Spatial data of Moroccan crop pollinators

The data was collected in the framework of the IKI-FAP project. 

This data was explored in the research of Sentil et al., 2024.

The objective of this research was to assess the impact of the Farming with Alternative Pollinators (FAP) approach on pollinator diversity and abundance.

FAP field is 300 m² (30m*10m). 25 % of the FAP field area (the surrounding area) is occupied by Marketable Habitat Enhancement Plants (MHEP) and 75 % of the field area (the central zone) is occupied by the main crop. To test the impact of the FAP appraoch on pollinators, we compared FAP fields with control fields (the main crop occupies 100 % of the field area). 

The impact of the FAP approach on pollinator abundance and richness was assessed in four Moroccan agro-ecosystems (Settat, Kenitra, Errachidia and Sefrou), during two consecutive years (2018 and 2019) and using six main crops (faba bean, eggplant, pumpkin, zucchini, tomato and apple), resulting in 27 crop trials. Each crop trial represents one main crop (faba bean, eggplant, zucchini, pumpkin, apple or tomato) planted in one year (2018 or 2019) and in one region (Settat, Kenitra, Errachidia or Sefrou). 

For each crop trial 8 fields were selected when possible : 5 FAP fields (FAP1, FAP2, FAP3, FAP4 and FAP5) and 3 control fields (C1, C2 and C3).

The sampling in the main crop consisted of walking alongside two 28 m transects (T1 and T2) and the sampling in the 25 zone ( the main crop in control field and MHEP in FAP field) consisted of walking alongside an 80 m transect (T3).

Four insect samplings were conducted in each FAP and control field: one before the blooming of the main crop (S1), two during the blooming of the main crop (S2 and S3) and one after the blooming of the main crop (S4). 

For further details please see Sentil et al., 2024.

References:

Sentil, A, Lhomme, P, Reverte, S, El Abdouni, I, Hamroud, L, Ihsane, O, Bencharki, Y, Rollin, O, Rasmont, P, Chrif, M, Michez, D, Ssymank, A, Christmann, S. (2024). The pollinator conservation approach “ Farming with Alternative Pollinators ” : Success and drivers. Agriculture , Ecosystems and Environment 369. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2024.109029