| Abstrakt: |
Plant-pollinator interactions are crucial for ecosystem diversity and functionality. Although, these interactions are still less studied and known, a growing body of evidence is showing that pollinators populations across the world are declining and that affects severely these necessary interactions. This study investigates flowering plants and pollinators diversity, abundance and interactions in a Mediterranean cedar forest in Morocco using two common methods; pan traps and observation plots. From March to August 2023, 1627 insects were captured. Hymenoptera accounted for 35.34%, Diptera 40.14%, Coleoptera 22.62%, and Lepidoptera 1.90%. Bees comprised 85.57% of Hymenoptera, with Andrena, Lasioglossum, and Panyrgus as predominant genera. Beetles, mainly represented by Tropinota, Anthaxia, and Melanthaxia, showed fluctuating abundances within months. 1274 insect visits to 46 flowering plants were recorded, with solitary bees (24.73%), beetles (18.29%), Muscoid flies (10.20%), and honey bees (8.95%) being the most frequent visitors. The most visited plants were the Asteraceae's Mantisalca salamantica, Cardus nutans, and Bellis selvestris, the Brassicaceae's Brassica napus, Erysimum grandiforum and Isatis tinctoria, the cistaceae's Helianthemum hirtum, and the Fabaceae's Linaria sp. This study highlights the diverse plant and pollinators communities in a Mediterranean preserved area in Morocco and gives insights in the distribution of pollinators among flowering plant species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
