Central Research Questions
The project, led by Victor Johansson, explores the ecology of Megachile lagopoda through the following questions: What are the habitat requirements and spatial distribution of M. lagopoda in Östergötland? What does the population genetic structure of the species look like across Sweden? Which factors are critical for the species' survival and should inform conservation strategies? And how might population dynamics develop under different scenarios of management and climate change?
Background and Aims
Megachile lagopoda is the largest leafcutter bee in Sweden and is listed as Near Threatened (NT) according to the 2020 Red List. Historically, the species was widespread across southern and central Sweden, but the population has declined dramatically since the 1950s. Key threats include habitat destruction, agricultural intensification, and inappropriate land management practices. However, recent observations indicate a possible recovery of the species, likely due to climate change. This project aims to understand the habitat requirements, spatial distribution, and population dynamics of M. lagopoda, and to identify critical factors influencing the species' survival in order to inform conservation strategies. The project also aims to develop population models that can be used to predict future population dynamics under different scenarios of management and climate change, with predictions used, for example, to identify where potential restoration actions should be focused.
Methods
This project is carried out through field surveys in Östergötland combined with population genetic analysis of the entire Swedish population of M. lagopoda.