Conservation Evidence: Evidence Data

Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Translocate bumblebee colonies in nest boxesWe have captured three small trials in the 1950s and early 1960s testing the effect of translocating bumblebee colonies in nest boxes. Two trials in Canada provided evidence of queen death and one of these showed lower colony productivity following translocation. Just one, a UK trial, concluded that early bumblebee Bombus pratorum colonies adapt well to being moved. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F53https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F53Thu, 20 May 2010 01:34:59 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Restore heathlandOne small trial of early-stage lowland heath restoration activity did not have an adverse effect on bumblebee diversity at one site in southeast England. Two replicated trials in Dorset indicated that long-term restoration of dry lowland heath can restore a bee community similar to that on ancient heaths. One of these studies showed that the community of conopid flies parasitizing bumblebees remained impoverished 15 years after heathland restoration began. We found no evidence on interventions to conserve bees on upland heath or moorland. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F9https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F9Thu, 20 May 2010 03:20:44 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Prevent spread of the small hive beetleOne replicated trial in the USA tested the effect of using mite-killing strips in commercial honey bee Apis mellifera transport packages, to reduce the spread of small hive beetle. More than half the beetles escaped the packages and were not killed by the strip. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F41https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F41Thu, 20 May 2010 04:31:44 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Eradicate existing populations of invasive non-native speciesOne replicated trial in Louisiana, USA, demonstrated that colonies of invasive Africanized honey bees Apis mellifera can be killed by providing insecticide (acephate)-laced syrup for 30 minutes. One replicated controlled before-and-after trial attempted to eradicate European buff-tailed bumblebees Bombus terrestris from trial sites in Japan by catching and killing foraging bees. The treatment led to an increase in numbers of two native bumblebee species, but did not eradicate B. terrestris. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F38https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F38Thu, 20 May 2010 04:54:57 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Replace honey-hunting with apiculture One study reported that a programme to enhance take-up of stingless beekeeping in southern Mexico increased the number of managed colonies in the area. Five trials contributed to scientific improvement of stingless beekeeping methods. Two controlled trials showed that either brewer's yeast (one trial) or a mix with 25% pollen collected by honey bees Apis mellifera (one trial) can be used as a pollen substitute to feed Scaptotrigona postica in times of pollen scarcity. A study on the island of Tobago found a wooden hive design with separate, different-shaped honey and brood chambers allowed honey to be extracted without damaging the brood. One trial showed that 50 g of comb with mature pupae is enough to start a new daughter colony of S. mexicana. One trial found brood growth was higher in traditional log hives than in box hives with internal volumes exceeding 14 litres, and recommended smaller box hives. We have captured no clear evidence about whether these activities help conserve bees or enhance native bee populations. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F33https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F33Thu, 20 May 2010 06:29:24 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Exclude ants from solitary bee nesting sitesOne replicated controlled trial showed that excluding ants from solitary nests of the endemic Australian bee Exonuera nigrescens increased production of offspring. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F46https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F46Thu, 20 May 2010 06:43:55 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Restore species-rich grassland vegetationOne replicated controlled trial in Scotland showed that species-rich grassland managed under agri-environment schemes attracted more nest-searching queen bumblebees but fewer foraging queens in the spring than unmanaged grassland. Three small trials, two in the UK and one in Germany, found that restored species-rich grasslands had similar flower-visiting insect communities (dominated by bees and/or flies) to paired ancient species-rich grasslands. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F8https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F8Thu, 20 May 2010 07:08:34 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Increase the use of clover leys on farmlandWe have captured no evidence that increasing the use of clover leys can enhance wild bee populations. One replicated trial in Germany showed that fields planted with a white clover grass mixture do not attract solitary bees to nest preferentially on site. A trial in Switzerland showed that if white clover is mowed during flowering, injuries and mortality of bees can be reduced by avoiding the use of a processor attached to the mower. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F16https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F16Thu, 20 May 2010 08:48:02 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Exclude introduced European earwigs from nest sitesIn California, USA, a replicated controlled trial showed that numbers of introduced European earwigs Forficula auricularia resting in solitary bee nest boxes can be reduced using a sticky barrier Tanglefoot. This treatment increased the use of the boxes by native bees. