• Energy Research

AbstractUnderstanding how climate change can affect crop‐pollinator systems helps predict potential geographical mismatches between a crop and its pollinators, and therefore identify areas vulnerable to loss of pollination services. We examined the distribution of orchard species (apples, pears, plums and other top fruits) and their pollinators in Great Britain, for present and future climatic conditions projected for 2050 under the SRES A1B Emissions Scenario. We used a relative index of pollinator availability as a proxy for pollination service. At present, there is a large spatial overlap between orchards and their pollinators, but predictions for 2050 revealed that the most suitable areas for orchards corresponded to low pollinator availability. However, we found that pollinator availability may persist in areas currently used for fruit production, which are predicted to provide suboptimal environmental suitability for orchard species in the future. Our results may be used to identify mitigation options to safeguard orchard production against the risk of pollination failure in Great Britain over the next 50 years; for instance, choosing fruit tree varieties that are adapted to future climatic conditions, or boosting wild pollinators through improving landscape resources. Our approach can be readily applied to other regions and crop systems, and expanded to include different climatic scenarios.

Multiple anthropogenic challenges threaten nature's contributions to human well-being. Agricultural expansion and conventional intensification are degrading biodiversity and ecosystem functions, thereby undermining the natural foundations on which agriculture is itself built. Averting the worst effects of global environmental change and assuring ecosystem benefits, requires a transformation of agriculture. Alternative agricultural systems to conventional intensification exist, ranging from adjustments to efficiency (e.g. sustainable intensification) to a redesign (e.g. ecological intensification, climate-smart agriculture) of the farm management system. These alternatives vary in their reliance on nature or technology, the level of systemic change required to operate, and impacts on biodiversity, landscapes and agricultural production. Different socio-economic, ecological and political settings mean there is no universal solution, instead there are a suite of interoperable practices that can be adapted to different contexts to maximise efficiency, sustainability and resilience. Social, economic, technological and demographic issues will influence the form of sustainable agriculture and effects on landscapes and biodiversity. These include: (1) the socio-technical-ecological architecture of agricultural and food systems and trends such as urbanisation in affecting the mode of production, diets, lifestyles and attitudes; (2) emerging technologies, such as gene editing, synthetic biology and 3D bioprinting of meat; and (3) the scale or state of the existing farm system, especially pertinent for smallholder agriculture. Agricultural transformation will require multifunctional landscape planning with cross-sectoral and participatory management to avoid unintended consequences and ultimately depends on people's capacity to accept new ways of operating in response to the current environmental crisis.

