Effective Pollinators Research Articles

Cockroach pollination ensures sexual reproduction in the non-photosynthetic plant Balanophora tobiracola.

While Coleoptera, Diptera, Hymenoptera, and Lepidoptera have traditionally been recognized as key pollinators, recent studies suggest that other insect groups, such as Blattodea (cockroaches), may also play a significant role. However, direct evidence of fruit set resulting from cockroach pollination remains limited, even in plants presumed to rely on this mode of pollination. This study investigated the breeding system of the non-photosynthetic plant Balanophora tobiracola on Yakushima Island, Japan, with a particular focus on the potential occurrence of agamospermy. Additionally, the research rigorously evaluates the pollination effectiveness of cockroaches and ants in B. tobiracola by assessing reproductive success exclusively through their visits. Pollination experiments revealed high fruit set even under emasculation, indicating that agamospermy ensures seed production. However, B. tobiracola still relies heavily on pollinator activity for sexual reproduction. Ants and cockroaches were identified as effective pollinators, whereas contributions of pyralid moths, crane flies, and nitidulid beetles-whose larvae consume B. tobiracola infructescences-were negligible. Notably, a single visit from certain cockroach species significantly enhanced pollination. The above findings demonstrate that B. tobiracola is effectively pollinated by cockroaches and ants. Combining unusual pollinators with agamospermy likely facilitates the reproductive success of B. tobiracola in dense forest understories where typical pollinators, like bees, are scarce. Our results underscore the need to reassess the role of agamospermy as reproductive assurance and the significance of cockroaches and ants as pollinators, particularly for plants in shaded understory habitats.

Investigating the effects of diurnal and nocturnal pollinators on male and female reproductive success and on floral trait selection in Silene dioica

Investigating the effects of diurnal and nocturnal pollinators on male and female reproductive success and on floral trait selection in Silene dioica

Impact of Seasonal Atmospheric Factors and Photoperiod on Floral Biology, Plant-Pollinator Interactions, and Plant Reproduction on Turnera ulmifolia L. (Passifloraceae).

Reproductive traits and plant-pollinator interactions largely depend on seasonal weather conditions, which are species-specific. Turnera ulmifolia is an ornamental plant distributed worldwide. There is little information about plant species' reproductive ecology and environmental factors' impact on it. Here, we aimed to examine the effects of seasonal atmospheric factors (e.g., temperature, light, relative humidity, rainfall) and photoperiod on flowering, interactions with flower visitors, and the reproductive success of Turnera ulmifolia in West Bengal, India. Flowering intensity peaked in hot summers and dropped in cold winters, correlating positively with temperature and humidity. Flower opening and closing occurred earlier on hot days, while flower longevity increased in winter, showing a negative correlation with temperature and humidity. Pollen and ovule production were lower in cold weather, positively linked to temperature and humidity. The self-compatible plant was moderately dependent on pollinators and had no pollination deficit in open conditions. Visitor abundance, richness, and diversity varied season-wise, with higher values during spring-summer. Based on pollinating agents, the plant showed multiple pollination modes (e.g., melittophily, myophily, myrmecophily, and psychophily). Effective pollinators were Amegilla zonata, Borbo cinnara, Halictus acrocephalus, Nomia (Curvinomia) strigata, and Tetragonula iridipennis. The fruit set (%) did not differ significantly season-wise, but the seed set remained higher in the hot days of summer than in cold winter. Therefore, it can be concluded that atmospheric factors and photoperiod significantly impact floral traits, plant-pollinator interactions, and plant reproduction.

An AI-Based Digital Scanner for Varroa destructor Detection in Beekeeping.

Beekeeping is a crucial agricultural practice that significantly enhances environmental health and food production through effective pollination by honey bees. However, honey bees face numerous threats, including exotic parasites, large-scale transportation, and common agricultural practices that may increase the risk of parasite and pathogen transmission. A major threat is the Varroa destructor mite, which feeds on honey bee fat bodies and transmits viruses, leading to significant colony losses. Detecting the parasite and defining the intervention thresholds for effective treatment is a difficult and time-consuming task; different detection methods exist, but they are mainly based on human eye observations, resulting in low accuracy. This study introduces a digital portable scanner coupled with an AI algorithm (BeeVS) used to detect Varroa mites. The device works through image analysis of a sticky sheet previously placed under the beehive for some days, intercepting the Varroa mites that naturally fall. In this study, the scanner was tested for 17 weeks, receiving sheets from 5 beehives every week, and checking the accuracy, reliability, and speed of the method compared to conventional human visual inspection. The results highlighted the high repeatability of the measurements (R2 ≥ 0.998) and the high accuracy of the BeeVS device; when at least 10 mites per sheet were present, the device showed a cumulative percentage error below 1%, compared to approximately 20% for human visual observation. Given its repeatability and reliability, the device can be considered a valid tool for beekeepers and scientists, offering the opportunity to monitor many beehives in a short time, unlike visual counting, which is done on a sample basis.

