Landscape composition and configuration affect bees in the olive agroecosystem

Olive groves constitute a landscape that covers a large area in the Mediterranean basin, with essential economic importance, but which can also have environmental importance if an olive grove landscape is designed that favours populations of beneficial insects. Bees are also essential from an economic and environmental viewpoint and are in increasing decline. This work aimed to determine the landscape parameters in the olive agroecosystem that favour bee populations. Fifteen olive groves were sampled in central Spain throughout 2015 and 2016. Bees belonging to 6 families and 24 genera were captured. The most numerous family was Halictidae, and the most numerous genus Lasioglossum. The parameter that mostly affected the abundance and richness of bee genera was the scrubland area (CAMME), with a positive effect. The olive grove area (CAO) had a negative effect in general, although the responses of the different families vary slightly. The configuration of the landscape (MSI) also positively affected bees, which indicates the importance of maintaining linear elements with wild vegetation, to contribute to the maintenance of these important insects. Environmental conditions can affect the importance of olive grove as a supplier of resources for bees, being greater in dry and warm years.

Automated summary

The study indicates that designing olive grove landscapes that favor beneficial insect populations can positively impact bee populations, while factors such as olive grove area and landscape configuration also play a role in influencing bee richness and abundance.