Agricultural management and associated landscapes influence wild plant communities, nest colonization, and the pollen diet of unmanaged populations of mason bees

Abstract

Bees are pollinators of both wild and crop plants with significant ecological and economic value. However, recent studies report declines in their populations, particularly in agricultural landscapes. Compared to conventional farming, organic agricultural management is considered less harmful to biodiversity. Despite this, studies addressing wild bees in organic systems remain limited. In this study, we selected organic and conventional farms to examine the influence of farming management on meadow flora. We also accessed landscape-level management and its influence on newly colonized nest of mason bees and their pollen diet. Our results show that organic farming promotes higher plants diversity in meadows. Analyses of pollen inside mason bee nests revealed a more diverse diet in landscapes with a greater proportion of organic fields. Additionally, the number of newly colonized nests increased with the extent of organically managed areas. These findings indicate that organic farming can enhance meadow plant diversity, positively influence the pollen diet of wild bees, and support larger populations of solitary bees. Environmental management aimed at sustainability helps to safeguard the diversity of both plants and mason bees. Overall, sustainable environmental management that increases organic farming coverage in agricultural landscapes holds substantial potential for protecting solitary bee populations.