Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment

Pollination limitation: A threat to biodiversity and food security

Author(s):

Monika Koul 1, Pratibha Thakur ², A. K. Bhatnagar ³

Recieved Date: 2018-01-02, Accepted Date: 2018-03-26

Abstract:

Conclusive evidence is being generated from all over world confirming the loss of reproductive capacity in many angiosperm species on account of their vanishing pollinators. Anthropogenic factors such as fragmentation, habitat degradation, pollution and use of pesticides are recognized as the leading causes of widespread decline in populations of both wild and domesticated pollinators. Although studies suggest that plants have intrinsic properties and bestowed flexibility in their pollination syndromes, yet sharp decline in bird, bat and insect pollinators is detrimental for rare and endemic flora possessing higher ecological specialization. Insect mediated pollination services are also important for sustenance of agro-ecosystems that provide food security to people across the globe. Predictions from economists suggest that lack of pollinator services in agro-ecosystems would have negative implications on socio-political aspects of agriculture-based economies. Various management techniques and mitigation strategies have been initiated all over the world to tackle this global problem. Habitat restoration, setting up of pollinator refugia, designing agricultural landscapes and conservation programmes targeted at different pollinator species have been initiated with support of public-private and government partnerships to rescue the pollinators. The results of some of the initiatives are encouraging and providing dividends as increase in pollinator species in managed ecosystems has been noticed.  Conservation biologists and restoration ecologists are looking at various pollinator rescue programmes and developing strategies to increase the number and diversity of pollinators specific to various ecosystems to accomplish the food and environmental security. There is need for extensive research not only for understanding the evolutionary mutualism between plants and animals, but also their interplay at community level and response to global environmental change. 

Keywords:

Conservation, food security, pollinators, pollination syndromes, reproductive stress

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Journal: Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment
Year: 2018
Volume: 16
Issue: 2
Category: Agriculture
Pages: 76-80

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