Impact of the “Farming With Alternative Pollinators” Approach on Crop Pollinator Pollen Diet

Pollinators are facing declines at a global level. One of the main factors driving this decline is insufficient access to floral resources due habitat loss and degradation that can affect both diet generalist species as well those with more restricted preferences. Here we evaluated effect novel mitigation strategy in agricultural ecosystems, Farming Alternative (FAP) on pollen crop pollinators. The approach dedicates 25% cropped area Marketable Habitat Enhancement Plants (MHEP) attract pollinators, natural enemies crops, provide farmers income. We assessed faba bean ( Vicia ) pumpkin Cucurbita maxima flower visitors four different regions Morocco during 2018 2019 by comparing control fields (monoculture) FAP 13 trials 101 sites. Results from 25 wild bee show almost two-thirds carrying or collecting when visiting flowers half gathered two host plants (i.e., MHEP, crop, and/or plants) displayed wide dietary breadth. Pollen grains crops were poorly represented female scopae, indicating mainly visited for nectar. Hence, may require alternative sources meet their nutritional needs. number genera collected breadth did not significant increase response management. Among selected sunflower Helianthus annuus was resource visitors. In bean, coriander Coriandrum sativum canola Brassica napus ). Our study sheds light importance characterizing foraging behavior pollinators identify appropriate plant complement food, maintain conserve populations.