Threat Ahead? An Experts’ Opinion on the Need for Red Lists of Bees to Mitigate Accelerating Extinction Risks – The Case of Austria

Abstract

Introduction Wild bees are among the most important pollinators for zoophilous wild plants and crops (Klein et al., 2007; Kremen et al., 2007; Ollerton et al., 2011). They provide a key ecosystem function, as zoophilous plants depend on adapted visitors for effective reproduction, and many organisms of other trophic levels in turn depend on plant products as food resources (Abrol, 2012). Land use change along with agricultural intensification are major drivers for biodiversity loss (Beckmann et al., 2019; Butchart et al., 2010). The close relation of wild bees and plants increases the risk of cascading extinctions with severe consequences for resilient ecosystem function (Papanikolaou et al., 2017). Therefore the protection and successful conservation of both wild bees and plants is of utmost importance to cope with ongoing biodiversity loss and ensure human well-being (Potts et al., 2016; Senapathi et al., 2015).