Land Use Change Consistently Reduces α‐ But Not β‐ and γ‐Diversity of Bees
Authors: Tsang Toby P. N. , De Santis A. A. Amado , Armas‐Quiñonez Gabriela , Ascher John S. , Ávila‐Gómez Eva Samanta , Báldi András , Ballare Kimberly M. , Balzan Mario V. , Banaszak‐Cibicka Weronika , Bänsch Svenja , Basset Yves , Bates Adam J. , Baumann Jessica M. , Beal‐Neves Mariana , Bennett Ashley , Bezerra Antonio Diego M. , Blochtein Betina , Bommarco Riccardo , Brosi Berry , Burkle Laura A. , Carvalheiro Luísa G. , Castellanos Ignacio , Cely‐Santos Marcela , Cohen Hamutahl , Coulibaly Drissa , Cunningham Saul A. , Cusser Sarah , Dajoz Isabelle , Delaney Deborah A. , Del‐Val Ek , Egerer Monika , Eichhorn Markus P. , Enríquez Eunice , Entling Martin H. , Escobedo‐Kenefic Natalia , Ferreira Pedro Maria Abreu , Fitch Gordon , Forrest Jessica R. K. , Fournier Valérie , Fowler Robert , Freitas Breno M. , Gaines‐Day Hannah R. , Geslin Benoît , Ghazoul Jaboury , Glaum Paul , Gonzalez‐Andujar Jose L. , González‐Chaves Adrian , Grab Heather , Gratton Claudio , Guenat Solène , Gutiérrez‐Chacón Catalina , Hall Mark A. , Hanley Mick E. , Hass Annika , Hennig Ernest Ireneusz , Hermy Martin , Hipólito Juliana , Holzschuh Andrea , Hopfenmüller Sebastian , Hung Keng‐Lou James , Hylander Kristoffer , Izquierdo Jordi , Jamieson Mary A. , Jauker Birgit , Javorek Steve , Jha Shalene , Klatt Björn K. , Kleijn David , Klein Alexandra‐Maria , Kovács‐Hostyánszki Anikó , Krauss Jochen , Kuhlmann Michael , Landaverde‐González Patricia , Latty Tanya , Leong Misha , Lerman Susannah B. , Liu Yunhui , Machado Ana Carolina Pereira , Main Anson , Mallinger Rachel , Mandelik Yael , Marques Bruno Ferreira , Matteson Kevin , McCune Frédéric , Meng Ling‐Zeng , Metzger Jean Paul , Montoya‐Pfeiffer Paula María , Morales Carolina , Morandin Lora , Morrison Jane , Mudri‐Stojnić Sonja , Nalinrachatakan Pakorn , Norfolk Olivia , Otieno Mark , Park Mia G. , Philpott Stacy M. , Pisanty Gideon , Plascencia Montserrat , Potts Simon G. , Power Eileen F. , Prendergast Kit , Quistberg Robyn D. , de Lacerda Ramos Davi , Rech André Rodrigo , Reynolds Victoria , Richards Miriam H. , Roberts Stuart P. M. , Sabatino Malena , Samnegård Ulrika , Sardiñas Hillary , Sánchez‐Echeverría Karina , Saturni Fernanda Teixeira , Scheper Jeroen , Sciligo Amber R. , Sidhu C. Sheena , Spiesman Brian J. , Sritongchuay Tuanjit , Steffan‐Dewenter Ingolf , Stein Katharina , Stewart Alyssa B. , Stout Jane C. , Taki Hisatomo , Tangtorwongsakul Pornpimon , Threlfall Caragh G. , Tinoco Carla Faleiro , Tscharntke Teja , Turo Katherine J. , Vaidya Chatura , Vandame Rémy , Vergara Carlos H. , Viana Blandina F. , Vides‐Borrell Eric , Warrit Natapot , Webb Elisabeth , Westphal Catrin , Wickens Jennifer B. , Williams Neal M. , Williams Nicholas S. G. , Wilson Caleb J. , Wu Panlong , Youngsteadt Elsa , Zou Yi , Ponisio Lauren C. , Bonebrake Timothy C. 
Published: January 2025

Land use change threatens global biodiversity and compromises ecosystem functions, including pollination and food production. Reduced taxonomic α‐diversity is often reported under land use change, yet the impacts could be different at larger spatial scales (i.e., γ‐diversity), either due to reduced β‐diversity amplifying diversity loss or increased β‐diversity dampening diversity loss. Additionally, studies often focus on taxonomic diversity, while other important biodiversity components, including phylogenetic diversity, can exhibit differential responses. Here, we evaluated how agricultural and urban land use alters the taxonomic and phylogenetic α‐, β‐, and γ‐diversity of an important pollinator taxon—bees. Using a multicontinental dataset of 3117 bee assemblages from 157 studies, we found that taxonomic α‐diversity was reduced by 16%–18% in both agricultural and urban habitats relative to natural habitats. Phylogenetic α‐diversity was decreased by 11%–12% in agricultural and urban habitats. Compared with natural habitats, taxonomic and phylogenetic β‐diversity increased by 11% and 6% in urban habitats, respectively, but exhibited no systematic change in agricultural habitats. We detected a 22% decline in taxonomic γ‐diversity and a 17% decline in phylogenetic γ‐diversity in agricultural habitats, but γ‐diversity of urban habitats was not significantly different from natural habitats. These findings highlight the threat of agricultural expansions to large‐scale bee diversity due to systematic γ‐diversity decline. In addition, while both urbanization and agriculture lead to consistent declines in α‐diversity, their impacts on β‐ or γ‐diversity vary, highlighting the need to study the effects of land use change at multiple scales.