Primary data in pollination services mapping: potential service provision by honey bees (Apis mellifera) in Cumberland and Colchester, Nova Scotia

Abstract

This study utilized the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs (InVEST) pollination model to investigate the impacts of using field data on ecosystem services mapping studies by using potential pollination services in Cumberland and Colchester counties in Nova Scotia, Canada, as a case study. The model was run using two different sources of data to inform the floral resource component of the model. First, the model was run driven by proxies and approximate values gathered from the literature. The second iteration of the model utilized field-based data to generate floral resource abundance and distribution values. Both models utilized honey bee-specific species preference data drawn from field observations and expert opinion in the literature. Results indicated an 8.1% increase in the amount of land designated as high quality when the model was informed by field-based data. Such discrepancies are important when considering the potential implications of ecosystem services mapping studies on policy. As a tool, ecosystem services mapping provides the opportunity to spatially evaluate the impact that different land-use planning regimes could have on the supply and provision of various ecosystem services. However, as its popularity rises, it is important to keep in mind the accuracy and resolution of the data used to inform the modelling process.