Impact of landscape configuration and composition on pollinator communities across different European biogeographic regions

Introduction Heterogeneity in composition and spatial configuration of landscape elements support diversity abundance flower-visiting insects, but this is likely dependent on taxonomic group, scale, weather climatic conditions, particularly impacted by agricultural intensification. Here, we analyzed the impacts both aspects heterogeneity role conditions pollinating insect communities two economically important mass-flowering crops across Europe. Methods Using a standardized approach, collected data five groups (honey bees, bumble other hover flies butterflies) eight oilseed rape apple orchard sites (in adjacent crop margins), European countries (128 total) encompassing four biogeographic regions, quantified habitat calculating relevant metrics for (proportion land-use types) (the aggregation isolation patches). Results We found that insects responded to climate parameters taxon- crop-specific ways. For example, was positively correlated with honey bee solitary fields, fly orchards. In sites, total all pollinators, bees decreased an increasing proportion orchards surrounding landscape. less-intensively managed habitats (i.e., woodland, grassland, meadows, hedgerows) influenced butterflies. Additionally, our showed daily annual temperature, as well precipitation seasonality, affects although, again, these appeared be or crop-specific. Discussion Thus, context global change, findings emphasize importance understanding taxon-specific responses changes land use climate, ensure continued delivery pollination services pollinator-dependent crops.