Quantifying crop pollinator dependence and its heterogeneity using multi‐level meta‐analysis

作者：Jacob Bishop, Shinichi Nakagawa · 发表于：Journal of Applied Ecology · 年份：2020 · DOI：10.1111/1365-2664.13830 · 被引用次数：74 · 研究领域：Plant and animal studies、Plant Parasitism and Resistance、Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies

Abstract Biotic pollination can benefit crop production, but its effects are highly variable. To maximise benefits from this ecosystem service, we need a greater understanding of the factors that cause variation so that ecological intensification can be more effectively applied. We focus on understanding the benefits of pollination to faba bean Vicia faba. We use a literature review followed by multi‐level meta‐analysis to estimate overall benefits of pollination to faba bean yield and to quantify variation (heterogeneity) in these benefits associated with different contextual factors (e.g. plant genotype, growing environment). Our overall estimate of pollination benefit to faba bean yield, expressed as the percentage yield reduction without pollination, is 32.9% (confidence interval: 21%–43%). Based on the prediction intervals, which include the heterogeneity in pollination benefit, there is an 80% chance that pollination will increase yield of a faba bean crop. Half of all heterogeneity in pollination dependence was due to differences between plant genotypes. The number of beans per plant showed similar pollination dependence to yield mass per plant while pod number and number of beans per pod underestimated yield benefits. There was weak evidence to suggest pollination benefits vary between pollinator species, with honeybees showing a smaller yield increase. Differences in the experimental method used to assess pollination benefit did not significantly affect the estimate,...