Research
Our research activities include these main topics:
-
Ecosystem services and dis-services
-
Land-use effects on pollinators and pollination
-
Pollinators health and virus transmission
-
Conservation and restoration of pollinators
-
Tools for biodiversity quantification and mapping
We study the diversity, function and conservation needs of beneficial insects, pollinators in particular, in a variety of environmental and geographic context and scales. Our overarching goal in to gain insight on the main factors that shape the diversity, stability and resilience of pollinator communities and the pollination services they provide, to inform land management and conservation efforts.
Ecosystem services and dis-services
|
Ecosystem services are ecological functions important for human survival and wellbeing. We focus on pollination and pollinators, in particular wild and managed bees, as a main ecosystem service to agriculture and nature. We use this as a model system to study questions related to the provision, stability, and value of pollination services. Studies are performed in both agricultural and natural settings and involve field surveys of pollinators, pollination experiments, behavioral studies, and modelling. Currently studied topics include:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Land-use effects on pollinators and pollination
Pollinators across the globe are decreasing due to anthropogenic disturbances. Land-use change and habitat degradation are a major threat. We study how bee communities, pollination networks and pollination services are affected by different land-uses and habitat management practices in natural, agricultural and forested ecosystems. Among the specific questions we study are:
- How do pollinator communities change along land-use gradients at different spatial scales and landscape context?
- What is the effect of grazing on bee communities along a climatic gradient?
- How are bee communities and their pollination activity affected by different forest management regimes?
- What is the effect of IPM (Integrated Pest Management) on bee diversity and pollination activity?
Pollinators health
| Pathogens, viruses in particular, are a main threat to wild and managed pollinator populations worldwide. Our studies focus on mapping patterns of virus prevalence in bee communities, exploring intra- and inter-specific transmission of viruses in these communities, and elucidating the underlying mechanisms. We study the effects of virus infection on bee survival and behavior, and possible implication for the delivery of pollination services. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Conservation and restoration of pollinators
|
We study ways to enhance and restore the diversity and functioning of beneficial insects in agricultural landscapes, while minimizing the delivery of dis-services by pests. Specifically, we study the effects of wild bloom along field edges on the diversity and interactions between three important guilds - pollinators, natural enemies (insect predators and parasitoides) and insect pests. We also study successional processes in bee communities in novel habitats, and the cost-effectiveness of different restoration approaches. |
|
|
Tools for biodiversity quantification and mapping
|
Direct measurement of biodiversity is usually too time, money and knowledge demanding to be performed. Hence, when mapping and monitoring biodiversity there is usually need to use surrogate measures i.e. biodiversity indicators. We study the ecological reliability and cost-effectiveness of different environmental and biological indicators using both empirical and modelling approaches. We also explore innovative approaches to monitor wild bee communities and habitat resource availability using advanced photogrammetric and remote-sensing tools. |
|
|
|