Biodiversity supporting properties of flaxseed cultivation (<i>Linum usitatissimum</i> L.) in agricultural landscapes

Authors

  • Saskia Gali-Röhrig Institute of Crop Science and Resource Conversation, Research Area Renewable Resources, University of Bonn, Klein-Altendorf 2, 53359 Rheinbach, Germany
  • Hanna Blum Institute of Crop Science and Resource Conversation, Research Area Renewable Resources, University of Bonn, Klein-Altendorf 2, 53359 Rheinbach, Germany
  • Rita Földesi Institute of Crop Science and Resource Conversation, Agroecology and Organic Farming, University of Bonn, Auf dem Hügel 6, 53115 Bonn, Germany
  • Andrée Hamm Institute of Crop Science and Resource Conversation, Agroecology and Organic Farming, University of Bonn, Auf dem Hügel 6, 53115 Bonn, Germany
  • Thomas Döring Institute of Crop Science and Resource Conversation, Agroecology and Organic Farming, University of Bonn, Auf dem Hügel 6, 53115 Bonn, Germany
  • Ralf Pude Institute of Crop Science and Resource Conversation, Research Area Renewable Resources, University of Bonn, Klein-Altendorf 2, 53359 Rheinbach, Germany

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5073/jka.2018.460.026

Keywords:

pollen, insects, pollination, wildbees, hoverflies

Abstract

Flaxseed is the economically most important medicinal plant in Germany. It is cultivated on an area of over 2500 ha. Its pollen and/or nectar are a potential foodresource for insects in intensively used agricultural landscapes. To test this hypothesis insects on flowering flaxseed plants and the flowering environment were collected and the species and their abundance were determined. The study focused on taxa of Hymenoptera (except Formicidae) and Diptera. In addition, pollen samples were taken from wildbees and intestinal content of hoverflies was analyzed. On two out of three study sites we found higher species numbers in flaxseed than in the flowering environment. Further, more individuals of Hymenoptera were found in cultivated flaxseed compared to the neighboring environment on all three sites. Flaxseed pollen was found on Halictus sp. and Lasioglossum calceatum, indicating that these species may serve as pollinators of flax. Moreover, flaxseed pollen was found in the digestive system of Syrphus ribesii which suggests a potential role of flaxseed as a food source for this species.

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Published

2018-12-20

Issue

No. 460 (2018): VIIIth Conference on Medicinal and Aromatic Plant Research, Bonn, 10. – 13. September 2018

Section

Poster

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