Developing European Conservation and Mitigation Tools for Pollination Services: Approaches of the STEP (Status and Trends of European Pollinators) Project

Potts, Simon G and Biesmeijer, Jacobus C and Bommarco, Riccardo and Felicioli, Antonio and Fischer, Markus and Jokinen, Pekka and Kleijn, David and Klein, Alexandra-Maria and Kunin, William E and Neumann, Peter and Penev, Lyubomir D and Petanidou, Theodora and Rasmont, Pierre and Roberts, Stuart PM and Smith, Henrik G and Sørensen, Peter B and Steffan-Dewenter, Ingolf and Vaissière, Bernard E and Vilà, Montserrat and Vujic, Ante and Woyciechowsk, Michal and Zobel, Martin and Settele, Josef and Schweiger, Oliver (2011) Developing European Conservation and Mitigation Tools for Pollination Services: Approaches of the STEP (Status and Trends of European Pollinators) Project. Journal of Apicultural Research, 50 (2). p. 152. ISSN 0021-8839 (FP7- 244090)

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Abstract

Pollinating insects form a key component of European biodiversity, and provide a vital ecosystem service to crops and wild plants. There is growing evidence of declines in both wild and domesticated pollinators, and parallel declines in plants relying upon them. The STEP project (Status and Trends of European Pollinators, 2010-2015, www.step-project.net) is documenting critical elements in the nature and extent of these declines, examining key functional traits associated with pollination deficits, and developing a Red List for some European pollinator groups. Together these activities are laying the groundwork for future pollinator monitoring programmes. STEP is also assessing the relative importance of potential drivers of pollinator declines, including climate change, habitat loss and fragmentation, agrochemicals, pathogens, alien species, light pollution, and their interactions. We are measuring the ecological and economic impacts of declining pollinator services and floral resources, including effects on wild plant populations, crop production and human nutrition. STEP is reviewing existing and potential mitigation options, and providing novel tests of their effectiveness across Europe. Our work is building upon existing and newly developed datasets and models, complemented by spatially-replicated campaigns of field research to fill gaps in current knowledge. Findings are being integrated into a policy-relevant framework to create evidence-based decision support tools. STEP is establishing communication links to a wide range of stakeholders across Europe and beyond, including policy makers, beekeepers, farmers, academics and the general public. Taken together, the STEP research programme aims to improve our understanding of the nature, causes, consequences and potential mitigation of declines in pollination services at local, national, continental and global scales.

Keywords

bees; crops; environmental pressures; flowering plants; pollinators; pollination services

Item Type:	Article
FP7 Grant Agreement Number:	244090
FrameWork Programmes:	SP1-Cooperation
Scientific Areas:	Environment (including Climate Change)
Contact Email Address:	s.g.potts@reading.ac.uk
Last Modified:	07 Aug 2012 07:25
Access rights:	Open access
URI:	http://eprints.kobson.nb.rs/id/eprint/9

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