DOI: 10.5061/dryad.3n5tb2rzj
title: Diversity, abundance, and pollen affinity of wild bee pollinators of almond: Insights from a Moroccan orchard

description: Almond trees are economically important and widely cultivated across the
 Mediterranean. Their yield depends on cross-pollination by insects, yet
 their pollinators remain largely unknown, particularly in North Africa.
 This study investigated the diversity, abundance, and pollen affinity of
 wild bee species in a Moroccan almond orchard. Using sweep netting and pan
 traps, a total of 813 specimens representing 104 species, 17 genera, and
 five families were recorded in the studied orchard. Bee diversity and
 abundance peaked during the flowering phase, reflecting the key role of
 bloom phenology in shaping pollinator activity. The most species-rich and
 abundant genera were Andrena, Eucera, and Lasioglossum. In total, 26
 species were identified as almond floral visitors (AFV), with Andrena
 flavipes and Andrena bimaculata being the most abundant floral visitors.
 Among them, palynological data identified eight species as almond pollen
 victors (APV), with a total of 182 plant-bee interactions and confirmed
 strong almond pollen affinity for both Andrena species, particularly A.
 flavipes. While this study is limited to one orchard, it highlights the
 ecological importance of wild bees in Moroccan almond systems and
 underscores the potential of selecting native species to enhance
 pollination services, especially in light of reported pollination
 deficits. These findings support the development of conservation-oriented
 management strategies aimed at sustaining pollinator diversity and crop
 productivity.
description: # Diversity, abundance, and pollen affinity of wild bee pollinators of
 almond: Insights from a Moroccan orchard Dataset DOI:
 [10.5061/dryad.3n5tb2rzj](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.3n5tb2rzj) ##
 Description of the data and file structure The data presented in this
 repository were collected as part of a field study on wild bee
 communities. Sampling was conducted in an almond orchard in the
 Marrakech–Safi region. Data collection took place over multiple
 observation periods corresponding to the different flowering stages of the
 almond trees (pre-flowering, early flowering, peak flowering, and end of
 flowering), with standardized repetitions to ensure representative
 sampling of the species assemblages. ### Files and variables #### File:
 Suplimentary_Tables.xlsx **Description:** Supplementary Tables provide
 information on wild bees in the almond orchard, listing all collected
 species and showing the flight activity periods of the 26 species
 identified as almond pollinators. ##### Variables **Table S1**: Summary of
 statistical model outputs for the effect of bee species on the proportion
 of *Prunus dulcis* pollen. The response variable was specified as the
 count of *Prunus dulcis* pollen grains and the count of non-*P. dulcis*
 grains among the 20 pollen grains recorded for each individual (*i.e.,*
 binomial successes and failures entered as *cbind(successes, failures)*).
 The bee species was included as the predictor. The model was fitted using
 a binomial error distribution with a logit link. The dataset included N =
 38 observations, comprising 19 *Andrena bimaculata* and 19 *Andrena
 flavipes*. All parameter estimates, standard errors, z statistics, and
 p-values correspond to this binomial model. Significance of predictors was
 assessed using a Type II Wald χ² test *(Anova* function). This table
 provides full transparency of the outputs of the model used to analyse the
 proportion of *Prunus dulcis* pollen among bee species: **Table S2**: List
 of bee species collected on the almond orchard. * **Families**: Taxonomic
 family to which the recorded organism belongs. This variable groups genera
 and species at the family level following standard biological
 classification. * **Genus**: Genus name of the observed organism. This is
 the taxonomic rank below family and above species. * **Species**:
 Scientific species name (binomial nomenclature) of the organism recorded
 during sampling. * **Flowering periods**: Temporal category describing the
 flowering stage of the plant (almond tree) at the time of observation or
 sampling. This represents phenological phases (e.g., early flowering, peak
 flowering, late flowering). * **Plots**: Identifier of the sampling unit
 or experimental plot where observations were conducted. Plots represent
 spatial replicates within the study area (orchard). * **Abundance**: Total
 number of individuals recorded for a given taxon within the studied
 orchard. * **SamplingMethode**: Sampling technique used to collect or
 observe organisms: sweepnet and pan traps. * **Sampling**: represents the
 location where specimens are collected: Orchard for wild plant flowers and
 Prunus Dulcis for almond tree flowers. **Table S3**: Flight activity
 periods of the 26 wild bee species identified as almond pollinators.
 **Before flowering**: Period preceding the onset of flowering, during
 which no open flowers are present. This stage represents pre-flowering
 conditions. **Beginning of flowering**: Early flowering stage marked by
 the appearance of the first open flowers. Floral resources are present but
 still limited compared to later stages. **Peak of flowering**: Stage at
 which flowering intensity is maximal, with the highest density or
 proportion of open flowers. This period typically corresponds to maximum
 resource availability. **End of flowering**: Late flowering stage during
 which flowering declines and only a small proportion of flowers remain
 open. This phase precedes the cessation of flowering. #### File:
 Supplimentary_figures.docx **Description:** Supplementary Figures show the
 orchard location and sampled plots, the flowering phases of almond trees,
 the sampling methods, and the total abundance and species richness of wild
 bees by collection method (sweep nets and colored pan traps: white,
 yellow, and blue). ##### Variables * **FIGURE S1**: Map showing the
 location of the almond orchard and the three plots where the study was
 conducted * **FIGURE S2**: The photos illustrate the different flowering
 phases of the almond tree during which the study was conducted. * **FIGURE
 S3**: Illustration of the sampling methods applied during the survey in
 the orchard. * **FIGURE S4**: Total abundance and species richness of wild
 bees by collection method: sweep net and colored pan traps (white, yellow,
 and blue)