Pollination effectiveness affects the level of generalisation of a plant species with phenotypically plastic flowers

Pollination effectiveness affects the level of generalisation of a plant species with phenotypically plastic flowers

Seasonal dynamics of arthropods in Lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) and nutritional link to rodent foraging

Lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) is a highly nutritive crop with more vitamins and minerals used as a fodder legume since it is available throughout the year. In the Coimbatore district farmers prefer lucerne as a fodder crop because of its quality, year-round production, and seed yield fetches a high price. The monitoring study on lucerne crop pests, natural enemies and pollinators was conducted at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore for three seasons from October 2021 to June 2024. The major sucking pests observed in Lucerne were aphids (Aphis craccivora Koch) and stink bugs (Nezara virudula, (L.)) and the natural enemy observed was coccinellid predators (Cheilomenes sexmaculata (Fabricius)). Natural enemies such as the Ladybird beetle (Coccinella repanda Thunberg) and Paper wasp (Polistes exclamans Vierick) were also documented as crucial in regulating these pest populations. The study also observed a diverse range of pollinators including the Alfalfa Leafcutter bee (Megachile rotundata (Fabricius)), various butterflies, and several species of bees that are vital for effective pollination and enhanced crop quality. The population of aphids and stink bugs ranged from 0.00 to 1.47 and from 0.00 to 1.35, respectively, from April to May. In contrast, from November to February, the aphid population varied from 0.07 to 0.45, while the stink bug population ranged from 0.02 to 0.38. The maximum population of coccinellids was recorded at 3.16 in October 2023. The correlation of pest and predator population with weather parameters showed maximum and minimum temperatures favoured the population development while it was negatively correlated with relative humidity and rainfall. Profiling of root nutrients showed lucerne roots contain a significant amount of essential nutrients that meet the dietary requirements of mice.

Effects of Floral Characters on the Pollination Biology and Breeding System of Iris setosa (Iridaceae): A Cold-Tolerant Ornamental Species from Jilin Province.

Floral phenology and features are intricately linked to pollinator behavior and pollination systems. Iris setosa is one of the ornamental irises of the family Iridaceae with beautiful flowers and leaves, and little research has been reported on its pollination biology. This study analyzed how phenology, floral features, breeding systems, and pollinator visits affect reproductive success of I. setosa populations in Jilin Province. Field observations and pollination studies demonstrated that I. setosa reached the bud stage in late May, with an average flowering time of 30 days. The anthers were outwardly dehiscent toward the outer edge of the style branches. In herkogamy, the relative locations of the anthers and stigma remained unchanged during flower opening. The stamens matured first. The pollen was most viable and the stigmas were most receptive on the first day of flowering. The nectar had the maximum sugar content. The sexual reproduction system was mainly outcrossing, with some self-compatibility and a need for pollinators. After artificial self-pollination, fluorescent microscopy revealed the winding of pollen tubes. The predominant flower-visiting insects were Apis mellifera, Megachile sp., Syrphus corollae, Episyrphus balteatus, and Lasioglossum sp., among which A. mellifera, Megachile sp., and Lasioglossum sp. were effective pollinators. Understanding the pollination mechanisms and strategies of I. setosa provides basic reference data on the potential for reproduction, and conservation efforts.

Notes on pollination ecology of Altensteinia fimbriata Kunth in the city of Quito, Ecuador

Most orchid species face significant challenges in urban environments. Particularly, pollination services and reproductive success can be altered due to habitat fragmentation related to human activities. Despite this, several terrestrial orchid species thrive in these environments. This study investigates the pollination ecology of Altensteinia fimbriata, a terrestrial orchid prevalent in disturbed habitats from the neotropics. This research aims to identify the pollination mechanism and to list the pollinators and floral visitors associated to A. fimbriata. During 30 hours of observation in a patch with 60 inflorescences of A. fimbriata within an anthropic area of the city of Quito, Ecuador, we recorded 121 visits from ten moth species, identifying four moth species as effective pollinators. Three of the pollinator species were noctuid moths. Moth activity peaked in the evening, coinciding with the emission of distinctive floral scents, suggesting that both scent and nectar attract visitors. We found that the four pollinators of A. fimbriata transfer pollinariums using their legs. This pollination mechanism is found in other terrestrial orchid species from different subtribes where noctuid moths are also the main pollinators. Our findings highlight the adaptability of A. fimbriata in urbanized areas and emphasize the need to understand its pollination dynamics in the context of global change.

