Abstract
Cocoa is strictly entomophilous but studies on the influence of the ecosystem on insect pollinators in cocoa production systems are limited. The abundance of cocoa pollinators and pod-set of cocoa as influenced by a gradient of farm distances from natural forest and proportion of plantain/banana clusters in or adjacent to cocoa farms were therefore investigated. Cocoa pollinators trapped were predominantly ceratopogonid midges hence, analyses were based on their population. Variation in farm distance to forest did neither influence ceratopogonid midge abundance nor cocoa pod-set. However, we found a positive relationship between pollinator abundance and fruit set and the proportion of plantain/banana intercropped with cocoa. The results suggest appropriate cocoa intercrop can enhance cocoa pollination, and the current farming system in Ghana can conveniently accommodate such interventions without significant changes in farm practices. download Appendices
Highlights
The estimated value of food crops directly consumed by humans attributed to insect pollination services in 2005 was US$ 153 billion, representing about 9.5% of total world production of human food (FAO, 2008)
The abundance of ceratopogonid midges did not correspond to variation in distance of farm from natural forest (Fig. 1b)
We obtained a positive association between ceratopogonid midges abundance and the number of plantain/banana clusters intercropped with cocoa
Summary
The estimated value of food crops directly consumed by humans attributed to insect pollination services in 2005 was US$ 153 billion, representing about 9.5% of total world production of human food (FAO, 2008). Reports of decline in pollinator populations in agro-ecosystems and consequential decrease in food crop production (Ahmad et al 2006; FAO 2008) suggest the languid nature of studies on natural pollination of cocoa should be intensified. Landscape approaches have hitherto been the most frequently emphasized interventions, through the conservation of native habitats (Aidoo 2008; Gemmill-Herren & Ochieng 2008; Klein et al 2003a; Kremen et al 2007). Studies focusing on bee pollinated crops such as melon (Kremen et al 2002), grapefruit (Chacoff & Aizen 2006), eggplant (GemmillHerren & Ochieng 2008) and coffee (Klein et al 2003a,b) show pollination services are influenced by gradients of distances between agricultural landscapes and natural forests
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
