title: Pollinator declines. Extinctions of aculeate pollinators in Britain and the role of large-scale agricultural changes.
abstract: Pollinators are fundamental to maintaining both biodiversity and agricultural productivity, but habitat destruction, loss of flower resources, and increased use of pesticides are causing declines in their abundance and diversity. Using historical records, we assessed the rate of extinction of bee and flower-visiting wasp species in Britain from the mid-19th century to the present. The most rapid phase of extinction appears to be related to changes in agricultural policy and practice beginning in the 1920s, before the agricultural intensification prompted by the Second World War, often cited as the most important driver of biodiversity loss in Britain. Slowing of the extinction rate from the 1960s onward may be due to prior loss of the most sensitive species and/or effective conservation programs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental and Geographical Sciences, School of Science and Technology, University of Northampton, Avenue Campus, Northampton NN2 6JD, UK. jeff.ollerton@northampton.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Jeff
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ollerton
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental and Geographical Sciences, School of Science and Technology, University of Northampton, Avenue Campus, Northampton NN2 6JD, UK.
authors.forename: Hilary
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Erenler
authors.affiliation: Lea-Side, Carron Lane, Midhurst GU29 9LB, UK.
authors.forename: Mike
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental and Geographical Sciences, School of Science and Technology, University of Northampton, Avenue Campus, Northampton NN2 6JD, UK.
authors.forename: Robin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Crockett
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture / Q000266:history / Q000379:methods; D000818:Animals; D001516:Bees; D044822:Biodiversity; D053476:Extinction, Biological; D035264:Flowers; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D016014:Linear Models; D011058:Pollen; D054817:Pollination; D011157:Population Dynamics; D006113:United Kingdom; D014863:Wasps