Eur. J. Entomol. 121: 400-412, 2024 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2024.044

Comparative study of the diversity and structure of plant-pollinator interactions in forest and agricultural landscapes in Northwestern MoroccoOriginal article

Amine SAMIH ORCID...1, 2, Sergi TRÓCOLI ORCID...3, Latifa ROHI ORCID...1, Hassan FOUGRACH ORCID...1, Mohammed HSAINE ORCID...1, Noureddin MAATOUF ORCID...2
1 Laboratory of Ecology and Environment, Faculty of Sciences Ben M'sik, Hassan II University in Casablanca, Av. Cdt Driss El Harti, BP 7955, Sidi Othman, 20000 Casablanca, Morocco; e-mails: aminesamih96@gmail.com, rohilatifa@gmail.com, hafougrach@gmail.com, bahi_hsain@hotmail.com
2 Center for Innovation, Research, and Training, National Agency for Water and Forests, Av. Omar Ibn Khattab, BP 763, Agdal-Rabat, Morocco; e-mail: noureddin_maatouf@yahoo.ca
3 Museu de Ciències Naturals de Barcelona, Laboratori de Natura, Collecció d'artròpodes, Passeig Picasso, s/n. E-08003 Barcelona, Spain; e-mail: sergitrocoli@gmail.com

Fragmentation and destruction of natural habitats threaten essential plant-pollinator interactions. Despite their importance for biodiversity they remain understudied in the context of ecosystem functioning in Morocco. This study examines the influence of forest and agricultural landscapes in Northwestern Morocco on plant-pollinator interactions by analysing the structure and dynamics of their networks. Data were collected between mid-March and mid-July 2023 at eleven sites in different landscapes. The results show significantly higher richness and abundance of pollinators (Hymenoptera, Diptera and Coleoptera) in the cork oak forest of Larache compared to the Gharb plain. High plant diversity in forest landscapes promotes plant-pollinator interactions, enhancing network stability and resilience and the vulnerability of forest.

Keywords: Insect pollinators, Hymenoptera, Diptera, Coleoptera, cork oak forest, Gharb plain

Received: July 13, 2024; Revised: November 2, 2024; Accepted: November 2, 2024; Published online: November 19, 2024  Show citation

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SAMIH, A., TRÓCOLI, S., ROHI, L., FOUGRACH, H., HSAINE, M., & MAATOUF, N. (2024). Comparative study of the diversity and structure of plant-pollinator interactions in forest and agricultural landscapes in Northwestern Morocco. EJE, 121, Article 400-412. https://doi.org/10.14411/eje.2024.044
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