A trait-based framework to understand and predict the response of wild bee functional groups to anthropogenic landscapes

Abstract

Wild bees play a vital role as pollinators in ecosystems, yet their existence is increasingly threatened amidst ongoing biodiversity declines driven by land use change. This study examined how wild bee functional traits relate to landscape composition in urban and agricultural settings across Central Europe (Czechia), aiming to understand how these traits influence patterns of abundance and occurrence. Eighteen functional groups were defined based on ecological traits related to foraging and nesting behaviours, and multivariate species distribution models were applied to analyse their associations with different land use variables. Our results showed that functional groups exhibit distinct and complex responses to landscape composition, often differing in how they respond to environmental change, even among groups with similar trait profiles. These findings underscore that the relationship between traits and the environment cannot be generalised across functional groups and that interpreting wild bee community patterns requires integrating multiple ecological dimensions such as nesting type, diet breadth, sociality and seasonality. The study highlights the need for conservation strategies that are tailored to functional diversity and landscape context, as efforts that support one group may not benefit others, and may even be counterproductive. Promoting diverse functional communities is essential for sustaining pollination services and ecosystem resilience under environmental change.