This document summarizes a study on ecological enhancements of agricultural land in the Upper Rhine Plain of Germany. The study looked at implementing flower strips and areas to support pollinator populations on farms. In 2011, different flower mixtures and bee nesting sites were added to experimental and control fields. Surveys found that while butterfly diversity did not increase, wild bee numbers and species utilizing the flower strips increased substantially. The strips provided important foraging resources. The results suggest that flower strips can effectively support local pollinator populations when floral diversity and early season resources are available. Ongoing work includes more detailed analysis and enhancing control fields for further comparison.
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Upper Rhine presentation
1. Ecological enhancement of agricultural
land in the Upper Rhine Plain
11. September 2012
Richard Bleil - Jessica Gelhausen - Dr. Rainer Oppermann
Arno Schanowski - Dr. Volker Sp辰th
Supported by
2. Background
Germany:
16.8 Mio ha agricultural area
At least 1.75 Mio ha of crops that
profit from insect pollination
wikimedia
Ecological enhancement of agricultural land in the Upper Rhine Plain
11. Septemeber 2012 2
3. Ecological
enhancement measures
Flower strips and areas
Effect on
pollinators?
Ecological enhancement of agricultural land in the Upper Rhine Plain
11. Septemeber 2012 3
4. The project area
The farm in Rheinm端nster:
Enhancement area
Control area
Ecological enhancement of agricultural land in the Upper Rhine Plain
11. Septemeber 2012 4
5. The project area
Crops in 2010
in the planned enhancement area
Corn
Cereals
Fallow
Other
Ecological enhancement of agricultural land in the Upper Rhine Plain
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6. Sampling 2010
Determination of status quo
sweep-netting and observation on transects
grass ways and flower rich meadows / marginal structures
May - August
Wild bees
Butterflies
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7. Ecological
enhancements in 2011
T端binger Mischung
10 % Flower strips
Visselh旦veder
Insektenparadies
MEKA 1
Kultur-Natur-bl端ht-auf
Ecological enhancement of agricultural land in the Upper Rhine Plain
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8. Ecological
enhancements in 2011
Bee banks and nesting aids
Ecological enhancement of agricultural land in the Upper Rhine Plain
11. Septemeber 2012 8
9. Sampling 2011
Observation and sweep-netting on transects
Focus on flower strips, June August
Observation of behaviour (foraging / egg deposition)
Search for nests in bee banks
Ecological enhancement of agricultural land in the Upper Rhine Plain
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10. Results
Butterflies Rheinm端nster Dettenheim
Total number of species (2010) 16 16
Species in flower strips (2011) 12 14
Ecological enhancement of agricultural land in the Upper Rhine Plain
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11. Results
Wild bees Rheinm端nster Dettenheim
Species in flower strips 48 54
Total number of species 2010 55 58
Individuals in flower strips 4000 3992
Individuals 2010 234 244
Ecological enhancement of agricultural land in the Upper Rhine Plain
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12. Results
Butterflies
No substancial increase in species richness
Flower strips predominantly used for foraging
Almost exclusively ubiquitous species
Inachis io Gonepteryx rhamni
Pieris rapae
Ecological enhancement of agricultural land in the Upper Rhine Plain
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13. Results
Wild bees
No substancial increase in species richness
Few rare species and specialists use the flower strips
Enormously increased individual numbers
Bee banks are used as nesting sites
Bombus lapidarius Bombus terrestris Oxybelus trispinosus
Ecological enhancement of agricultural land in the Upper Rhine Plain
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14. Conclusions
Flower strips are intensively used and constitute effective
means of supporting local pollinator populations
Floristic diversity and resource availability early in the year are
crucial for the promotion of faunal diversity / specialists
Ecological enhancement of agricultural land in the Upper Rhine Plain
11. Septemeber 2012 14
15. Prospect
Diverse perennial mixtures have been chosen and sown
considering needs of endangered species
Control areas will be examined in detail for comparation
This years data are being evaluated
Enhancement
area
Control area
Ecological enhancement of agricultural land in the Upper Rhine Plain
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16. Thank you very much for
your attention
11. September 2012
Richard Bleil - Jessica Gelhausen - Dr. Rainer Oppermann
Arno Schanowski - Dr. Volker Sp辰th
Supported by