The loss of habitat in Mallorca affects bees, wasps and flora
The loss of habitat in Mallorca affects bees, wasps and flora
.A study published in the journal Ecosistemas, of the Spanish Association of Terrestrial Ecology, reveals that the loss of habitat on the coast of the Mallorcan Levante has increased the fragility of the ecosystem formed by bees and wasps along with the flora of the area.
According to the conclusions of the research, this fact has already led to a reduction in the number and diversity of bees and wasps in the areas studied, given the loss of several plant species. According to the study, "pollination networks are key to the proper functioning of an ecosystem and the loss and degradation of the habitat is directly affecting its functioning, and as a consequence to the flora and fauna of various areas worldwide."
The work, carried out by two scientists of the Mediterranean Institute of Advanced Studies (CSIC-UIB), Rafel Beltrán Mas and Anna Traveset Vilagines, focuses on the structure and dynamics of pollination networks of bees and wasps in two areas coastal areas of Mallorca, the Cala Mesquida and the Son Bosc estate, adjacent to the Natural Park of Albufera de Mallorca and affected by a significant loss of habitat due to the attempt to build a golf course illegally between 2010 and 2011.
The two zones studied showed a low "network connection", which means that the existing links within the pollination networks are few and, therefore, very specialized, which makes the community less stable and resistant to changes.
From left to right and from top to bottom: Apis mellifera, Polistes dominula, Osmia versicolor and Ceratina cucurbinata. (Photo: Nick Owens)
The scientists also noted that the networks of these two areas have a "relatively high specialization" because most of their species only pollinate with one or a few plant species, a fact that has worsened with the loss of habitat.
According to the study, this makes the population weaker because in more specialized and less connected networks, the species that do not share a niche and have more limited resources are more likely to disappear in the event of any disturbance in the plant community. to the robustness of more generalist networks in which species maintain a greater number of links with different types of plants, achieving wider and more complex connections that increase their capacity for survival.
The Son Bosc farm, affected by a loss of 52% of its vegetation cover, is a zone of high fragility in the face of possible disturbances given the high decrease in the species richness of both bees and wasps as well as plants.
"This has a direct impact on the strength of the community and makes it more susceptible to future disturbances than the undisturbed zone," the researchers say. The fact is, that if a species were lost in one of the localities due to habitat reduction, "there would be little chance of recovering it because it is unlikely to be found in nearby habitats of similar characteristics," the authors explain.
The problem acquires greater importance since in Cala Mesquida there are two specific species, Balearic Dufourea, with a state of conservation without evaluation; and the already threatened Halictus microcardia, both of high conservation value due to their category of Balearic endemism. To which must be added the ignorance of the state of conservation of almost half of the species of Son Bosc.
At present, if quick measures are not taken, "it is possible that even some of those species will disappear given the possible high impact of pesticides and herbicides used in adjoining crop areas," they warn.
For Rafel Beltrán and Anna Traveset, "more monitoring should be done every so often, paying special attention to the state of generalist and endemic populations." Among the generalists that give robustness to the network stand out the Andrena ovatula (almost threatened) and Apis mellifera (with insufficient data).
They also propose to carry out measures of education and environmental awareness through the installation of informative posters that give value to the dune ecosystem of Cala Mesquida. (Source: Spanish Association of Terrestrial Ecology (AEET))
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