Research by the University of Oviedo and the Asturias Regional Agrifood Development Service of ("SERIDA" by its Spanish acronym) shows the positive effects of animal biodiversity on growing cider apples in Asturias, and demonstrates for the first time the simultaneous benefits of insectivorous birds and pollinating insects. The researchers found that biological control of insect pests is improved on farms that are home to more bird species such as robins, coal tits and warblers, among others. Similarly, fruit fullness increases among apple trees that receive more visitors and more species of pollinating insects (bees, bumblebees, hover flies and so on). Based on the conclusion from this study, published in Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, researchers are encouraging growers to promote biodiversity, supported by European sustainable agriculture policies.

Previous research projects have pointed to the benefits of biodiversity in other crops, based on the study either of birds or of pollinating insects, separately. However, this new research - which analysed a large number of farms over two years - demonstrates the simultaneous effects of these very different animal groups coexisting on the same farms. In addition, the work relates biodiversity to the farms' characteristics and the structure of the landscape, and finds more insectivorous birds on farms that have apple orchards with extensive canopies, and a greater number of wild bees on farms that produce more flowers and are surrounded by native forests and shrubs.

Asturias' cider apple orchards are, therefore, agro-ecosystems where agricultural production is compatible with maintaining biodiversity. "The idea is to get growers to take part in biological conservation actions," says Daniel García, professor of ecology at the University of Oviedo and co-author of the study, along with SERIDA researchers, Rodrigo Martínez-Sastre and Marcos Miñarro. In order to guide the growers, Miñarro and García have drawn up a "a set of guidelines for sustainable apple orchards". This includes measures such as installing nesting boxes for insectivorous birds and insect hotels for pollinators, conserving hedgerows on the edges of the farms, and reducing the use of synthetic pesticides.

Asturias apple orchards have access to a new line of subsidies under the Common Agricultural Policy, specifically aimed at promoting biodiversity among birds and pollinators. This policy has come about from the Asturias government's interest in the research team' studies. According to Daniel Garcia, this has been a good example of the importance of knowledge transfer between scientists and government managers.

Article:

Martínez-Sastre, R., Miñarro, M., & García, D. (2020). Animal biodiversity in cider apple orchards: Simultaneous environmental drivers and effects on insectivory and pollination. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 295, 106918.

 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2020.106918

Miñarro, M. and García, D. (2020) Decálogo para una pumarada sostenible (Rules for sustainable apple orchards). Tecnología Agroalimentaria-SERIDA 000:000-000.

http://www.serida.org/publicacionesdetalle.php?id=8068