Attractiveness of wildflower mixtures for wild bees and hoverflies depends on some key plant species

Abstract

1. Agricultural intensification is considered to be a major driver of terrestrial biodiversity decline. Resulting loss, isolation and degradation of flower-rich habitats are threatening pollinators. Agri-environmental schemes (AES) aim to counteract these negative effects, including measures to enhance floral resources in agricultural landscapes. The impact of plant species composition on their efficiency to mitigate pollinator loss, however, is largely unexplored.
2. We tested four recommended seed mixtures for their attractiveness to wild bees and hoverflies in a replicated plot design over two consecutive years against the background of the seedbank. Of the 94 available plant species, 14 key plant species were crucial for the whole flower-visiting bee and hoverfly community. Approximately one third of each originated from the seedbank. The four top plants already supported 80% of flower visitors. Although seed mixtures differed significantly in attracting flower visitors at the plot level, the presence of key plants was more important than plant species diversity per se.
3. Seed mixtures showed contrasting attractiveness for wild bees and hoverflies. Identification of plant species exclusively utilised by specific taxonomic groups opens opportunities for assorting plant mixtures for specific ecosystem functions or taxa of conservation concern. Plant species shared by common pollinators are valuable for overall pollinator diversity.
4. The fact that rare and specialised pollinator species were mostly absent, however, substantiates that within 2 years of establishment, flowering resources are not the sole limiting factor in modern agricultural landscapes. Considering additional resources seems indispensable to maximise the conservation of species-rich pollinator communities.