Distribution and dynamics of populations of the most important groups pollinators in the agro-ecosystems of Vojvodina

U  radu  je  prikazana  distribucija,  dinamika  i  diverzitet  insekata oprašivača iz reda Hymenoptera  -  Apiformes (Anthophila) i Diptera Syrphidae)  na  stepskim  fragmentima  i  na  suncokretu  u agroekosistema  Vojvodine.  U  cilju  uvida  u  strukturu  predela  injenog  uticaja  na  sastav  i  brojnost  polinatora,  kartirani  su  tipovistaništa  oko  svakog  stepskog  fragmenta.  Na  osnovu  podataka dobijenih kartiranjem, odabrano je sedam stepskih fragmenata kojiu  svom  okruženju  imaju  visok  udeo  suncokreta  kao  masovnocvetajuće  kulture  i  sedam  stepskih  fragmenata  koji  su  bez  ili  saniskim  udelom  suncokreta.  Iz  reda  Hymenoptera  –  Apoideazabeleženo  je  šest  familija:  Andrenidae,  Apidae,  Colletidae,Halictidae,  Melittidae  i  Megachilidae,  114  vrsta,  a  iz  reda  Diptera(Syrphidae),  registrovano  je  ukupno  11  vrsta.  Predstavnici  familija Andrenidae, Apidae i Halictidae su distribuirani na svim lokalitetima,predstavnici  familije  Megachilidae  su  distribuirani  na  15  od  16lokaliteta,  a  najmanje  su  zastupljene  jedinke  familija  Colletidae  i Melittidae,  distribuirane  na  pet  lokaliteta.  Polinatori  reda  Diptera familije  Syrphidae  su  distribuirani  na  svim  lokalitetima.  Rezultati Kruskal-Volisovog H testa ukuzuju da je tokom sve tri sezone (2011.,2012.,  2013.)  na  stepskim  fragmentima  najviše  bilo  zastupljeno vrsta  solitarnih  pčela,  zatim  vrsta  osolikih  muva,  a  najmanje  vrsta bumbara.  Istim  testom  je  dobijano  da  je  tokom  sve  tri  sezone  na stepskim  fragmentima,  registrovano  najviše  jedinki  osolikih  muva, zatim  medonosne  pčele,  solitarne  pčele,  a  najmanje  jedinki bumbara.  Fridmanovim  testom  su  utvrđene  razlike  u  brojnosti (dinamici)  polinatora  kroz  sezone,  uočen  je  porast  broja  jedinki medonosne pčele i opadanje broja jedinki solitarnih pčela.Rezultati  dobijeni  Man-Vitnijevim  U-testom  pokazuju  da  je  na stepskim  fragmentima  koji  imaju  niži  udeo  suncokreta  u  predelu zastupljeno  više  jedinki  i  vrsta  bumbara.  Istim  testom  je  dobijen rezultat  da  je  na  stepskim  fragmentima  sa  visokim  udelom suncokreta  ima  više  jedinki  medonosne  pčele.  Vilkoksonovim testom  sume  rangova  je  pokazano  da  su  jedinke  i  vrste  bumbara zastupljenije na stepskim fragmentima nakon cvetanja suncokreta, za  vreme  cvetanja  suncokreta  na  stepskim  fragmentima  je registrovano  više  jedinki  Apis  mellifera,  osolikih  muva  i  solitarnih pčela.  Modeli  regresionih  analiza  linearnih  mešovitih  modela  su pokazali  da  se  sa  porastom  udela  suncokreta  u  predelu  smanjuje broj jedinki divljih pčela i jedinki i vrsta bumbara. Sa porastom udela polu-prirodnih  staništa  u  predelu  i  većom  cvetnom  pokrovnosti, povećava se udeo jedinki i vrsta osolikih muva.This  paper  shows  distribution,  dynamic  and  pollinator  diversity Hymenoptera  -  Apiformes  (Anthophila)  and Diptera (Syrphidae)  in semi-natural  habitats  and  in  sunflower  crops  in  Vojvodina  agroecosystems.  Around  each  of  16  selected  steppe  fragments,  habitat types  were  mapped  to  test  how  do  landscape  structure  affects pollinator  diversity  and  abundance  in  semi  natural  habitats  and  in sunflower  crops.  Based  on  the  results  obtained  by  mapping,  seven study sites with high % of sunflower like mass flowering crops, and eight  study  sites  with  no  or  low  %  of  mass  flowering  crops  are selected. In total, there were 114 species from 6 families  from order Hymenoptera-Apiformes:  Andrenidae,  Apidae,  Colletidae, Halictidae, Melittidae and Megachilidae, and 11 species from order Diptera  (Syrphidae).  Insects  from  families:  Andrenidae,  Apidae, Colletidae  and  Halictidae  were  distributed  on  all  study  sites,  while insects  from  family  Megachilidae  were  distributed  almost  on  all study  sites  (15  sites).  At  least  only  on  five  study  sites  were distributed insects from family: Colletidae and Melittidae. Hoverflies were distributed on all study sites.  Kruskal-Wallis H test shows that an  all  three  seasons  (2011.,  2012.,  2013.)  in  semi  natural  habitats wild bees species were most abundant, followed by hoverfly species, and bumblebee species at the end. Same test  shows that  in all three seasons in semi natural habitats individuals of hoverflies were more abundant than individuals of honey bees, wild bees  and individuals of  bumblebees,  which  were  least  abundant.  Friedman  test  shows differences in densities of pollinator through the seasons, and these results  shows  increasing  in  Apis  mellifera  densities  and  decline  of wild bees densities through seasons. Man-Whitney  U-test  shows  that  there  were  more  species  and individuals of bumble bees in semi-natural habitats which landscapes are without  or low % of sunflower. Same test shows that there were more  individuals  of  honey  bees  in  semi-natural  habitats  which landscapes  have  high  %  of  sunflower.  Wilcoxon  signed-rank  test shows  that  in  semi-natural  habitats  species  and  individuals  of bumblebees  were  more  abundant  after  blooming  sunflower,  while species  and  individuals  of  wild  bees  as  well  as  individuals  of hoverflies and  Apis mellifera  were  more abundant during blooming sunflower.  Linear mixed-effect model shows that with increase of % of  sunflower  in  landscape  number  of  individuals  of  wild  bees  and species and individuals of bumblebees decreasing, and individuals of hoverflies increasing. With an increase of % of semi natural habitats and  increase  of  flower  cover,  abundance  and  species  of  hoverflies increases

