The diversity of pollinators within different land use types across agricultural landscapes is influenced by the proximity of surrounding forests

Intensive agricultural practices often degrade habitat integrity and disrupt essential ecosystem functions. In contrast, natural and semi-natural landscape elements can support biodiversity by enhancing habitat connectivity and heterogeneity. These features offer critical resources for arthropods, particularly pollinators, which contribute to ecosystem services such as pollination and pest control. This study examined how land use and distance from forest edges influence pollinator abundance and community composition. We established fifty 50 × 50 m plots along transects spanning forest edges, 1 km, and 3 km into surrounding landscapes, maintaining at least 200 m between plots. Both pollinators and woody plant species were surveyed. Spatial patterns in pollinator richness and diversity were analyzed using Generalized Linear Models (GLM), Permutational Multivariate Analysis of Variance (PERMANOVA), indicator species analysis, and multisite dissimilarity. We recorded 2849 insect pollinators across seven taxonomic groups and four orders. Butterflies were most abundant (1426 individuals), followed by bees (997) and moths (163). Land use and distance from forest edges significantly influenced pollinator communities: bees were more abundant in croplands and at greater distances from forests, while butterflies were more common near forested areas. Fly abundance decreased with increasing woody species richness, whereas moth abundance increased with greater land use area. Low beta diversity indicated limited turnover in pollinator composition across land use types. These findings highlight the importance of integrating pollinator habitat requirements into agricultural planning and underscore the role of diverse landscapes in supporting pollinator communities and maintaining key ecosystem services.