Neumüller Ulrich, Burger Hannah, Mayr Antonia V, Hopfenmüller Sebastian, Krausch Sabrina, Herwig Nadine, Burger Ronald, Diestelhorst Olaf, Emmerich Katrin, Haider Mare, Kiefer Manuel, Konicek Jonas, Kornmilch Johann-Christoph, Moser Marina, Saure Christoph, Schanowski Arno, Scheuchl Erwin, Sing Julia, Wagner Max, Witter Julia, Schwenninger Hans R, Ayasse Manfred
Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, Ulm University, 89081 Ulm, Germany.
Institute for Ecological Chemistry, Plant Analysis and Stored Product Protection, Julius Kühn-Institute, 14195 Berlin, Germany.
Insects. 2022 Aug 14;13(8):726. doi: 10.3390/insects13080726.
The availability of nesting resources influences the persistence and survival of bee communities. Although a positive effect of artificial nesting structures has frequently been shown for aboveground cavity-nesting wild bees, studies on below ground-nesting bees are rare. Artificial nesting hills designed to provide nesting habitats for ground-nesting bees were therefore established within the BienABest project in 20 regions across Germany. Wild bee communities were monitored for two consecutive years, accompanied by recordings of landscape and abiotic nest site variables. Bee activity and species richness increased from the first to the second year after establishment; this was particularly pronounced in landscapes with a low cover of semi-natural habitat. The nesting hills were successively colonized, indicating that they should exist for many years, thereby promoting a species-rich bee community. We recommend the construction of nesting hills on sun-exposed sites with a high thermal gain of the substrate because the bees prefer south-facing sites with high soil temperatures. Although the soil composition of the nesting hills plays a minor role, we suggest using local soil to match the needs of the local bee community. We conclude that artificial nesting structures for ground-nesting bees act as a valuable nesting resource for various bee species, particularly in highly degraded landscapes. We offer a construction and maintenance guide for the successful establishment of nesting hills for bee conservation.
筑巢资源的可利用性会影响蜜蜂群落的存续和生存。尽管人工筑巢结构对地上筑巢的野生蜜蜂的积极作用已屡有体现，但针对地下筑巢蜜蜂的研究却较为少见。因此，在德国20个地区开展的BienABest项目中，设立了旨在为地下筑巢蜜蜂提供筑巢栖息地的人工筑巢山丘。连续两年对野生蜜蜂群落进行监测，并记录景观和非生物筑巢地点变量。从筑巢山丘建成后的第一年到第二年，蜜蜂活动和物种丰富度有所增加；在半自然栖息地覆盖率较低的景观中，这种情况尤为明显。筑巢山丘被陆续占据，这表明它们应能存续多年，从而促进形成物种丰富的蜜蜂群落。我们建议在阳光充足、基质热增益高的地点建造筑巢山丘，因为蜜蜂更喜欢土壤温度高的朝南地点。尽管筑巢山丘的土壤成分作用较小，但我们建议使用当地土壤以满足当地蜜蜂群落的需求。我们得出结论，为地下筑巢蜜蜂设置的人工筑巢结构对各种蜜蜂物种而言都是宝贵的筑巢资源，尤其是在高度退化的景观中。我们提供了一份关于成功建造用于蜜蜂保护的筑巢山丘的建设和维护指南。
