Wild Bee Diversity and Bee–Plant Interactions in Tropical and Temperate Forest Clearings in a Natural Protected Area in Central West Mexico

Abstract

Background: Bees rely on plants for nutrition and reproduction, making the preservation of natural areas crucial as pollinator reservoirs. Seasonal tropical dry forests are among the richest habitats for bees, but only 27% of their original extent remains in Mexico. In contrast, temperate forests harbor fewer bee species and face high deforestation rates, with 40% of their area converted to other land uses. This study aimed to estimate the α and β diversities of wild bees and compare bee–plant interaction networks between these two vegetation types. Methods: Wild bees and their interactions with plants were monitored for one year in four sites within the Área de Protección de Flora y Fauna Sierra de Quila. Two sites corresponded to seasonal tropical dry forest and two to temperate forest. α and β diversity, connectance, nestedness, web asymmetry, and niche overlap were analyzed. Results: Sierra de Quila harbors high bee diversity, with 155 species in tropical dry forest and 103 in temperate forest. Species turnover between vegetation types was high, although nine species used floral resources in both forests, connecting the interaction networks. Conclusions: Sierra de Quila diverse habitats promote high bee diversity, with niche partitioning and low connectance facilitating coexistence across different vegetation types.

Keywords

• wild bee
• species richness
• β diversity
• Sierra de Quila
• mutualistic network
• bee–plant interactions