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F44https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F44Thu, 20 May 2010 10:20:05 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Provide grass strips at field margins for beesThree replicated controlled trials in the UK have monitored wild bees on uncropped grassy field margins. Evidence of the effects on bees is mixed. One trial showed that 6 m wide grassy field margins enhanced the abundance, but not diversity, of wild bees at the field boundary. One trial showed that 6 m wide grassy field margins enhanced the abundance and diversity of bumblebees within the margin. A third, smaller scale trial showed neither abundance nor diversity of bumblebees was higher on sown grassy margins than on cropped margins. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F14https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F14Thu, 20 May 2010 10:42:47 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Provide nest boxes for stingless beesOne replicated trial tested nest boxes placed in trees for the stingless bee Melipona quadrifasciata in Brazil and found no uptake. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F49https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F49Thu, 20 May 2010 11:16:43 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Ensure commercial hives/nests are disease freeOne randomised controlled trial in Canada found that the antibiotic fumagillin is not effective against Nosema bombi infection in managed colonies of the western bumblebee Bombus occidentalis. One replicated controlled trial in South Korea found that Indian meal moth Plodia interpunctella in commercial bumblebee colonies can be controlled with the insect pathogen Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) Aizawai strain, at a strength of 1 g Bt/litre of water. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F42https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F42Thu, 20 May 2010 11:17:19 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Translocate solitary beesOne replicated trial in India showed that translocating carpenter bees Xylocopa fenestrata in immature stages can establish a population at a new site, but if adult bees are translocated a very small proportion remain at the new site. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F55https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F55Thu, 20 May 2010 11:18:56 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Retain dead wood in forest managementWe have found no evidence on the impact of retaining dead wood in forests or woodlands on wild bee communities or populations. 'No evidence' for an action means we have not yet found any studies that directly and quantitatively tested this action during our systematic journal and report searches. Therefore we have been unable to assess whether or not the action is effective or has any harmful impacts. Please get in touch if you know of such a study for this action.Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F36https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F36Thu, 20 May 2010 12:43:18 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Control fire risk using mechanical shrub control and/or prescribed burningOne replicated controlled trial in mixed temperate forest in the USA showed that for bee conservation, it is best to control fire using cutting and burning combined. This increases herbaceous plant cover in subsequent years. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F37https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F37Thu, 20 May 2010 12:49:47 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Leave field margins unsprayed within the crop (conservation headlands)Two replicated controlled trials in England showed that conservation headlands do not attract more foraging bumblebees than conventional crop fields. One replicated trial found fewer bees on conservation headlands than in naturally regenerated, uncropped field margins in England. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F29https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F29Thu, 20 May 2010 13:15:26 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Prevent escape of commercial bumblebees from greenhouses One small replicated trial in Canada showed that a plastic greenhouse covering that transmits ultraviolet light (so transmitted light is similar to daylight) reduced the numbers of bumblebees from managed colonies escaping through open gutter vents. One trial in Japan showed that externally mounted nets and zipped, netted entrances can keep commercial bumblebees inside greenhouses as long as they are regularly checked and maintained. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F40https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F40Thu, 20 May 2010 13:55:19 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Keep pure breeding populations of native honey bee subspeciesOne replicated trial in Switzerland found that pure breeding populations of the European black honey bee Apis mellifera mellifera contained a significant proportion (28%) of hybrids with an introduced subspecies Apis mellifera carnica. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F43https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F43Thu, 20 May 2010 14:49:31 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Introduce mated females to small populations to improve genetic diversityOne trial in Brazil showed that genetic diversity can be maintained in small isolated populations of stingless bees Melipona scutellaris by regularly introducing inseminated queens. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F56https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F56Thu, 20 May 2010 15:23:26 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Introduce agri-environment schemes to benefit wild beesFour replicated trials in Europe have shown enhanced diversity and/or abundance of foraging wild bees on land managed under various European agri-environment schemes, relative to conventionally-managed fields or field margins. These schemes were the Swiss Ecological Compensation Areas (one replicated trial), the German organic arable farming option (one replicated trial), the Dutch botanical and meadow bird agreements (one replicated trial, very low numbers of bee species) and the Scottish Rural Stewardship Scheme (one replicated trial, also included nest-searching queen bumblebees). Four replicated trials in Europe found that the number of bees and/or bee species is not enhanced on land managed under agri-environment schemes, including meadow bird agreements in wet grassland in the Netherlands, measures to protect steppe-living birds and compensation measures around a National Park in Spain, and 6 m wide grass field margin strips in England (one replicated trial for each). On a wider landscape scale, two replicated trials in the UK have found bumblebee populations were not enhanced on farmland managed under agri-environment schemes. One trial compared the reproductive success of colonies of the buff-tailed bumblebee Bombus terrestris, the other compared queen bumblebee numbers in spring in conventionally managed field margins, on farms with and without agri-environment schemes. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F24https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F24Thu, 20 May 2010 16:11:07 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Leave arable field margins uncropped with natural regenerationFour replicated trials in the UK have found more bumblebees (and more bee species in two trials) foraging on uncropped field margins than on cropped margins. One small unreplicated trial found similar bee species richness on a naturally regenerated margin as on margins sown with wildflowers. A small replicated trial found that neither abundance nor diversity of bumblebees were higher on naturally regenerated margins than on cropped margins. Two trials note that the value of naturally regenerated uncropped field margins is based on thistle species considered to be pernicious weeds requiring control. Two trials found that the value of naturally regenerated uncropped field margins for bees was not consistent from year to year. We have captured no evidence on the effects of field margin management on solitary bees. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F20Thu, 20 May 2010 16:57:57 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Reduce the intensity of farmland meadow managementFour replicated trials in Europe have compared farmland meadows managed extensively with conventionally farmed meadows or silage fields. Two found enhanced numbers and diversity of wild bees on meadows with a delayed first cut and little agrochemical use. Two found no difference in bee diversity or abundance between conventional meadows and meadows with reduced fertilizer use or cutting intensity. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F22https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F22Thu, 20 May 2010 19:27:37 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Create patches of bare ground for ground-nesting beesOne replicated controlled trial in Germany and four small trials (three replicated, one not) have shown that artificially exposed areas of bare soil can be successfully colonised by ground-nesting solitary bees and wasps in the first or second year. We have captured no evidence for the effect of creating areas of bare ground on bee populations or communities on a larger scale. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F13https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F13Thu, 20 May 2010 19:29:53 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Sow uncropped arable field margins with an agricultural nectar and pollen mixFive replicated trials in Europe (three controlled) have documented bumblebees foraging on field margins sown with an agricultural nectar and pollen seed mix. Four replicated trials showed that field margins sown with perennial leguminous flowering plants attract significantly more foraging bumblebees than naturally regenerated (two trials), grassy (four trials) or cropped (three trials) field margins. Three replicated trials showed that a mix of agricultural forage plants including legumes (all annual plants in one trial) attracts greater numbers of bumblebees than a perennial wildflower mix, at least in the first year. Three trials in the UK found evidence that margins sown with agricultural legume plants degrade in their value to bumblebees and would need to be re-sown every few years. We have captured no evidence on the effects of field margin management on solitary bees. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F18https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F18Thu, 20 May 2010 20:59:45 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Provide set-aside areas in farmland Two replicated trials showed that species richness of bees nesting (one study) or foraging (one study), is higher on set-aside that is annually mown and left to naturally regenerate for two years or more, relative to other set-aside management regimes or, in the nesting study, to arable crop fields. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F7https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F7Thu, 20 May 2010 21:22:12 +0100