Native bee pollination ecosystem services in agricultural wetlands and riparian protected lands

Authors: HINSON, A. - US Department Of Agriculture (USDA); McCarty, Gregory; DU, L. - US Department Of Agriculture (USDA); SICHKO, C. - Economic Research Serivce (ERS, USDA); MAGUIRE, K. - Economic Research Serivce (ERS, USDA)

Submitted to: Wetlands
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/18/2024
Publication Date: 11/1/2024
Citation: Hinson, A., Mccarty, G.W., Du, L., Sichko, C., Maguire, K. 2024. Native bee pollination ecosystem services in agricultural wetlands and riparian protected lands. Wetlands. 44. Article e116. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13157-024-01872-x.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13157-024-01872-x

Interpretive Summary: Freshwater wetlands and riparian systems provide some of the most important ecosystem services and many wetlands are found within agricultural landscapes. Pollinator habitat is seldom considered as a key service provided by these wetland ecosystems. As an example, soybean yields have been found to increase because of pollinator activity. This study used the Natural Capital Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs model (InVEST) to quantify the contribution of wetland conservation easements toward soybean yield increases caused by wild bee populations. Including both conservation and non-conservation natural lands, wild bee pollinators provided a soybean yield response of up to 8.7 percent, and wetland conservation lands provided up to a 7.6 percent soybean yield response. While the current landscape is not optimized for using wetlands and riparian conservation lands as non-traditional pollinator habitat, these results suggest that protection and incorporation of these lands into agricultural landscapes could increase wild pollinator services provided to agricultural crops as well as provide other ecological benefits. A demonstrated economic benefit from conservation easements could increase the presence of wetlands in agricultural landscapes.

Technical Abstract: Freshwater wetlands and riparian systems provide some of the most important ecosystem services for the sustainability of human interests and society. While many wetlands are found within agricultural landscapes, pollinator habitat is seldom considered as a key service provided by these wetland ecosystems. The purpose of this study is to explore the viability of protected aquatic lands as a provider of habitat and floral resources for pollinator services in a predominantly agricultural landscape. To evaluate whether protected aquatic lands are suitable pollinator habitats, we created a novel geodatabase of United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) conservation easements on the Delmarva Peninsula, encompassing 9 different easement programs, including the Conservation Reserve Program and Wetland Reserve Program. We then used the database to model wild bee pollinator services using the InVEST model, considering both ecological as well as agricultural interests by assessing pollinator biodiversity, changes in crop yields, and estimating the value of yield increases provided by pollinators. We found that wetland uplands within easements provided the greatest potential for pollinator services, followed by herbaceous and forested riparian areas respectively. In crops that can utilize pollinators but are not part of the rented honeybee market such as soybeans, we found on average wild pollinators provide a 3 percent or greater yield response from natural habitats. Including both conservation and non-conservation natural lands, wild bee pollinators can provide a soybean yield response of up to 8.7 percent, and conservation lands only can provide up to a 7.6 percent soybean yield response. While the current landscape is not optimized for using wetlands and riparian conservation lands as non-traditional pollinator habitat, these results suggest that protection and incorporation of these lands into agricultural landscapes could increase wild pollinator services provided to agricultural crops as well as provide other ecological benefits.