Decline in wild bee species richness associated with honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) abundance in an urban ecosystem.

ABSTRACT: The spatial heterogeneity of urban landscapes, relatively low agrochemical use, and species-rich floral communities often support a surprising diversity of wild pollinators in cities. However, the management of Western honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) in urban areas may represent a new threat to wild bee communities. Urban beekeeping is commonly perceived as an environmentally friendly practice or a way to combat pollinator declines, when high-density beekeeping operations may actually have a negative influence on native and wild bee populations through floral resource competition and pathogen transmission. On the Island of Montréal, Canada there has been a particularly large increase in beekeeping across the city. Over the years following a large bee diversity survey ending in 2013,

SUBMITTER: MacInnis G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9901307 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature