Pollination Network Architecture and Host Preference of Wild Bees in Semi-Natural Habitats: A Macroecological Synthesis of Central European Data
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Background: Wild bees are essential pollinators that contribute to biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. Changes in plant communities may alter the structure of plant–pollinator interactions and pollinator assemblages. Methods: We applied network analysis to characterise interactions between wild bee species and herbaceous flowering plants occurring in semi-natural habitats across Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary. We analysed network structure using metrics of species-level centrality, modularity, and nestedness and assessed species roles, species-level specialisation, differences in pollinator assemblages among plant species, and the contribution of candidate key floral resources to network structure. Results: Based on 62 publications from 1966 to 2025 reporting direct observations of wild bees visiting specific herbaceous plants, a plant–pollinator interaction network comprising 359 wild bee species from six families and 308 herbaceous plant species representing 31 families was constructed. Conclusions: This study provides a long-term synthesis of wild bee–herbaceous plant interactions in Central Europe and highlights the importance of plant community composition for maintaining diverse pollinator assemblages. The findings provide an evidence base for the conservation and management of floral resources in semi-natural habitats and may support the assessment of biodiversity patterns and pollination-related ecosystem services.
Source: Insects
Authors: Izabela Kot, Weronika Goraj, Katarzyna Kmieć
Language: English
Topic: Plant and animal studies
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,137
OpenAlex ID: W7225653078