La tecnología está transformando las sociedades en todo el mundo. Una innovación importante es la aparición de la robótica y los sistemas autónomos (RAS), que tienen el potencial de revolucionar las ciudades tanto para las personas como para la naturaleza. Sin embargo, las oportunidades y desafíos asociados con el RAS para los ecosistemas urbanos aún no se han considerado sistemáticamente. A continuación, presentamos los resultados de un análisis del horizonte en línea en el que participaron 170 expertos de 35 países. Concluimos que es probable que el RAS transforme el uso de la tierra, los sistemas de transporte y las interacciones entre el ser humano y la naturaleza. Las oportunidades priorizadas se centraron principalmente en el despliegue de RAS para el monitoreo y la gestión de la biodiversidad y los ecosistemas. Se priorizaron menos desafíos. Las que se enfatizaron se refieren a los residuos de ras no recuperados y a la calidad e interpretación de los datos recopilados por ras. Aunque los impactos futuros de la RAS para los ecosistemas urbanos son difíciles de predecir, examinar los desarrollos potencialmente importantes desde el principio es esencial si queremos evitar consecuencias perjudiciales pero aprovechar plenamente los beneficios. Los desafíos futuros y las oportunidades potenciales de la robótica y los sistemas autónomos en los ecosistemas urbanos, y cómo pueden afectar la biodiversidad, se exploran y priorizan a través de un análisis del horizonte global de 170 expertos. La technologie transforme les sociétés du monde entier. Une innovation majeure est l'émergence de la robotique et des systèmes autonomes (RAS), qui ont le potentiel de révolutionner les villes pour les personnes et la nature. Néanmoins, les opportunités et les défis associés aux RAS pour les écosystèmes urbains n'ont pas encore été systématiquement pris en compte. Ici, nous rapportons les résultats d'une analyse d'horizon en ligne impliquant 170 participants experts de 35 pays. Nous concluons que les RAS sont susceptibles de transformer l'utilisation des terres, les systèmes de transport et les interactions entre l'homme et la nature. Les opportunités priorisées étaient principalement centrées sur le déploiement de RAS pour le suivi et la gestion de la biodiversité et des écosystèmes. Moins de défis ont été priorisés. Ceux qui ont été soulignés concernent les déchets environnants provenant des ras non récupérés, ainsi que la qualité et l'interprétation des données collectées par les ras. Bien que les impacts futurs des RAS sur les écosystèmes urbains soient difficiles à prévoir, il est essentiel d'examiner rapidement les développements potentiellement importants si nous voulons éviter les conséquences néfastes mais en tirer pleinement parti. Les défis futurs et les opportunités potentielles de la robotique et des systèmes autonomes dans les écosystèmes urbains, et comment ils peuvent avoir un impact sur la biodiversité, sont explorés et hiérarchisés via un horizon global de 170 experts. Technology is transforming societies worldwide. A major innovation is the emergence of robotics and autonomous systems (RAS), which have the potential to revolutionize cities for both people and nature. Nonetheless, the opportunities and challenges associated with RAS for urban ecosystems have yet to be considered systematically. Here, we report the findings of an online horizon scan involving 170 expert participants from 35 countries. We conclude that RAS are likely to transform land use, transport systems and human–nature interactions. The prioritized opportunities were primarily centred on the deployment of RAS for the monitoring and management of biodiversity and ecosystems. Fewer challenges were prioritized. Those that were emphasized concerns surrounding waste from unrecovered RAS, and the quality and interpretation of RAS-collected data. Although the future impacts of RAS for urban ecosystems are difficult to predict, examining potentially important developments early is essential if we are to avoid detrimental consequences but fully realize the benefits. The future challenges and potential opportunities of robotics and autonomous systems in urban ecosystems, and how they may impact biodiversity, are explored and prioritized via a global horizon scan of 170 experts. تعمل التكنولوجيا على تحويل المجتمعات في جميع أنحاء العالم. يتمثل أحد الابتكارات الرئيسية في ظهور الروبوتات والأنظمة المستقلة (RAS)، والتي لديها القدرة على إحداث ثورة في المدن لكل من الناس والطبيعة. ومع ذلك، لم يتم بعد النظر بشكل منهجي في الفرص والتحديات المرتبطة بـ RAS للنظم الإيكولوجية الحضرية. هنا، نبلغ عن نتائج مسح الأفق عبر الإنترنت الذي شارك فيه 170 خبيرًا من 35 دولة. نستنتج أن RAS من المرجح أن يحول استخدام الأراضي وأنظمة النقل والتفاعلات بين الطبيعة البشرية. تركزت الفرص ذات الأولوية في المقام الأول على نشر RAS لرصد وإدارة التنوع البيولوجي والنظم الإيكولوجية. تم إعطاء الأولوية لتحديات أقل. تلك التي تم التأكيد عليها المخاوف المحيطة بالنفايات من RAS غير المستردة، وجودة وتفسير البيانات التي تم جمعها من RAS. على الرغم من صعوبة التنبؤ بالآثار المستقبلية لـ RAS على النظم الإيكولوجية الحضرية، إلا أن دراسة التطورات المهمة المحتملة في وقت مبكر أمر ضروري إذا أردنا تجنب العواقب الضارة ولكن تحقيق الفوائد بالكامل. يتم استكشاف التحديات المستقبلية والفرص المحتملة للروبوتات والأنظمة المستقلة في النظم الإيكولوجية الحضرية، وكيف يمكن أن تؤثر على التنوع البيولوجي، وتحديد أولوياتها من خلال مسح الأفق العالمي الذي يضم 170 خبيرًا.

