New research: smarter seed production areas could help tackle Australia’s pollinator crisis and native seed shortages

Pollinators like this native bee need to be considered in native seed production areas. Photo: Dr Kit Prendergast.

A new Australian-led scientific review has found that changes in how native seed production areas are designed could significantly boost both ecosystem restoration outcomes and the survival of native insect, bird and mammal pollinators.

Native seed production areas (SPAs) are dedicated sites used to grow native plants and harvest seed for ecological restoration. SPAs are becoming increasingly critical as Australia looks to scale up its response to biodiversity loss and climate change, with a corresponding rise in native seed demand.

However, new research highlights that SPAs are often designed without fully considering the needs of pollinator insects, birds and mammals, which underpin successful seed production.

The peer-reviewed study published in Restoration Ecology, led by Dr Kit Prendergast with co-authors including Dr David Field from Macquarie University and the late Dr Melinda Pickup from Greening Australia, sets out the first comprehensive framework for ensuring pollinators are built into SPA design from the ground up.

“If we want large-scale restoration to succeed, we need to think beyond which target plants to grow in SPAs, and also consider how to support the pollinators that help those plants reproduce,” said Dr Kit Prendergast.

The native Lasioglossum bees are important pollinators for agriculture as well as for native species. Photo: Dr Kit Prendergast.

Pollinators: the missing link for quality seed for restoration

The review underscores that pollinators are essential for most flowering plants, with animal pollination responsible for up to 90% of plant reproduction.

“Without effective pollination of native plants, seed yields fall and genetic diversity declines,” said Dr Field. “This undermines efforts to restore ecosystems at scale.”

Despite their importance, the study found very limited research and guidance on supporting pollinators in native SPAs, compared with supporting pollinators in agricultural systems.

A blueprint for pollinator-friendly seed production

The research provides the first comprehensive framework for designing SPAs that actively support pollinators. Key recommendations include:

• Locating SPAs near remnant native vegetation to ensure pollinators can find them
• Identifying which insect, bird and mammal species pollinate target plants and their specific needs
• Selecting appropriate companion plant species for the SPA that will provide food across the pollinator life cycle
• Including nesting sites and resources critical for native bees and other pollinators
• Avoiding resorting to introduced pollinators (i.e. European honeybee) that may compete with local fauna.

The Euhesma undulata bee is endemic to Australia, found only in south-west WA, and an important pollinator of native plants. Photo: Dr Kit Prendergast

An urgent priority for Australia

Australia is home to over 2,000 native bee species and thousands of other pollinators, many of which remain poorly understood and under-supported.

The review calls for stronger collaboration across scientific disciplines and the creation of a central, open-access database of plant–pollinator interactions to guide restoration efforts.

“This is an urgent priority for Australia, to help bridge knowledge gaps of plant–pollinator networks, pollination outcomes, and the ecological requirements of pollinators,” said Dr Field.

Dr Prendergast said a database of this kind would need ecologists, botanists, population geneticists and entomologists working together.

Dr Prendergast and Dr Field are now working on developing an Australian Native Bee & Pollinator Conservation Strategy. For more information email Dr Prendergast.
 
This research is part of a broader collaborative project funded by The Ian Potter Foundation to build best practice in native seed production, which was being led by Greening Australia’s Dr Melinda Pickup. A co-author on this review, Melinda tragically passed away after it was accepted for publication.

The research continues, honouring her legacy. If you are interested in getting updates from our SPA research project straight to your inbox, complete this form to be added to the mailing list.