Limited function of road verges as habitat for species connecting plant–bee networks in remnant semi-natural grasslands

• DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2023.0168
• Publication Date: 2024-07-22T07:09:13Z
• Authors: Marie V. Henriksen; Annette Bär; Michael P. D. Gar...; Anders Nielsen; Line Johansen
• Keywords: Flagship Species; Landscape connectivity

Species-rich natural and semi-natural ecosystems are under threat owing to land use change. To conserve the biodiversity associated with these ecosystems, we must identify target conservation efforts towards functionally important species supporting habitats that create connections between remnant patches in landscape. Here, a multi-layer network approach connect metanetwork of plant–bee interactions grasslands which hotspots European landscapes. We investigate how landscape connecting species, their interactions, persist proposed habitat, road verges, across high human impact. 11 plant taxa nine bee grassland patches. find beta diversity connector be low indicating poor contribution landscape-scale grasslands. also significant influence surrounding on implications for management. Conservation actions targeted toward key functional roles as connectors fragmented can provide cost-effective management functioning threatened ecosystems. This article is part theme issue ‘Connected interactions: enriching food web research by spatial social interactions’.