Different types of semi-natural habitat are required to sustain diverse wild bee communities across agricultural landscapes

1. Semi-natural habitats provide important resources for wild bees in agricultural landscapes. Landscapes under management are dynamic and floral resources fluctuate in space and time. Thus, promoting different semi-natural habitat types within landscapes could be key to support diverse bee meta-communities throughout the season.
2. Here, we integrate analyses of a-diversity (species richness) and b-diversity and species-habitat networks to examine the relative contribution of all major semi-natural habitats to wild bee meta-communities in agricultural landscapes. We sampled extensively and conventionally managed meadows, flower strips, hedgerows and forest edges in spring, early and late summer in 25 landscapes in Switzerland.
3. Habitat types varied in their importance for wild bees throughout the season: While extensively managed meadows supported more rare species, habitat specialists and bee species overall than the other habitat types, flower strips were most important later in t...