Mass-flowering crops dilute pollinator abundance in agricultural landscapes across Europe

Mass-flowering crops (MFCs) are increasingly cultivated and might influence pollinator communities in MFC fields and nearby semi-natural habitats (SNHs). Across six European regions and 2 years, we assessed how landscape-scale cover of MFCs affected pollinator densities in 408 MFC fields and adjacent SNHs. In MFC fields, densities of bumblebees, solitary bees, managed honeybees and hoverflies were negatively related to the cover of MFCs in the landscape. In SNHs, densities of bumblebees declined with increasing cover of MFCs but densities of honeybees increased. The densities of all pollinators were generally unrelated to the cover of SNHs in the landscape. Although MFC fields apparently attracted pollinators from SNHs, in landscapes with large areas of MFCs they became diluted. The resulting lower densities might negatively affect yields of pollinator-dependent crops and the reproductive success of wild plants. An expansion of MFCs needs to be accompanied by pollinator-supporting practices in agricultural landscapes

Forest changes due to human activities in the National Park "Fruška Gora” (Serbia): Ecological and economic indicators

Forest ecosystems are the source of multiple goods and services to humans, the provision of which is deemed to be conditioned by biodiversity. If so, the value of biodiversity has to become apparent to society and, especially, decision makers. The aim of this study was to demonstrate this value. Biodiversity changes were investigated along different stages of forest disturbance in the National Park "Fruška Gora". Both quantitative (structural diversity, species diversity) and qualitative aspects (functional traits of species) have been observed. Parallel analysis of the provision level of certain forest products, resulting from the given forest state, was performed and monetarily expressed. The results indicate that biodiversity lowers with higher disturbance. Moreover, benefits accrue with higher biodiversity. The approach also proved useful in estimating the ecosystem’s ability to maintain its functionality; however, further exploration of these links will be needed. This is necessary in future work if biodiversity conservation incentives are to be created

