The study of oil platforms reveals a vital role of the tiny hoverflies

A study of migratory Soverflies on a oil platform in the North Sea revealed their vital role as long-distance pollen carriers.

The researchers studied 121 marmalade hoverflies that landed on an oil platform in the Britannia oil field, 200 km off Scotland.

Pollen was found on 92% of hoverflies and – without vegetation on the platform, and no land nearby – it shows that they can transport pollen over large distances, potentially linking plant populations who are hundreds of kilometers.

The hoverflies transported pollen up to 14 different plant species, including many common cultures – by enlightening their important role in agriculture.

The study was led by the University of Exeter. The document, published in the Journal of Animal Ecologyis entitled “Long-range pollen transport through the North Sea: the ideas of migratory hoverflies landing on a distant oil platform.”

“By analyzing pollen samples and wind patterns, we believe that many hoverflies had stolen from places such as the Netherlands, northern Germany and Denmark – 500 km,” said Toby Doyle, Center for Ecology and Conservation on the Penryn campus of Exeter in Cornwall.

“The most common types of pollen were common nettle, black elders and meadow subjects, but they also wore pollen from crops, including vegetables, legumes, cereals, nuts and fruit.”

Dr. Eva Jimenez -Guri, also of the Center for Ecology and Conservation, added: “By stealing throughout Europe – from the northern and Norway islands to Spain and Portugal – these migratory surflies probably offer a range of vital advantages both for humans and plant biodiversity.

“In addition to being beneficial pollinators, marmalade soverflies are also natural pest controllers – eating prey, including aphids, helping to reduce the damage caused by crops.”

The study hoverflies landed on the oil platform in June (probably during migration to the north) and in July (when migration is mainly south).

Preferring to fly with the wind, the hoverflies are waiting for the wind to blow in the desired migratory direction before taking off.

They probably landed on the oil platform to rest or in the hope of finding food.

Dr. Karl Wotton added: “The results highlight the important role of migratory soverflies in the long distance gene flow. The following stages should examine the ecological and agricultural implications of this phenomenon to the continental scales to which these species move.”