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Wild bee larval food composition in five European cities
Joan Casanelles-Abella1,2, Alexander Keller3, Stefanie Müller1,4
1Biodiversity and Conservation Biology, Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, Birmensdorf, Switzerland.
Ecology
|April 29, 2022
Summary
Urbanization impacts wild bees, but cities can support diverse bee populations. This study details the larval food preferences of common urban wild bees across five European cities using DNA metabarcoding.
Area of Science:
- Urban Ecology
- Entomology
- Biodiversity Studies
Background:
- Urbanization presents both challenges and opportunities for wild bee biodiversity.
- Cities can host diverse wild bee communities due to unique floral resources.
- Previous bee dietary studies predominantly focused on non-urban ecosystems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the larval food preferences of wild bee species common in urban environments.
- To understand the impact of urbanization on wild bee feeding behavior and plant resource utilization.
- To provide data for urban planning and conservation strategies related to wild bee populations.
Main Methods:
- Wild bees were sampled using standardized trap nests across 80 sites in five European cities.
- Larval pollen from bee nests was identified using DNA metabarcoding.
- Plant composition of larval food sources was determined at the species or genus level.
Main Results:
- The study identified the specific plant species and genera preferred by four common urban wild bee species and three genera.
- Data revealed the dietary preferences of wild bees in diverse urban landscapes across Europe.
- Analysis included bee species like Chelostoma florisomne, Hylaeus communis, Osmia bicornis, and O. cornuta.
Conclusions:
- The data provides valuable insights into urban wild bee ecology and their dietary preferences.
- Findings can inform urban planning and conservation efforts, highlighting the importance of floral resources, including exotic species.
- This dataset supports research in urban ecology, bee ecology, and comparative studies on urban adaptation.