Contribution to the knowledge of the bee fauna (Hymenoptera, Apoidea, Anthophila) in Serbia

The current work represents summarised data on the bee fauna in Serbia from previous publications, collections, and field data in the period from 1890 to 2020. A total of 706 species from all six of the globally widespread bee families is recorded; of the total number of recorded species, 314 have been confirmed by determination, while 392 species are from published data. Fourteen species, collected in the last three years, are the first published records of these taxa from Serbia: Andrena barbareae (Panzer, 1805), A. clarkella (Kirby, 1802), A. fulvicornis (Schenck, 1853), A. intermedia (Thomson, 1870), A. lapponica (Zetterstedt, 1838), A. pandellei (Pérez, 1895), A. paucisquama (Noskiewicz, 1924), A. simillima (Smith, 1851), Panurginus herzi (Morawitz, 1892), Epeoloides coecutiens (Fabricius, 1775), Nomada leucophthalma (Kirby, 1802), Chelostoma nasutum (Pérez, 1895), Hoplitis claviventris (Thomson, 1872), and Dasypoda pyrotrichia (Förster, 1855). Almost all the species recorded so far in Serbia belong to the West-Palaearctic biogeographical region, except Megachile sculpturalis (Smith, 1853), which is an alien invasive species native to East Asia. According to the European Red List of bees, 221 species listed in this paper were assessed as Data Deficient; threatened species mostly belong to the families Apidae with 13 species, Colletidae with eight species, and Halictidae with five species. This study contributes to the knowledge of the distribution of bee species in Europe. The present work provides a baseline for future research of wild bee diversity in Serbia and neighbouring regions at the local and regional levels, and a basis for their conservation

Contribution to the knowledge of the bee fauna (Hymenoptera, Apoidea, Anthophila) in Serbia

The current work represents summarised data on the bee fauna in Serbia from previous publications, collections, and field data in the period from 1890 to 2020. A total of 706 species from all six of the globally widespread bee families is recorded; of the total number of recorded species, 314 have been confirmed by determination, while 392 species are from published data. Fourteen species, collected in the last three years, are the first published records of these taxa from Serbia: Andrena barbareae (Panzer, 1805), A. clarkella (Kirby, 1802), A. fulvicornis (Schenck, 1853), A. intermedia (Thomson, 1870), A. lapponica (Zetterstedt, 1838), A. pandellei (Pérez, 1895), A. paucisquama (Noskiewicz, 1924), A. simillima (Smith, 1851), Panurginus herzi (Morawitz, 1892), Epeoloides coecutiens (Fabricius, 1775), Nomada leucophthalma (Kirby, 1802), Chelostoma nasutum (Pérez, 1895), Hoplitis claviventris (Thomson, 1872), and Dasypoda pyrotrichia (Förster, 1855). Almost all the species recorded so far in Serbia belong to the West-Palaearctic biogeographical region, except Megachile sculpturalis (Smith, 1853), which is an alien invasive species native to East Asia. According to the European Red List of bees, 221 species listed in this paper were assessed as Data Deficient; threatened species mostly belong to the families Apidae with 13 species, Colletidae with eight species, and Halictidae with five species. This study contributes to the knowledge of the distribution of bee species in Europe. The present work provides a baseline for future research of wild bee diversity in Serbia and neighbouring regions at the local and regional levels, and a basis for their conservation

New records for the wild bee fauna (Hymenoptera, Anthophila) of Serbia

Numerous scientific projects have been initiated with the aim of tackling the decline in insect pollinators, a crucial group for the functioning of terrestrial ecosystems. One of the first steps is to address information gaps on species spatial distribution, diversity, and abundance that prevent effective conservation actions in Europe. Given that Serbia belongs to the understudied areas, efforts are being made to improve knowledge of its bee diversity and abundance. The present study includes the monitoring of bees at 54 sites, surveyed three times during 2022. The conducted protocol combined two methods, transect walks and pan traps, resulting in the discovery of 312 bee species. The main results present the records of 25 species, not previously mentioned in Serbia, while another important finding is the confirmation of the presence of 26 species, without any available records from the 21st century. Moreover, 79 here examined species were known only from literature-based data. Six of the recorded species are considered threatened and 67 (10 newly recorded) have been assessed as Data Deficient in the European Red List of Bees. Therefore, the present study not only contributes to an update and confirms the list of bee species in Serbia, that now counts 731 species, but also provides additional information about European distribution, required for new assessment at the European level. In addition, the results indicate that the combination of complementary sampling methods is an effective way to assess bee diversity and abundance

