The study by Graham et al. titled "A century of wild bee sampling: historical data and neural network analysis reveal ecological traits associated with species loss", examines the long-term shifts of wild bee communities in Edwin S. George Reserve (EGSR), Southern Michigan, USA, from 1921 to 2018. EGSR is a unique site for addressing long-term trends in US pollinators because of the rich record of the historical bee community dating back to the 1920s. Using contemporary sampling, the researchers found a significant decline in community diversity, species richness, and evenness. Employing neural network analysis of species traits revealed that extinction from the reserve was most likely for oligolectic ground-nesting and kleptoparasitic bees. In contrast, polylectic cavity-nesting bees were more likely to endure. The study shows the utility of combining historical data and modern analytic capabilities to explore trends within the wild bee populations.
Graham Kelsey K., Glaum Paul, Hartert Joseph, Gibbs Jason, Tucker Erika, Isaacs Rufus and Valdovinos Fernanda S. 2024 A century of wild bee sampling: historical data and neural network analysis reveal ecological traits associated with species loss Proc. R. Soc. B.29120232837 http://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2023.2837
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