Native pollinators alone provide full pollination on small-scale commercial cranberry (Ericaceae) farms

Abstract

AbstractCranberry (Vaccinium macrocarponAiton (Ericaceae)) requires insect pollen vectors to maximise fruit yield. In many areas, commercial producers use managed bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae) to supplement native pollinators. On the island of Newfoundland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, due to the small number of available honey bee hives and import restrictions on commercially reared bumble bees, the use of supplemental pollinators is rare. Four farms were studied for two years to identify key pollinators and determine the relationship between fruit yield and bee abundance. The most commonly collected bees were species ofBombusLatreille (Hymenoptera: Apidae), which buzz-pollinate and are likely the primary pollinator on these farms; thus, fruit yield was examined with respect to totalBombusabundance. Stigma loading was also used as a measure of pollinator effectiveness. Contrary to expectation, there was no relationship betweenBombusabundance or stigma loading and either fruit set or weight, but there was significant year-to-year variation. Other factors were likely more important in determining yield, and further research is needed to identify those. Under current conditions, native bees provide ample pollination services for maximal yield.