European bee diversity: Taxonomic and phylogenetic patterns

Abstract

Aim: Wild bees still face striking shortfalls in knowledge of biodiversity in key regions of the world. This includes Europe, where despite a long tradition of data gathering, the continental scale distribution patterns of wild bees have not been systematically analysed to date. This study aims to characterise large-scale biodiversity patterns to: (i) understand spatial-temporal heterogeneity in large-scale databases, (ii) locate genuine diversity hotspots and their relationship with biogeographical patterns or habitats of interests and (iii) identify understudied species and areas to further design conservation actions for most at risk species in key regions. Location: Europe.Taxon: Bees. Methods:We present a continental and standardised study of bee taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity patterns in Europe, using a large compilation of occurrence records of nearly three million validated occurrence records for 1515 wild bee species.Results: Southern and eastern Europe suffer from the largest gaps in data availability while northern and western regions benefit from better historical coverage. Our models show that higher wild bee diversity in Europe is hosted in xeric, warm areas, as highlighted by a clear latitudinal gradient. However, phylogenetic diversity is predicted to be more homogenous across Europe than taxonomic diversity, suggesting that policies and strategies targeted to protect species richness may differ from those targeting greater phylogenetic diversity. B I OS K E TCHNicolas Leclercq is interested in the patterns of biodiversity at large scales. His work often focuses on wild bee diversity. He and the other authors collaborate on questions of wild bee diversity and their conservation in their own geographical region.

Fine‐scale bee species distribution models: Hotspots of richness and endemism in South Africa with species‐area comparisons

“…The next steps in understanding these regional patterns will require an assessment of the underlying processes that shape them (Kaloveloni et al, 2018), particularly in the context of specialisation and the extraordinarily rich flora and the role of historical climatic stability. Future analysis, using our species distributional models, can also be extended to calculate other patterns of diversity such as beta‐diversity (species turnover) and functional diversity (e.g., Leclercq et al, 2023; Marshall et al, 2023). Because of the high numbers of range‐restricted taxa confined to small numbers of grid cells, habitat specialisation is most likely driving high species turnover and functional diversity in the Winter rainfall bee hotspot and the Aseasonal rainfall bee hotspot.…”

“…In addition to this study, several macroecological analyses of bee richness have been done across global or biogeographic regions (Bystriakova et al, 2018; Kaloveloni et al, 2018; Leclercq et al, 2023; Michez et al, 2009; Patiny & Michez, 2007; Williams, 1998). Surprisingly, few studies investigating fine‐scale (approximately <30 × 30 km grid cell) patterns of bee richness and endemism have been undertaken at the country level (i.e., regional scale) (but see Kuhlmann (2009); Kougioumoutzis et al (2022); Patiny and Michez (2007)).…”

“…The high bee diversity of Mediterranean and arid climate regions has attracted much attention over the past few years (Kaloveloni et al, 2018; Leclercq et al, 2023; Marshall et al, 2023; Meiners et al, 2019; Orr et al, 2021). We place South Africa's bee diversity within this global pattern and compare how richness scales with area (Gotelli & Colwell, 2001) within South Africa—taking into account different biomes and rainfall seasons—and with studies from other arid and Mediterranean regions worldwide.…”

Ecological amplitude and indication potential of mining bees (Andrena spp.): a case study from the post-agricultural area of the Kampinos National Park (Poland)

“…There are still many gaps in knowledge about the species diversity of wild bees in key regions of the world, including Europe, especially its southern and eastern parts 79 . Current data suggests that fewer wild bee species are present in Poland than in neighbouring Germany, Czech Republic, Slovakia or Ukraine 80 ; however, this number will probably increase with further intensive research (e.g.…”

DNA barcoding insufficiently identifies European wild bees (Hymenoptera, Anthophila) due to taxonomic problems, genus-specific barcoding gaps, and database errors

“…Many European countries are represented by similarly poor representative DNA sequences. Notably, most of these are southern European countries that bear the highest diversity of wild bees (Leclercq et al, 2023;Potts et al, 2021). Such patchy data limit Europe-wide analyses of precisely how to apply DNA barcoding in wild bee identification.…”