Localised patterns of wild bee abundance indicate woodlands play multiple roles in supporting farmland populations

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Allen, Guthrie, Dicks, Lynn V., Taylor, Martin I., Hewitt, Daniel and Davies, Richard G. (2025) Localised patterns of wild bee abundance indicate woodlands play multiple roles in supporting farmland populations. Insect Conservation and Diversity. ISSN 1752-458X

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Abstract

1. Higher woodland cover has been linked to increased wild bee abundance and diversity in temperate agricultural landscapes. However, our understanding of the roles played by the upper and lower strata of woodlands in supporting on-farm bees through spring and summer is lacking. 2. To explore these roles, we sampled bees (Anthophila) in deciduous woodland canopies and understories, and in an open habitat (at field margins), from May to July, at 12 sites across agricultural landscapes in Norfolk, England. 3. Before canopy closure in late spring, relative abundance in the two woodland habitats was generally higher, and canopies with flowering Acer pseudoplatanus L. supported more bees. However, throughout the season, open-habitat bee abundance was consistently higher closer to woodlands. After canopy closure, more open areas within woodlands were linked to greater bee abundance, except during a spike in temperatures when understory relative abundance was also at its highest. 4. These results indicate that deciduous woods on farmland provide floral resources to bees before canopy closure, which can be augmented with nectar-producing canopy trees. They also indicate that more open woodlands likely extend the availability of understory floral resources and that farmland woods, regardless of management, may continue to provide non-floral resources—including respite from hot weather—throughout the season.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT: The data that support the findings of this study are openly available in Dryad at https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.5dv41nshm. FUNDING INFORMATION: This research is funded by the Natural Environment Research Council and the Woodland Trust.
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Science Faculty of Science > School of Biological Sciences University of East Anglia Research Groups/Centres > Theme - ClimateUEA
UEA Research Groups:	Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Organisms and the Environment Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Collaborative Centre for Sustainable Use of the Seas Faculty of Science > Research Centres > Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Conservation
Related URLs:	https://resjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley....
Depositing User:	LivePure Connector
Date Deposited:	10 Jun 2025 09:30
Last Modified:	23 Jun 2025 08:32
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/99421
DOI:	10.1111/icad.12848

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