Pollinator Conservation Strategies: The Effectiveness of Agroecological Infrastructure in Agricultural Environments.
- 1Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Catania, Via Santa Sofia 100, 95123 Catania, Italy.
- 2Departamento de Biologia Animal, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa 36570-900, Brazil.
Abstract
This review evaluates the role of agroecological infrastructures, including flower strips, hedgerows, grasslands, field margins, and semi-natural habitats, in supporting pollinator communities within agricultural systems. A review following PRISMA guidelines was conducted using Scopus and Web Of Science databases, covering studies published between 2014 and 2025. A total of 144 studies met the inclusion criteria. Overall, agroecological infrastructures positively affected pollinator abundance, richness, and diversity, particularly in intensive agricultural landscapes where floral and nesting resources are limited. Flower strips were especially effective in enhancing wild bee and hoverfly populations by providing continuous floral resources, although their effects were often concentrated near field margins. Hedgerows and semi-natural habitats contributed to long-term pollinator persistence by offering nesting sites, microclimatic stability, and diverse floral resources. The effectiveness of these infrastructures was strongly influenced by floristic composition, management practices, landscape context, and time since establishment, with many studies reporting stronger effects after the second or third year. However, benefits for crop yield were inconsistent and frequently crop-specific. This review highlights the importance of integrating diverse agroecological infrastructures into farming systems to promote pollinator conservation and enhance ecosystem services while identifying major research gaps, particularly in Mediterranean agroecosystems.
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BibTeX
@article{bonforte2026pollinator,
title = {{Pollinator Conservation Strategies: The Effectiveness of Agroecological Infrastructure in Agricultural Environments.}},
author = {Marta Bonforte and Roberto Catania and Maria Augusta Pereira Lima and Gaetana Mazzeo},
journal = {Insects},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.3390/insects17100987},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42940898},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Pollinator Conservation Strategies: The Effectiveness of Agroecological Infrastructure in Agricultural Environments.
AU - Marta Bonforte
AU - Roberto Catania
AU - Maria Augusta Pereira Lima
AU - Gaetana Mazzeo
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/24
JO - Insects
DO - 10.3390/insects17100987
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42940898
AB - This review evaluates the role of agroecological infrastructures, including flower strips, hedgerows, grasslands, field margins, and semi-natural habitats, in supporting pollinator communities within agricultural systems. A review following PRISMA guidelines was conducted using Scopus and Web Of Science databases, covering studies published between 2014 and 2025. A total of 144 studies met the inclusion criteria. Overall, agroecological infrastructures positively affected pollinator abundance, richness, and diversity, particularly in intensive agricultural landscapes where floral and nesting resources are limited. Flower strips were especially effective in enhancing wild bee and hoverfly populations by providing continuous floral resources, although their effects were often concentrated near field margins. Hedgerows and semi-natural habitats contributed to long-term pollinator persistence by offering nesting sites, microclimatic stability, and diverse floral resources. The effectiveness of these infrastructures was strongly influenced by floristic composition, management practices, landscape context, and time since establishment, with many studies reporting stronger effects after the second or third year. However, benefits for crop yield were inconsistent and frequently crop-specific. This review highlights the importance of integrating diverse agroecological infrastructures into farming systems to promote pollinator conservation and enhance ecosystem services while identifying major research gaps, particularly in Mediterranean agroecosystems.
SN - 2075-4450
ER -