle Leithen K,Rader Romina,Ricketts Taylor H,Williams Neal M,Lee Adamson Nancy,Ascher John S,Báldi András,Batáry Péter,Benjamin Faye,Biesmeijer Jacobus C,Blitzer Eleanor J,Bommarco Riccardo,Brand Mariëtte R,Bretagnolle Vincent,Button Lindsey,Cariveau Daniel P,Chifflet Rémy,Colville Jonathan F,Danforth Bryan N,Elle Elizabeth,Garratt Michael P.D.,Herzog Felix,Holzschuh Andrea,Howlett Brad G,Jauker Frank,Jha Shalene,Knop Eva,Krewenka Kristin M,Le Féon Violette,Mandelik Yael,May Emily A,Park Mia G,Pisanty Gideon,Reemer Menno,Riedinger Verena,Rollin Orianne,Rundlöf Maj,Sardiñas Hillary S,Scheper Jeroen,Sciligo Amber R,Smith Henrik G,Steffan-Dewenter Ingolf,Thorp Robbin,Tscharntke Teja,Verhulst Jort,Viana Blandina F,Vaissière Bernard E,Veldtman Ruan,Ward Kimiora L.,Westphal Catrin,Potts Simon G
Abstract
Abstract
There is compelling evidence that more diverse ecosystems deliver greater benefits to people, and these ecosystem services have become a key argument for biodiversity conservation. However, it is unclear how much biodiversity is needed to deliver ecosystem services in a cost-effective way. Here we show that, while the contribution of wild bees to crop production is significant, service delivery is restricted to a limited subset of all known bee species. Across crops, years and biogeographical regions, crop-visiting wild bee communities are dominated by a small number of common species, and threatened species are rarely observed on crops. Dominant crop pollinators persist under agricultural expansion and many are easily enhanced by simple conservation measures, suggesting that cost-effective management strategies to promote crop pollination should target a different set of species than management strategies to promote threatened bees. Conserving the biological diversity of bees therefore requires more than just ecosystem-service-based arguments.
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Subject
General Physics and Astronomy,General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology,General Chemistry