Pollinator diversity and crop pollination services are at risk

Abstract

In a recent opinion article in TREE, Ghazoul [ 1 Ghazoul J. Buzziness as usual? Questioning the global pollination crisis. Trends Ecol. Evol. 2005; 20: 367-373 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (275) Google Scholar ] questions the existence of a global pollinator crisis and, in doing so, raises some important points about the uncertainty of human dependence upon pollination services. We agree with Ghazoul [ 1 Ghazoul J. Buzziness as usual? Questioning the global pollination crisis. Trends Ecol. Evol. 2005; 20: 367-373 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (275) Google Scholar ] that much uncertainty remains regarding pollinator–pollination declines. However, we think that his assessment draws biased conclusions for pollinator declines from existing studies, misrepresents the extent of agricultural reliance on animal pollination, and underestimates the extent of pollination reduction in intensive monocultures. Response to Steffan-Dewenter et al.: Questioning the global pollination crisisJaboury GhazoulTrends in Ecology & EvolutionDecember, 2005In BriefIn both the academic literature and the wider media, concerns about declining pollinator populations, loosely termed ‘the global pollination crisis’, have been recently highlighted [1–3]. It is implied by such reports that a consequence of these declines is the degradation of pollination as an ecosystem service: in other words, a loss of crop productivity. In my Opinion article in TREE [4], I comment on the foundation upon which these concerns are based, and argue that, although evidence for declines is strong for several pollinator species, others show considerable resistance to environmental change and disturbance. Full-Text PDF