The alarming decline in wild bee populations across the globe has become a pressing concern for ecologists, agriculturists, and environmental policymakers alike. With their essential role as pollinators in both natural ecosystems and agricultural landscapes, bees contribute significantly to biodiversity and food production. However, intensification of agricultural practices, characterized by monoculture farming and heavy pesticide use, has dramatically reduced the availability of suitable habitats for these crucial insects. Recent research from a collaborative effort between the Universities of Göttingen and Halle reveals groundbreaking insights into how specific combinations of agricultural and environmental strategies at the landscape scale can foster wild bee populations more effectively than isolated measures.
The study, published in the prestigious Journal of Applied Ecology, rigorously examines the interactive effects of conservation measures implemented at large spatial scales. Unlike many previous studies focusing on small plot interventions, this research emphasizes landscape-level planning involving diverse habitat types. Researchers analyzed thirty-two distinct agricultural landscapes, comparing three major conservation interventions: the expansion of organic farming, the establishment of annually flowering floral strips, and the development of perennial, near-natural habitats such as meadows dominated by long-lasting plant species. By doing so, the team deciphered how these different approaches singly and in combination influence the abundance and species richness of wild bees.
One of the pivotal findings centers on the synergistic benefits arising from combining organic farming with perennial natural habitats. While organic farming reduces pesticide exposure and encourages the growth of diverse flowering plants, it alone does not provide the extended temporal resources necessary for all wild bee species. Perennial habitats, on the other hand, offer stable and continuous floral and nesting resources across multiple years, crucial for many solitary and less mobile bee species. The fusion of these two habitat types within a landscape creates complementary conditions that sustain a wider array of wild bee species by providing spatially and temporally varied foraging and nesting opportunities.
.adsslot_OUgsLCVr8Z{width:728px !important;height:90px !important;}
@media(max-width:1199px){ .adsslot_OUgsLCVr8Z{width:468px !important;height:60px !important;}
}
@media(max-width:767px){ .adsslot_OUgsLCVr8Z{width:320px !important;height:50px !important;}
}
ADVERTISEMENT
Interestingly, the study highlights that not all habitat mixtures are equally beneficial. For example, pairing organic farmland with areas planted solely with annually blooming flowers does not yield additive positive effects. These habitats tend to bloom simultaneously, offering redundant resources at one temporal point rather than a staggered succession. Consequently, this combination fails to significantly enhance bee diversity or density beyond what each habitat type can achieve alone. Such findings emphasize the need for strategic planning that considers not just habitat presence but also the temporal dynamics of resource availability in conservation efforts.
Within the diverse spectrum of wild bees, species other than bumblebees particularly benefit from the coexistence of organic farmland and perennial habitats. These species often have specialized nesting requirements and shorter foraging ranges, rendering them more sensitive to habitat quality and continuity. Conversely, bumblebees exhibit greater flexibility and appear to thrive in both organic farming and near-natural habitat settings, irrespective of whether these occur together. This differential response underlines the complexity of pollinator communities and the necessity of tailored conservation practices that address species-specific ecological traits.
The research underscores the critical importance of adopting a landscape-scale perspective when designing conservation measures. Isolated, piecemeal initiatives often fall short in counteracting the widespread habitat loss caused by intensive agriculture. Coordinated interventions that integrate habitat heterogeneity and resource complementarity can significantly bolster wild bee populations. This approach aligns with emerging ecological paradigms emphasizing multifunctional landscapes capable of delivering both agricultural productivity and biodiversity conservation.
Dr. Kathrin Czechofsky, a PhD researcher in Functional Agrobiodiversity and Agroecology at the University of Göttingen, notes, “Our findings demonstrate that designing a well-balanced mix of habitat types is crucial. When habitats provide varied food resources and nesting sites over extended periods, they support a broader range of wild bee species.” Complementing her insights, lead investigator Dr. Annika Hass affirms, “This study provides vital guidance for future agricultural and environmental policies, highlighting the value of synergy and coordination at the landscape level.”
The methodology employed in this research involved combining extensive field surveys of bee communities with fine-scale habitat mapping. Researchers quantified bee abundance and species richness across gradients of habitat composition, using statistical models to discern synergistic and antagonistic interactions between conservation measures. Their experimental study design enabled robust inference about causal relationships, moving beyond correlational observations prevalent in many ecological studies.
Beyond academic implications, these findings have profound practical applications. Policymakers aiming to reverse pollinator declines should prioritize programs that incentivize organic farming practices coupled with the conservation or restoration of perennial, near-natural habitats. Such landscape mosaics not only benefit wild bees but also enhance ecosystem resilience, improve soil health, and contribute to sustainable agricultural productivity.
Moreover, this research prompts a reevaluation of common agri-environment schemes that often prioritize floral strips flowering annually or seasonally. While such strips are visually appealing and provide short-term nectar sources, their lack of temporal continuity limits their efficacy for supporting long-term pollinator populations. Incorporating perennial plantings into conservation planning ensures a steady succession of floral resources essential for sustaining diverse pollinator communities through the growing season and across years.
The ComBee project, underpinning this research, represents a milestone in interdisciplinary collaboration between agricultural scientists and ecologists. Funded by Germany’s Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture and the German Research Foundation, the project bridges theoretical ecology with applied conservation in working agricultural landscapes. Its integrative framework could serve as a model for similar initiatives globally, addressing pollinator declines through science-based, landscape-scale interventions.
In sum, the study illuminates the nuanced interplay between agricultural practices and environmental measures, detailing how deliberate combinations can dramatically influence wild bee conservation outcomes. As bee populations continue to face existential threats from habitat loss, pesticides, climate change, and disease, such evidence-based strategies offer a beacon of hope. Ensuring the future of these vital pollinators requires embracing complexity, fostering habitat complementarity, and implementing coordinated landscape stewardship to safeguard biodiversity and ecosystem services on which humanity depends.
Subject of Research: Wild bee abundance and species richness in relation to conservation measures in agricultural landscapes
Article Title: Landscape-level synergistic and antagonistic effects among conservation measures drive wild bee densities and species richness
News Publication Date: 15 June 2025
Web References:
https://www.uni-goettingen.de/en/646422.html
https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1365-2664.70074
References:
Kathrin Czechofsky, Catrin Westphal, Robert Paxton, Annika Hass, Landscape-level synergistic and antagonistic effects among conservation measures drive wild bee densities and species richness. Journal of Applied Ecology (2025). DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.70074
Image Credits: Lisa Prudnikow
Keywords:
Bees, Hymenoptera, Insects, Farming, Organic farming, Ecological restoration, Ecosystem management, Wilderness, Conservation ecology, Crop science, Sustainable agriculture, Agricultural policy, Biodiversity, Habitat diversity, Agriculture
Tags: agricultural practices affecting bee habitatsbiodiversity and food production relationshipcollaborative research on pollinator conservationconservation strategies for wild beesenvironmental policies for bee protectionfloral strips for pollinator supportimpact of pesticides on bee healthimportance of pollinators in ecosystemslandscape-level planning for biodiversityresearch on bee habitat restorationrole of organic farming in bee conservationwild bee population decline
