The loss of lowland heathland has lead to the decline of this species. The pathogen Phytophthora kernoviae was reported causing a significant threat to heathland bilberry in the United Kingdom (Beales et al. 2009).
Name
Emma Hemmerlé
Scientific Name
Vaccinium myrtillus
Common Name(s)
Bilberry
Type of Use
Extractive (i.e., the entire organism or parts of the organism are removed from its environment)
If extractive, for the target species, is this use
Non-Lethal
Does this use involve take/extraction of
Only parts or products of the organism (e.g., feathers, leaves, branches, eggs, nuts)
Details of parts/products taken
continuous bilberry picking by metal rake from the bilberry stands;
The experiment was conducted in a northern boreal forest area (66°32 ́N, 25°00 ́E) in Finland during 2012–2015. Four sites, rich in berry-producing bilberry plants, were chosen for the experiment. The sites were located in an area of approximately one square km. Common understorey species at the sites together with bilberry are lingonberry (V. vitis-idaea L.) and wavy hair-grass (Deschampsia flexuosa [L.] Trin.). A thick layer of bryophytes, consisting of species such as Pleurozium scheberi (Brid.) Mitt. and Hylocomium splendens (Hedw.) Schimp., are commonly found in the forest floor.
Is the use part of a strategy to generate conservation incentives, to finance conservation, or to improve tolerance/stewardship?
Unknown/not recorded
Is there evidence that the use is affecting the conservation status of the species? HIDE
Yes – use is improving the status (e.g., population is increasing or stabilising, extraction effort OR catch per unit effort is decreasing or stable)
Is there evidence that the use is affecting natural selection?
Unknown/not recorded
Is there evidence that the use is affecting poaching of illegal wildlife trade?
Unknown/not reported
Bilberry lost less than 0.5% of its biomass annually during the three-year study period due to rake harvesting. The number of flowers was not significantly affected by damage caused by picking, while both fruit production and fruit set increased without any indication of reduced fruit mass, and biomass loss was fully compensated. Moreover, the relative abundance of plant functional types was not affected by picking during the study.
Is there any evidence that this use of the species is having a knock-on effect on the status of non-target species
Unknown/not recorded
Unknown/not recorded
Details of assessment carried out
On the basis of this study, it is reasonable to anticipate that there are no indications that current intensive berry picking would not be on a sustainable level. The findings of increased fruit production and fruit set of bilberry in our study suggest enhanced bilberry yields in areas under continuous picking. In conclusion, we suggest that the low intensity and timing of damage act as a buffer against the adverse effects of picking on bilberry fruit production. Surprisingly both bilberry fruit produc- tion and fruit set increased after continuous picking, although the reason behind this phenomenon remains unclear in this study. Picking probably accelerated the rejuvenation process of bilberry ramets, which may be beneficial to bilberry performance in the long-term. Moreover, the relative abundance of plant functional types remained the same after three years of picking, suggesting that continuous picking does not deteriorate bilberry yields by inducing changes in a vegetation community structure. On the basis of this study, it is reasonable to anticipate that there are no indications that current intensive berry picking would not be on a sustainable level.
Has a valuation of financial flows from this use at the site/national/international level been recorded