Assessment of Phenological and Yield Characteristics of Apple (Malus × domestica Borkh) Varieties

Phenology has gained recently a considerable emphasis as a method for assessing the impacts of changing climate on plant species. Shifting in phenological stages changes can have rippling impacts on environment. Quantifying the effects of these shifting changes on plants is therefore crucial. Knowledge of the dates and duration of particular phenological stages and their variations can be a valuable source of information for organizing, planning and implementation of some regular and special horticultural activities. The phenological study of apple is an essential component of the study as critical phenological stages of the apple are highly reliant on environment, they also have significant practical and scientific implications in the domain of selection. In particular, proper flowering and fruit ripening time are very critical to achieve optimum fruit yield and quality. Fruit yield is an important parameter that determines the acceptability of a cultivar by consumers. The present investigation was undertaken to evaluate the apple varieties for their phenology and yield under Kashmir conditions. Four varieties viz., Super Chief, Red Chief, Gala Redlum and Mitch Gala were used for study. Phenological characteristics revealed that Mitch Gala was earliest in all the phenological stages and Super Chief was late. The blooming period of the studied varieties indicated the synchronizing behaviour of the varieties, which is a prerequisite for effective pollination and adequate fruit set. As far as flowering is concerned, Mitch Gala was earliest to bloom and Gala Redlum was late. Fruit production characteristics revealed that Gala Redlum and Mitch Gala. In terms of yield characteristics, highest yield of 20.58 kg/tree was recorded in Gala Redlum followed by 19.40 kg/tree in Mitch Gala.

The Mitochondrial Genome of Melipona fasciculata (Apidae, Meliponini): Genome Organization and Comparative Analyses, Phylogenetic Implications and Divergence Time Estimations.

The native stingless bee Melipona fasciculata is economically and ecologically important to the Brazilian Northeast, providing a sustainable source of income to family farmers and being considered an effective pollinator in most ecosystems and crops. This study describes, for the first time, the mitogenome of the species and its phylogenetic position. The mitochondrial genome was sequenced using a MiSeq Sequencer (Illumina Inc.) and compared with other GenBank bee mitogenomes. The length of the mitochondrial DNA, excluding most of the control region, is 14,753bp, and contains 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 21 transfer RNAs, 2 ribosomal RNAs (16S and 12S), and 1 AT-rich region. The GC-content of the M. fasciculata mitogenome was 13.4%. Of the 36 coding regions, 12 tRNAs and 9 PCGs were encoded in the heavy strand, and 9 tRNAs, 4 PCGs and 2 rRNAs were encoded in the light strand. The relative orientation and gene order was the same as other stingless bee mitogenomes. Phylogenetic inference produced well-resolved relationships with high statistical support for concordant branch topologies, under different optimization schemes and model parameters, within and among Melipona, Bombus, Apis, and related clades of Hymenoptera. In general, our divergence time estimates, which were based on the concatenated gene sequences (PCGs + rRNAs) from various groups, overlapped estimations captured by Bayesian analysis from different studies. The divergence time among Melipona species was estimated to occur during the Oligocene, approximately 24 Mya (95% HPD 14-36 Mya). Our results represent a valuable addition to help understanding not only the taxonomy and evolution of Brazilian stingless bee species, but also to uncover historical dispersal and isolation patterns in Meliponinae.

Effects of artificial pollination and herbivore exclusion on the fruit set and seed production of the golden orchid Cephalanthera falcata in Japan

Effects of artificial pollination and herbivore exclusion on the fruit set and seed production of the golden orchid Cephalanthera falcata in Japan

Evaluation of Promising Characteristics of Rhizomatous Alfalfa Male Sterile Mutant Accessions