Global food security, particularly crop fertilization and yield production, is threatened by heat waves that are projected to increase in frequency and magnitude with climate change. Effects of heat stress on the fertilization of insect-pollinated plants are not well understood, but experiments conducted primarily in self-pollinated crops, such as wheat, show that transfer of fertile pollen may recover yield following stress. We hypothesized that in the partially pollinator-dependent crop, faba bean (Vicia faba L.), insect pollination would elicit similar yield recovery following heat stress. We exposed potted faba bean plants to heat stress for 5 days during floral development and anthesis. Temperature treatments were representative of heat waves projected in the UK for the period 2021-2050 and onwards. Following temperature treatments, plants were distributed in flight cages and either pollinated by domesticated Bombus terrestris colonies or received no insect pollination. Yield loss due to heat stress at 30 °C was greater in plants excluded from pollinators (15%) compared to those with bumblebee pollination (2.5%). Thus, the pollinator dependency of faba bean yield was 16% at control temperatures (18-26 °C) and extreme stress (34 °C), but was 53% following intermediate heat stress at 30 °C. These findings provide the first evidence that the pollinator dependency of crops can be modified by heat stress, and suggest that insect pollination may become more important in crop production as the probability of heat waves increases.

Abstract There is increasing land use change for solar parks and growing recognition that they could be used to support insect pollinators. However, understanding of pollinator response to solar park developments is limited and empirical data are lacking. We combine field observations with landcover data to quantify the impact of on‐site floral resources and surrounding landscape characteristics on solar park pollinator abundance and species richness. We surveyed pollinators and flowering plants at 15 solar parks across England in 2021, used a landcover map to assess the surrounding high‐quality habitat and aerial imagery to measure woody linear features (hedgerows, woodland edges and lines of trees). In total, 1397 pollinators were recorded, including 899 butterflies (64%), 171 hoverflies (12%), 161 bumble bees (12%), 157 moths (11%), and nine honeybees (<1%). At least 30 pollinator species were observed, the majority of which were common, generalist species. Pollinator biodiversity varied between solar parks and was explained by a combination of on‐site floral resources and surrounding landscape characteristics. Floral species richness was the most influential on‐site characteristic and woody linear feature density generally had a greater impact than the cover of surrounding high‐quality habitats, although drivers differed by pollinator group. Our findings suggest that a range of factors affect pollinator biodiversity at solar parks, but maximising floral resources within a park through appropriate management actions may be the most achievable way to support most pollinator groups, especially where solar parks are located in resource‐poor, disconnected landscapes.

Renewable power capacity is increasing globally in response to energy decarbonisation, with solar photovoltaic (PV) projected to be the dominant renewable. A significant proportion of solar PV is deployed as ground-mounted solar parks with potential implications for the hosting ecosystem. Given their relatively rapid introduction, the impacts on land use and the local environment are poorly understood. However, if deployed and managed strategically, solar parks could offer unique opportunities to enhance the local environment and benefit biodiversity, with implications for ecosystem components such as pollinators. With a focus on north-west Europe, we systematically review the available evidence on how land management practices relevant to solar parks can enhance pollinator biodiversity. We assessed 185 articles for the quantity and agreement of evidence for 27 management interventions and assigned a confidence score to each finding. We show that a range of interventions applied to solar parks could increase their ability to enhance pollinator biodiversity. We then use our assessment to synthesise ten evidence-based recommendations on how to improve solar park management for pollinators by providing foraging and reproductive resources, undergoing considered management practices, increasing landscape heterogeneity and connectivity and providing microclimatic variation. Ensuring beneficial management of rapidly growing solar parks contributes to their wider environmental sustainability, with positive implications for both pollinator conservation and the energy sector in general.