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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Logan, Utah » Pollinating Insect-Biology, Management, Systematics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #200384
Title: Importance of pollinators in changing landscapes for world crops

Author
item KLEIN, A - UNIV GOTTINGEN,GERMANY
item VAISSIERE, B - INST AGRONOMIQUE,FRANCE
item Cane, James
item STEFFAN-DEWENTER, I - CSIRO, AUSTRALIA
item CUNNINGHAM, S - CSIRO, ANBERRA,AUST
item KREMEN, C - UNIV CA, BERKELEY,CA
item TSCHARNTKE, T. - UNIV OF GOTTINGEN, GERMAN

Submitted to: Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/1/2006
Publication Date: 2/7/2007
Citation: Klein, A.M., Vaissiere, B.E., Cane, J.H., Steffan-Dewenter, I., Cunningham, S.A., Kremen, C., Tscharntke, T. 2007. Importance of pollinators in changing landscapes for world crops. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B. 274 (1608):303-313

Interpretive Summary: In evaluating the value of pollinators for world production of human food, our literature review revealed that yields of 87 leading fruit, vegetable or seed crops increase with insect pollination, while 28 do not. We found that pollinators are essential for 12, production increased considerably for 57, but little or no for 29, with 9 unknown. Case studies for nine crops on four continents revealed threats to wild pollinator communities and crop yields as agriculture has intensified.

Technical Abstract: In evaluating the value of pollinators for world production of human food, our literature review revealed that yields of 87 leading fruit, vegetable or seed crops increase with insect pollination, while 28 do not. We found that pollinators are essential for 12, production increased considerably for 57, but little or no for 29, with 9 unknown. Case studies for nine crops on four continents revealed threats to wild pollinator communities and crop yields as agriculture has intensified.