Wind alters plant-pollinator community structure, bee foraging rate & movements between plants

Wind is an important abiotic factor that influences an array of biological processes including animal behavior, but it is rarely considered in plant-pollinator interactions. Here, we investigate the impact of wind speed on plant-pollinator community structure under natural conditions. In our field experiment we observed threefold greater abundance of pollinators and double the species richness under low (< 0.5 m/s) versus moderate (> 2.5 m/s) wind speeds. Significant differences in plant-pollinator community structure were also observed, with Diptera most abundant under low wind conditions, and Hymenoptera predominant and Lepidoptera absent in windier conditions. Across three plant species, the foraging rates of both honey and bumble bees were 15% greater at low versus moderate wind speeds. Lastly, at greater wind speeds bees made more movements between plants, suggesting that wind may improve yield for crops that require cross-pollination. Overall, our findings show that wind is an important factor in determining which pollinator groups are active and that eusocial bees, which are often the most important pollinators, were little affected by moderate wind speeds. Our results raise several important issues for further study and suggest that the use of linear features such as trees and hedges that act as windbreaks may be beneficial to crop pollination and conservation efforts.