Simulation models to predict pollination success in apple orchards: a useful tool to test management practices

Abstract

The cultivated area of pollinator-dependent crops is increasing globally, and thus many natural habitats are being replaced by cropland. This change in land use is one of the main causes of biodiversity losses, of which include wild pollinators. As a consequence, many bee species are increasingly being reared and sold specifically for crop pollination services. However, the spatial arrangement of colonies of managed bee species in crops, as well as the spatial design of plants within plantations to maximize pollen flows is not standardized and growers are still experimenting. Here, we propose a spatially explicit simulation model to test which spatial arrangement of hives and plants maximizes pollination services. We used apple orchards pollinated by honey bees as a case study. We found that the spatial arrangement of plants within plantations affects both the mean level and homogeneity of the pollination in apple orchards. Bees’ hive locations, on the other hand, only affected the mean levels of pollination. Our results showed that simulation models are powerful tools to provide management recommendations to farmers.