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<p>An increasing number of studies show that urbanized areas are habitats of high biological value and ecological significance. Most bee species live in areas altered by man, either in cities - fragmented urban habitats - or in large rural monocultures. Our research is based on three-year observations of population development of the solitary bee <italic>Osmia rufa</italic> L. in three habitat types: city, suburbs and villages. We compared reproductive parameters and diversity of accompanying nest fauna. Population growth rate was high in all habitats, exceeding five times the number of cocoons placed in the previous year. We found no significant differences in the number of cocoons and brood mortality between areas with different urbanization levels. In nests located in suburbs, parasites and cleptoparasites occupied almost three times more nest chambers than in other habitats. Changes in the habitat structure had a significant impact on the diversity and abundance of accompanying fauna. Our study shows that red mason bees are flexible and easily adapt to new conditions, despite changes caused by urbanization and agriculture.</p>
</abstract>

An increasing number of studies show that urbanized areas are habitats of high biological value and ecological significance. Most bee species live in areas altered by man, either in cities - fragmented urban habitats - or in large rural monocultures. Our research is based on three-year observations of population development of the solitary bee Osmia rufa L. in three habitat types: city, suburbs and villages. We compared reproductive parameters and diversity of accompanying nest fauna. Population growth rate was high in all habitats, exceeding five times the number of cocoons placed in the previous year. We found no significant differences in the number of cocoons and brood mortality between areas with different urbanization levels. In nests located in suburbs, parasites and cleptoparasites occupied almost three times more nest chambers than in other habitats. Changes in the habitat structure had a significant impact on the diversity and abundance of accompanying fauna. Our study shows that red mason bees are flexible and easily adapt to new conditions, despite changes caused by urbanization and agriculture.

Reproduction and Accompanying Fauna of Red Mason Bee <italic>Osmia rufa</italic> L. (syn. <italic>Osmia bicornis</italic> L.) in Areas with Different Levels of Urbanization

Departament of Animal Environment Biology

Journal of Apicultural Science

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Reproduction and Accompanying Fauna of Red Mason Bee  L. (syn.  L.) in Areas with Different Levels of Urbanization

An increasing number of studies show that urbanized areas are habitats of high biological value and ecological significance. Most bee species live in areas...

Reproduction and Accompanying Fauna of Red Mason Bee Osmia rufa L. (syn. Osmia bicornis L.) in Areas with Different Levels of Urbanization

Article Category: Original Article

Published Online: Jun 24, 2021

Page range: 123 - 137

Received: May 24, 2020

Accepted: Mar 24, 2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/jas-2021-0009

Keywords
accompanying and parasitic fauna, agriculture areas, red mason bee, urban areas

© 2021 Barbara Zajdel et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Reproduction and Accompanying Fauna of Red Mason Bee Osmia rufa L. (syn. Osmia bicornis L.) in Areas with Different Levels of Urbanization

Article Category: Original Article

Published Online: Jun 24, 2021

Page range: 123 - 137

Received: May 24, 2020

Accepted: Mar 24, 2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/jas-2021-0009

Keywordsaccompanying and parasitic fauna, agriculture areas, red mason bee, urban areas

© 2021 Barbara Zajdel et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Keywords
accompanying and parasitic fauna, agriculture areas, red mason bee, urban areas