Comparative analysis of the diversity of bees in agroecosystem habitats

Abstract

Biodiversity has a great importance on agroecosystems, since it determines their actual and potential productivity. Bees provide crucial ecological service in the agricultural landscape in most geographical regions because they are considered to be predominant and most economically important group of pollinators. The objective of the study was the assessment of bees (domestic, wild, bumblebees) diversity in different types of habitats in agroecosystems of Central Forest-Steppe zone of Ukraine. Bee communities were investigated in agrocenosis, semi-natural habitats and ecotones between on territories of 6 farms. In total were sampled 1131 individuals of bees that were presented by 60 species. Species composition, density and richness of bees were investigated. Indexes of Shannon, Simpson and Sorensen were used for biodiversity analysis. The results indicated that the species richness of bees grows by gradient: agrocenosis – semi-natural habitat – ecotone. The most common and spread species were Apis mellifera L., Bombus lapidarius L., B. terrestris L., Halictus simplex Blüthgen, Systropha curvicornis Scopoli, Lasioglossum leucozonium Schrank. Density of Apidae increases in agrocenosis and falls in semi-natural habitats. Forming of bees’ fauna in agrocenosis depends on bees fauna of semi-natural habitats. Availability of ecotones promotes increasing of bee diversity in agroecosystems because it performs preservation function for biota and improves the spreading of bees and other species. The presented results could be used to predict changes in the formation of bee entomocomplexes in order to preserve their biodiversity.

Keywords

• agroecosystems
• habitats
• bees diversity
• species richness
• species density.