Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.5513/JCEA01/21.3.2751
The role of weeds from field margins in supporting pollinators
Edita ŠTEFANIĆ
; Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Faculty of Agrobiotechnical Sciences Osijek, Vladimira Preloga 1, 31000 Osijek, Croatia
Sanda RAŠIĆ
; Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Faculty of Agrobiotechnical Sciences Osijek, Vladimira Preloga 1, 31000 Osijek, Croatia
Biljana PANJKOVIĆ
; Institute for nature conservation of Vojvodina province, Radnička 20a, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
Vesna KOVAČEVIĆ
; Polytechnic of Rijeka, Agricultural Department, Karla Huguesa 6, 52440 Poreč, Croatia
Dinko ZIMA
; Polytechnic of Požega, Vukovarska 17, 34000 Požega, Croatia
Slavica ANTUNOVIĆ
; College of Slavonski Brod, Dr. Mile Budaka 1, 35000 Slavonski Brod, Croatia
Ivan ŠTEFANIĆ
; Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Faculty of Agrobiotechnical Sciences Osijek, Vladimira Preloga 1, 31000 Osijek, Croatia
Abstract
Field margins are pollinator-friendly habitats and important refuges for many pollinators. As a valuable food resource throughout the vegetation season, not just when crop species are in flower, field margins need to be protect or restore in areas of intensive farming. This paper examines the floristic and functional structure of weed communities on field margins in the northeastern part of the Republic of Croatia. A phytocoenological survey was conducted during the summer period of 2017 and 2018. A total of 32 field margins was analyzed for species richness, abundance and their role for entomofauna. Floristically rich field margins consist of 72,6% plant species beneficial to pollinators. Foraging period can be stretching throughout the year, but stabile and high flowering period is from May to end of September. Among highest ranked honeybee plants, several invasive species with significant relative abundance are: Solidago gigantea, Asclepias syriaca and Amorpha fruticosa who pose a serious threat to plant biodiversity. Positive role of vegetation from field margins was not valuable for pollinators only, but they also serve as supply the substrates that provide a shelter and nesting sites.
Keywords
biodiversity; boundary strip; food resource; nectar resource; pollinators; weeds
Hrčak ID:
244310
URI
Publication date:
29.9.2020.
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