Functional complementarity between nocturnal and diurnal pollinators along a land-use gradient in Taita Hills biodiversity hotspots in Kenya

• Applicant: Privatdozent Dr. Mark Otieno
• Subject Area: Ecology of Land Use ; Ecology and Biodiversity of Plants and Ecosystems ; Ecology and Biodiversity of Animals and Ecosystems, Organismic Interactions
• Term: since 2023
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 517509146

Pollination is a critical regulating ecosystem service delivered to crops mainly by insects, which account for 75% of all global crops consumed by humans. The focus of the world’s attention in recent years has been chiefly on bees and other diurnal pollinators because of dramatic global declines. The nocturnal groups, e.g., macro-moths, have not received much attention despite their potential role in complementing the diurnal flower visitors in crop pollination. This study will investigate the complexity of pollen transport networks and pollination of coffee (Coffea arabica: Rubiaceae) and papaya (Carica papaya: Caricaceae) by nocturnal macro-moths and diurnal flower visitors along a gradient of land-use intensification in Taita Hills Biodiversity Hotspots, Kenya, from February 2023 to January 2026. Communities of nocturnal macro-moths will be sampled using light traps and timed visual counts, and pollen examined using DNA metabarcoding techniques to build plant-pollinator networks. Diurnal flower visitors will be sampled using pan traps and timed visual counts on crops to allow for comparisons between diurnal and nocturnal plant-pollinator networks. The study will establish the critical role of nocturnal macro-moths in pollen transport and establish their economic contribution to crop production.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants