A new field experiment at SITES Lönnstorp Research Station is underway as part of the Formas-funded research project PriorBEE, exploring how different wild bee species contribute to strawberry pollination and fruit quality.
The study focuses on three pollination treatments using bumblebees (Bombus terrestris), solitary bees (Osmia bicornis), and a combination of both species. These bees represent key functional pollinator groups in Scandinavian agriculture and vary in traits such as body size, tongue length, and foraging behavior.
By monitoring visitation patterns and pollinator interactions, the research aims to understand how wild pollinators influence fruit development, including size and shape. The findings will help inform more sustainable approaches to crop pollination.
The project is led by Dr. Liam Kendall at Lund University.
The experimental setup at SITES Lönnstorp research station (photo: Liam Kendall)