Evaluating key traits of male sterile mutant accessions in rhizomatous alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is crucial for selecting plants for artificial hybrid breeding of rhizomatous maternal lines. In this study, branch cuttings from four male sterile mutant accessions of ‘Qingshui’ alfalfa were used as experimental samples. We evaluated phenotypic traits, which included pollen viability and stigma receptivity, as well as nutritional quality, using difference analysis, correlation analysis, and principal component analysis. Prioritizing pollen viability and stigma receptivity, while considering phenotypic traits and nutritional quality as supplementary factors, allowed us to comprehensively evaluate 24 rhizomatous alfalfa individuals. This evaluation led to the identification of four male sterile mutant accessions with superior traits. The pollen from accession 4-4 was found to be partially fertile, whereas the remaining 23 alfalfa individuals were entirely male sterile. All 24 individuals exhibited stigma receptivity levels suitable for effective pollination. Principal component analysis revealed that among the assessed traits, the leaf–stem ratio contributed most significantly, followed by crude protein content, while neutral detergent fiber content had the least impact on overall quality. Additionally, the number of branches showed a strong positive correlation with individual plant yield (p < 0.01). No significant correlations were detected among plant height, stem diameter, forage grading index, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber content, and yield. Overall, our comprehensive evaluation suggests that accessions 1-2, 2-2, 3-1, and 4-3 are most suitable for use as parental lines in artificial hybrid breeding.

A Historical Review of the Artificial Pollination of Vanilla planifolia: The Importance of Collaborative Research in a Changing World.

The natural fertilization of Vanilla planifolia has long been a matter of speculation. Stingless (tribe Meliponini) and orchid bees (tribe Euglossini) are often cited as effective pollinators, but direct evidence is notoriously lacking. As with other food-deceptive orchids, the natural fruit-set in V. planifolia is low and does not occur spontaneously outside its native range in Middle America. Fruiting has, therefore, necessitated human intervention through artificial pollination. How Vanilla first came to be artificially pollinated is a controversial issue spurring egotism and nationalism. There are numerous texts offering differing versions of the historical events that led to the discovery of the artificial fertilization of V. planifolia and its propagation as a crop. Historical records show Vanilla was simultaneously being pollinated in several parts of the world. I argue that the suspected independent simultaneous discoveries made in Liège, Paris, Padua, the Dutch colony of Java (Indonesia), and the French insular colonies Réunion (Bourbon), Guadeloupe, and Martinique are not unconnected. I conclude that they can be traced back to a single discoverer whose feat was spread around the globe by a tight network of corresponding naturalists. This view contrasts with previous authors. Finally, current concerns regarding Vanilla pollination and production are addressed, highlighting the need for immediate actions to conserve the genetic diversity of the crop's wild relatives to attenuate the effect of extreme climates in a changing world. A plea is made to shift the focus to Middle America, stimulating and supporting local research and conservation efforts and the allocation of funds from this billion-dollar industry.

Aerial litter mimicry: A novel form of floral deception mediated by a monoterpene synthase

Abstract Floral mimics deceive their pollinators by developing visual and olfactory resemblance to various models. We report a flower that exhibits phenotypes like aerial litter and deceives an aerial litter specialist beetle to achieve pollination. We assessed the floral phenology and the effective pollinators of an Australian understorey treelet, Meiogyne heteropetala (Annonaceae). The similarities of morphology, colour and odour between the flowers and co‐occurring aerial litter were investigated. The terpene synthase involved in floral scent emission was identified by expression patterns and product profile. The behavioural responses of the pollinator to various odours were assessed using bioassays. The erotylid beetle Loberus sharpi is the most likely effective pollinator because it was the only pollen‐laden visitor during the pistillate phase. Loberus sharpi was exclusively found in aerial litter and M. heteropetala flowers. The flowers offer an honest shelter reward. The beetle also oviposits there, but most larvae eventually perished as the petals dropped onto the forest floor. The morphology and spectral reflectance of the flowers overlap with aerial litter. The floral scent was dominated by monoterpenes, especially 1,8‐cineole. The cineole synthase MhCINS was the only highly expressed floral terpene synthase and possessed a highly similar product profile to the floral scent composition. The volatile composition of M. heteropetala flowers is distinct from other congeners and highly similar to aerial litter, indicating advergence to aerial litter. Visual and odour resemblance, coupled with low larval survivorship, provides evidence that the beetles were deceived into pollinating the flowers. Behavioural experiments showed that the pollinator was attracted to both aerial litter and M. heteropetala flowers. The beetles were also attracted to 1,8‐cineole and synthetic mixes of floral odour and MhCINS products. The beetles were unable to distinguish floral scent from MhCINS products nor from 1,8‐cineole, suggesting MhCINS alone sufficed to attract the pollinator olfactorily. The beetles, however, preferred aerial litter over flowers. The beetles likely categorised the flower as a general, but not the most preferred, brood substrate. Synthesis. This study reports the first case of floral mimicry of aerial litter and characterises the biochemical process responsible for olfactory mimicry.

Optimizing sunflower yield: Understanding pollinator contribution to inform agri-environmental strategies

ContextThe agricultural intensification due to global increased food demand has harmed pollinator communities worldwide. However, some of the economically most important oilseed crops, such as the sunflower, depend on pollinators to produce seeds. While self-fertile varieties have undergone genetic selection to guarantee productivity, the pollinator-dependence levels and the economic contribution of pollinators have not been fully estimated. ObjectiveHere, we aimed to explore floral and pollinator constraints limiting the agricultural yield of sunflower varieties most frequently used in the Iberian Peninsula. MethodsPollination experiments were undertaken to analyse the pollinator-dependence level of 12 varieties under controlled conditions and also under natural conditions in 23 fields of two Spanish agricultural regions. The selfing ability and economic contribution of pollinators were estimated by comparing bagged and open-pollination treatments. ResultsOur results showed that the degree of pollinator-dependence is highly dependent on sunflower variety, with impacts on production and productivity outcomes, e.g. individual plant yield values varied between 0.188 and 0.692. Several varieties could self-fertilize and produce seeds regardless of pollinators. However, outcrossing significantly increased seed set in most varieties with increments up to 0.341. Overall, a trade-off between the number and weight of seeds was observed. Under natural field conditions, pollinators significantly increased overall sunflower production, although differences were observed among regions (increment of 275 kg/ha in Burgos and 382 kg/ha in Cuenca), with an associated economic outcome. ConclusionsThe self-fertilization ability and the level of pollinator-dependence vary according to the intrinsic reproductive traits of the variety analysed. Although some varieties are able to produce seeds despite the absence of pollinators, the sunflower clearly benefits from insect pollination. The landscape context and the availability of pollinator communities influenced the final crop yield and the economic outcome. SignificanceCombining landscape-restoring interventions with the cultivation of self-compatible varieties during at least the first years of implementation may be a solid additional agri-environmental strategy to maintain production levels and economic outcomes, which may particularly mitigate effects of pollinator and biodiversity losses mainly in highly simplified agroecosystems.

Floral morphology is associated with pollen deposition patterns on moth bodies

AbstractFloral syndromes can be a useful tool for predicting the identity of pollinators from floral morphology. However, the reliability of floral syndromes are still debated in the literature, and can often result in effective pollinators being overlooked. Pollination by moths has historically been associated with a floral syndrome comprising white tubular flowers that are heavily scented at night, but there have been few experimental tests of this association. To test whether moths preferentially land on flowers that are white and tubular, we allowed two moth species (Agrotis ipsilon (Hufnaggel, 1766) and Ichneutica mutans (Walker, 1857)) to choose freely between three plant species (Vaccinium corymbosum, Ericaceae, Pittosporum tenuifolium, Pittosporaceae, and two forms of Leptospermum scoparium, Myrtaceae) which represent four different floral morphologies. Anthers on the flowers were marked with fluorescent powder dye (pollen‐tracker), with the presence of pollen‐tracker on moth bodies after the experiment indicating floral visitation. We detected no floral preferences for any of the plant species by either moth species, suggesting moths will visit flowers that lack features associated with the syndrome even when in the presence of white, tubular flowers which might be predicted to be more attractive to moths. We also examined moth bodies to determine where pollen‐tracker was carried most often and if this varied among the floral types. Our results indicate that some moth body parts may be more important than others for pollen transfer, depending on the morphology of the flowers visited. After visiting tubular flowers (Vaccinium and Pittosporum), pollen‐tracker was most often located on the proboscis, but after visiting open‐access flowers (Leptospermum) pollen‐tracker was most often located on the legs. Future studies looking at the presence of pollen on moth bodies should consider this and ensure the entire moth body is examined for the presence of pollen.

Important Crop Pollinators Respond Less Negatively to Anthropogenic Land Use Than Other Animals.

Animal-mediated pollination is a key ecosystem service required to some extent by almost three-quarters of the leading human food crops in global food production. Anthropogenic pressures such as habitat loss and land-use intensification are causing shifts in ecological community composition, potentially resulting in declines in pollination services and impacting crop production. Previous research has often overlooked interspecific differences in pollination contribution, yet such differences mean that biodiversity declines will not necessarily negatively impact pollination. Here, we use a novel species-level ecosystem service contribution matrix along with mixed-effects models to explore how groups of terrestrial species who contribute differently to crop pollination respond globally to land-use type, land-use intensity, and availability of natural habitats in the surrounding landscape. We find that the species whose contribution to crop pollination is higher generally respond less negatively (and in some cases positively) to human disturbance of land, compared to species that contribute less or not at all to pollination. This result may be due to these high-contribution species being less sensitive to anthropogenic land conversions, which has led humans to being more reliant on them for crop pollination. However, it also suggests that there is potential for crop pollination to be resilient in the face of anthropogenic land conversions. With such a high proportion of food crops requiring animal-mediated pollination to some extent, understanding how anthropogenic landscapes impact ecological communities and the consequences for pollination is critical for ensuring food security.

Shedding light on pollination deficits: Cueing into plant spectral reflectance signatures to monitor pollination delivery across landscapes

Abstract Pollination underlies plant yield, health and reproductive success in agricultural and natural systems worldwide. It is therefore concerning that declining animal pollinator populations compounded by growing demands for food are leading to rising pollination deficits, with globally significant economic and environmental implications. Despite this urgent issue, accurate and scalable tools to quantify and track pollination across useful spatiotemporal scales are lacking. Here, we propose to shed new light on pollination deficits, looking to remote sensing platforms as a transformative mapping and monitoring tool and a solution for pollinator conservation and crop management. Providing a synthesis of our current understanding of pollination‐triggered floral senescence and underlying ultrastructural and metabolic changes, we propose how spectral reflectance technologies could be applied to accurately detect pollination events in real‐time and at the landscape scale. Synthesis and applications: We highlight where research efforts can be targeted to produce scalable methods for identifying field‐relevant bioindicators of pollination. We provide guidance on how spectral imaging accompanied by machine learning and coupled with autonomous operation technologies will enable applications to detect pollination delivery across complex landscapes. Ultimately, such an ecological application will transform our quantitative understanding of pollination services and, by directly linking plant yields and health, will reveal pollination deficits at high resolution to help mitigate risks to food security and ecosystem functioning.

Assessing the economic and nutritional value of pollination services in Nepal

Pollination is a key ecosystem service crucial for supporting agricultural production, economic growth, social inclusion, and environmental protection. Understanding the economic value of pollination and its impact on human health and nutrition is essential for effective pollinator conservation and management. This study evaluates the economic and nutritional value of pollination services in Nepal and quantifies historic changes in pollinator reliance. Using public data on agricultural production and commodity prices, in combination with published nutritional composition values, we employ the dependency-ratio method to quantify economic and nutritional value across different regions of the country and through time. We conservatively estimate the annual economic value of pollination services in Nepal at US $477 million, representing 9% of total agricultural revenue. Pollinator-dependent crops, particularly fruits and vegetables are the source of essential nutrients; 40% of plant-based vitamin A and 14% of vitamin C are directly attributable to insect pollination. The cultivated area of these pollinator-dependent crops has increased by 91% in Nepal over 20 years – 3.7 times faster than equivalent increases in non-pollinator-dependent crops. The decline in wild pollinators during the same time period poses a threat, leading to potential pollination deficits and crop losses. Our study underscores the importance of conserving and managing pollinators to ensure sustainable agriculture, food security, and nutrition. Targeted efforts, including policy interventions and conservation strategies, are needed to safeguard pollinator populations and enhance pollination services.

Complementary effects of pollination and biocontrol services enable ecological intensification in macadamia orchards.

In many crops, both pollination and biocontrol determine crop yield, whereby the relative importance of the two ecosystem services can be moderated by the landscape context. However, additive and interactive effects of pollination and biocontrol in different landscape contexts are still poorly understood. We examined both ecosystem services in South African macadamia orchards. Combining observations and experiments, we disentangled their relative additive and interactive effects on crop production with variation in orchard design and landscape context (i.e., cover of natural habitat and altitude). Insect pollination increased the nut set on average by 280% (initial nut set) and 525% (final nut set), while biocontrol provided by bats and birds reduced the insect damage on average by 40%. Pollination services increased in orchards where macadamia tree rows were positioned perpendicular to orchard edges facing natural habitat. Biocontrol services decreased with elevation. Pest damage was reduced by higher cover of natural habitat at landscape scale but increased with elevation. Pollination and biocontrol are both important ecosystem services and complementary in providing high macadamia crop yield. Smart orchard design and the retention of natural habitat can simultaneously enhance both services. Conjoint management of ecosystem services can thus enable the ecological intensification of agricultural production.