Solitärbin i kalkbrottsnära miljöer : Effekten av blomtäckningsgrad och vegetationshöjd på artantal och täthet av solitärbin

Sammanfattning: Many of our crops as well as many of the wild plants around us are dependent on pollination by insects (Insecta) to produce fruit. The perhaps most important group of pollinating insects are bees (Apidae) and especially solitary bees. Solitary bees are declining globally and are therefore important to safeguard and to learn more about, especially which factors that affect them. This study explores the effect of vegetation height and flower distribution on the abundance and diversity of solitary bees in and around limestone quarries. Inventories were done on Gotland, Sweden. Limestone quarries have earlier been found to be an important habitat for many species of solitary bees. Flower distribution was found to significantly influence the diversity of solitary bees and the abundance of solitary bees. An increase in vegetation >5cm had no significant effect on the diversity of solitary bees nor on the abundance of solitary bees.