Phenology and flower species availability define wild bee communities on river embankments

 

Phenology and flower species availability define wild bee communities on river embankments

Abstract

Linear landscape elements contribute to pollinator conservation, with enhancing floral resources as the most common restoration practice. However, theory predicts that floral resource availability is not always the limiting factor, as other, non-floral resources can become more limiting once enough flowers are available. We currently lack large-scale studies covering a vegetation richness gradient that could reveal the predicted saturation that should occur with floral resource limitation relief. Here, we present a comprehensive analysis of bee communities from 157 dike grasslands covering a flower richness gradient in the Netherlands in relation to vegetation composition and landscape characteristics. We show that wild bee abundance and species richness increased with more flowering plant species present but saturated at low flower species richness. This early saturation suggests that even modest conservation efforts could effectively alleviate floral resource limitation for pollinators, but that further floral resource increase could lead to diminishing returns. Nevertheless, red-listed species occurrence increased with flower species richness without saturating effects and correlated more strongly with landscape-level factors. Additionally, our results highlight the unique conservational value of river embankments for wild bees, as we encountered nearly half (156) of all Dutch bee species, with nearly 10% of individuals belonging to red-listed species.

Keywords: bumblebees; conservation; dike grasslands; linear landscape elements; wild bees.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

We declare we have no competing interests.

Similar articles

References

    1. Biesmeijer JC, et al. 2006. Parallel declines in pollinators and insect-pollinated plants in Britain and The Netherlands. Science 313, 351–354. ( 10.1126/science.1127863) - DOI PubMed
    1. Powney GD, Carvell C, Edwards M, Morris RKA, Roy HE, Woodcock BA, Isaac NJB. 2019. Widespread losses of pollinating insects in Britain. Nat. Commun. 10, 1–6. ( 10.1038/s41467-019-08974-9) - DOI PMC PubMed
    1. Hallmann CA, Ssymank A, Sorg M, de Kroon H, Jongejans E. 2021. Insect biomass decline scaled to species diversity: general patterns derived from a hoverfly community. Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 118, 1–8. ( 10.1073/pnas.2002554117) - DOI PMC PubMed
    1. Barendregt A, Zeegers T, van Steenis W, Jongejans E. 2022. Forest hoverfly community collapse: abundance and species richness drop over four decades. Insect Conserv. Divers. 15, 510–521. ( 10.1111/icad.12577) - DOI
    1. Scheper J, Reemer M, van Kats R, Ozinga WA, van der Linden GTJ, Schaminée JHJ, Siepel H, Kleijn D. 2014. Museum specimens reveal loss of pollen host plants as key factor driving wild bee decline in The Netherlands. Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 111, 17552–17557. ( 10.1073/pnas.1412973111) - DOI PMC PubMed
NextGen Digital... Welcome to WhatsApp chat
Howdy! How can we help you today?
Type here...