Forest and grassland habitats support pollinator diversity more than wildflowers and sunflower monoculture

Intensively managed agricultural landscapes often lack suitable habitats to support diverse wildlife, particularly harming pollinator communities. Besides mass flowering crops, remnant patches of natural and semi-natural vegetation may play a key role in maintaining and conserving biodiversity. Yet, the effects of different natural habitats, including forests and grasslands, on different pollinator communities are poorly understood at the landscape scale. We examined the abundance, richness, and diversity of wild bees and hoverflies, two key pollinator groups, across a land-use gradient spanning forest edges, grassland, wildflower strips, and sunflower monoculture. We also examined the distribution of hoverfly larvae trophic guilds and wild bee nesting traits across the above-mentioned land-use gradient. Finally, we evaluated the impact of landscape structure (forest, grassland, and water cover in the surrounding landscape) on pollinator community composition. Our results indicate that forest and grassland habitats supported a higher abundance and greater richness of pollinators than wildflower strips and sunflower monocultures. Furthermore, hoverflies were more sensitive to habitat and floristic homogenization than wild bees. Sunflower and wildflower habitats also hosted a lower diversity of larvae trophic guilds and wild bee nesting guilds as compared to forests and grasslands. Our study suggests that conserving and restoring forest and grassland habitats within agricultural mosaics may serve as the main ‘refuge’ for wild pollinators

Exploring the effects of habitat management on grassland biodiversity: A case study from northern Serbia.

Grasslands represent a biodiversity hotspot in the European agricultural landscape, their restoration is necessary and offers a great opportunity to mitigate or halt harmful processes. These measures require a comprehensive knowledge of historical landscape changes, but also adequate management strategies. The required data was gathered from the sand grasslands of northern Serbia, as this habitat is of high conservation priority. This area also has a long history of different habitat management approaches (grazing and mowing versus unmanaged), which has been documented over of the last two decades. This dataset enabled us to quantify the effects of different measures across multiple taxa (plants, insect pollinators, and birds). We linked the gathered data on plants, pollinators, and birds with habitat management measures. Our results show that, at the taxon level, the adopted management strategies were beneficial for species richness, abundance, and composition, as the highest diversity of plant, insect pollinator, and bird species was found in managed areas. Thus, an innovative modelling approach was adopted in this work to identify and explain the effects of management practices on changes in habitat communities. The findings yielded can be used in the decision making as well as development of new management programmes. We thus posit that, when restoring and establishing particular communities, priority needs to be given to species with a broad ecological response. We recommend using the decision tree as a suitable machine learning model for this purpose

Data from: Mass-flowering crops dilute pollinator abundance in agricultural landscapes across Europe

Mass-flowering crops (MFCs) are increasingly cultivated and might influence pollinator communities in MFC fields and nearby semi-natural habitats (SNHs). Across six European regions and 2 years, we assessed how landscape-scale cover of MFCs affected pollinator densities in 408 MFC fields and adjacent SNHs. In MFC fields, densities of bumblebees, solitary bees, managed honeybees and hoverflies were negatively related to the cover of MFCs in the landscape. In SNHs, densities of bumblebees declined with increasing cover of MFCs but densities of honeybees increased. The densities of all pollinators were generally unrelated to the cover of SNHs in the landscape. Although MFC fields apparently attracted pollinators from SNHs, in landscapes with large areas of MFCs they became diluted. The resulting lower densities might negatively affect yields of pollinator-dependent crops and the reproductive success of wild plants. An expansion of MFCs needs to be accompanied by pollinator-supporting practices in agricultural landscapes

Holzschuh_etal_2016_EcolLett

The file contains all data used in the analyses of this paper