Wild bee (Apiformes) communities in contrasting habitats within agricultural and wooded landscapes: implications for conservation management

Abstract

1 Semi-natural habitats are characterized by a high diversity of wildlife. However, other areas, e.g. old fields, can also play an important role in biodiversity conservation. 2 We assessed the species richness, abundance, and diversity of wild bees (Apiformes), including species of various functional groups in two contrasting and differently managed landscape types. For this study, we selected 15 xerothermic or sandy grasslands or extensively managed fresh meadows located in agricultural landscapes as well as 15 old fields located in wooded landscapes. The study sites differed in area, stage of succession, and management regime. 3 We did not detect any significant differences in total species richness, abundance, and diversity of Apiformes between the two landscape types, which suggests that both semi-natural habitats and old fields are highly attractive to bees. The two habitat types, however, differed in species composition and proportions of functional groups. We found that in wooded landscapes, eusocial, hive-nesting, and large-sized species increased in abundance. 4 The collected information on the preferences of Apiformes in respect of various habitats and landscapes makes it possible to protect and restore valuable habitats through the implementation of suitable methods of management, both locally and on the scale of landscapes.

Linear woodlots increase wild bee abundance by providing additional food sources in an agricultural landscape

“…Many local and landscape factors can affect wild bee abundance and species richness in mid‐field woodlots. Significant factors include isolation (Steffan‐Dewenter & Tscharntke, 1999), habitat area (Steffan‐Dewenter, 2003), food resources (Alison et al, 2022; Kratschmer et al, 2019), and landscape heterogeneity (Jauker et al, 2009; Twerd & Sobieraj‐Betlińska, 2020). Generally, isolation combined with low landscape heterogeneity and small food resources can have a negative effect on the local abundance and species richness of bees.…”

Comparative analysis of the diversity of bees in agroecosystem habitats

“…A decline in bee diversity will affect the pollination of many insect-pollinated crops and wild plant species. Although the honeybee (Apis mellifera L.) is generally regarded as the most important bee pollinator [25], wild bees are also relevant [22]. There has been growing concern about suspected declines in wild bee populations and the implications for agricultural and natural ecosystems [11].…”

“…Locally, species richness and abundance depend on plant species richness and cover as well as on the habitat composition and diversity in the surrounding landscape [9,22]. Furthermore, Schweiger et al [19] showed in an extensive sampling across Europe that wild bee communities are first influenced by the land use intensity in a region, then by the landscape structure, i.e., the proportion of semi-natural elements in the landscape.…”