Meta-analysis : Landscape features impacts on pollinators

📄 Dataset Description

Overview

This document provides a comprehensive description of the dataset structure used to investigate the relationships between pollinator communities and landscape/environmental characteristics across various agricultural and semi-natural contexts.

The dataset integrates information from multiple studies to: - Quantify pollinator abundance and diversity at both farm and landscape scales. - Characterize local management practices and landscape features that may influence pollinator communities. - Assess how floral resource availability and land-use patterns contribute to pollinator dynamics.

To achieve these objectives, the dataset is structured into several key sections: 1. General study/site information
2. Temporal scope of sampling efforts
3. Sampling methodology and effort
4. Landscape features and management context
5. Spatial metrics at multiple scales
6. Floral resource availability
7. Agricultural land management practices
8. Pollinator community data
9. Taxon-specific abundance and richness metrics

Each section is described below, along with a detailed definition of each column.

1. General Information

This section captures the core metadata necessary to identify each study and sampling site, including geographical location and contextual information.

Column Name	Description
`NUM`	Record number (internal ID).
`id`	Unique identifier for the study.
`sampling_site_id`	Unique identifier for the sampling site within each study.
`country`	Country where the sampling was conducted.
`region_type`	Type of region (e.g., agricultural, seminatural, research platform).
`region`	Specific name or description of the region (e.g., “Zone Atelier Plaine & Val de Sèvre”).
`comments`	General comments or links to relevant metadata repositories (e.g., DEIMS, Dryad).
`lat`	Latitude of the sampling site (decimal degrees, WGS84).
`long`	Longitude of the sampling site (decimal degrees, WGS84).

2. Study Duration

Understanding the temporal scope of each study is critical for assessing variability in pollinator communities over time and for standardizing sampling efforts.

Column Name	Description
`years`	Study period in years (e.g., “2015-2015”).
`first_year_study`	First year of data collection.
`last_year_study`	Last year of data collection.
`total_years_study`	Total number of years covered by the study.
`Number_years`	Number of unique years in which sampling took place.
`months`	Sampling period during the year (e.g., “June–August”).
`first_month_study`	First month of data collection.
`last_month_study`	Last month of data collection.
`total_months_study`	Total number of months sampled.

3. Sampling Protocol

This section details the sampling methodology used to collect pollinator data, including sampling intensity, spatial coverage, and effort standardization.

Column Name	Description
`sampling_method`	Type of sampling method (e.g., transect walks, pan traps, netting).
`n_sampling_rounds`	Number of independent sampling rounds per study period.
`n_transect`	Number of transects or sample units per site.
`trans_area`	Area covered by a single transect (m²).
`total_m2_sampled`	Total area sampled across all transects/rounds (m²).
`total_flowers_sampled`	Total number of flowers or floral units observed/sampled.
`time_transect_round`	Time spent per transect round (specify unit: minutes/hours).
`Volume`	Volume of sampling (if applicable, e.g., for trap methods).
`Color`	Color of traps (if applicable; relevant for pan traps).
`Trapdays`	Total number of trap days (if applicable).
`Ntraps`	Number of traps used per site.
`Comment`	Additional notes on sampling design or conditions.

4. Landscape Features & Management Context

This section describes the local landscape features (LF) of interest and their management, providing context for evaluating habitat quality and resource availability for pollinators.

Column Name	Description
`scale`	Spatial scale considered (e.g., local/farm vs. landscape).
`Intervention`	Any specific intervention (e.g., habitat restoration, floral strip installation).
`LF_typology`	Typology of the landscape feature (e.g., seminatural grassland, hedgerow).
`LF_features_included`	Specific features included in the LF category (e.g., unmanaged grasslands, flower strips).
`LF_management`	Management practices of the LF (e.g., mowing frequency, grazing, fertilization).
`LF_age`	Age of the landscape feature (years since establishment or restoration).
`LF_length`	Length of the feature (m).
`LF_width`	Width of the feature (m).
`LF_cover_m2_farm`	Absolute LF area at the farm scale (m²).
`LF_cover_per_farm`	Proportion of LF relative to total farm area (%).

5. Landscape Composition by Radius

To assess landscape-level effects, this section provides spatial metrics at multiple radii (600–2000 m), capturing habitat cover and landscape complexity.

For each radius, both absolute area (m²) and relative proportion (%) of LF cover are provided.

Column Name	Description
`radius_600m`	Radius considered (600 m).
`LF_cover_m2_r600`	LF area (m²) within 600 m radius.
`LF_cover_per_r600`	LF proportion (%) within 600 m radius.
`radius_600_1000m`	Radius considered (600–1000 m).
`LF_cover_m2_r600_1000`	LF area (m²) within 600–1000 m ring.
`LF_cover_per_r600_1000`	LF proportion (%) within 600–1000 m ring.
`radius_1000_1500m`	Radius considered (1000–1500 m).
`LF_cover_m2_r1000_1500`	LF area (m²) within 1000–1500 m ring.
`LF_cover_per_r1000_1500`	LF proportion (%) within 1000–1500 m ring.
`radius_1500_2000m`	Radius considered (1500–2000 m).
`LF_cover_m2_r1500_2000`	LF area (m²) within 1500–2000 m ring.
`LF_cover_per_r1500_2000`	LF proportion (%) within 1500–2000 m ring.
`radius_2000m`	Radius considered (total 2000 m).
`LF_cover_m2_r2000`	LF area (m²) within 2000 m radius.
`LF_cover_per_r2000`	LF proportion (%) within 2000 m radius.

6. Floral Resource Availability

Floral resources are key drivers of pollinator presence and activity. This section provides data on flower availability within and around sampling sites.

Column Name	Description
`data_available`	Indicates whether flower resource data are available (yes/no).
`comments`	Additional comments on data availability or quality.
`data_extracted_from`	Source of flower resource data (e.g., field measurements, published tables).
`where_measured`	Location where flower data were collected (e.g., within LF, adjacent fields).
`distance_border_LF`	Distance from sampling point to LF border (m).
`LF_flower_offer_value`	Quantified flower offer value.
`LF_flower_offer_units`	Units used for flower offer (e.g., % floral cover, floral units/m²).

7. Agricultural Land Management

This section contextualizes the agricultural practices surrounding sampling sites, which can influence both pollinator communities and habitat quality.

Column Name	Description
`ag_land_class`	Type of agricultural land (e.g., grassland, cropland).
`ag_land_specifications`	Specific crop or grassland type (e.g., wheat, alfalfa).
`PPP`	Use of plant protection products (yes/no/NA).
`fertilisers`	Fertilizer application details (type and frequency).
`mowing`	Mowing regime (frequency and timing).
`water`	Irrigation presence/method.
`others`	Other management practices relevant to the site.
`comment`	Additional contextual information.

8. Pollinator Community Data

This section contains core pollinator metrics, including abundance and richness measures (raw and standardized) and, where available, visit rates and distinctions between common vs. rare species.

Column Name	Description
`pol_taxa`	Target pollinator group (e.g., wild bees, hoverflies).
`pol_taxa_name`	Taxonomic group names or categories surveyed.
`species included (all, list precise species,`	List of species included in the dataset (if available).
`Abundance_raw`	Raw abundance (total individuals observed).
`Abundance_stand`	Standardized abundance (e.g., per unit area/time).
`Richness_raw`	Raw species richness (number of taxa).
`Richness_stand`	Standardized species richness (adjusted by effort).
`unit`	Unit used for standardization (e.g., ha/hour).
`method`	Method used for standardization calculations.
`Visit per flower`	Visit rate per flower (if applicable).
`Common_abundance`	Abundance of common species.
`rare_abundance`	Abundance of rare species.
`rare_richness`	Richness of rare species.
`Common_richness`	Richness of common species.

9. Taxon-Specific Abundance & Richness

To assess community composition, this section provides abundance and richness data for key genera or species groups.

Example columns include:

Column Name	Description
`abundance_bombus`	Abundance of Bombus (bumblebees).
`richness_bombus`	Richness of Bombus species.
`abundance_osmia`	Abundance of Osmia (mason bees).
`richness_osmia`	Richness of Osmia species.
`abundance_lasioglossum`	Abundance of Lasioglossum.
`richness_lasioglossum`	Richness of Lasioglossum species.
`abundance_megachile`	Abundance of Megachile.
`richness_megachile`	Richness of Megachile species.
…	(Additional genera/species groups follow the same format).

Notes

NA values indicate missing or unavailable information for specific sites/studies.
Coordinates are provided in decimal degrees (WGS84).
Standardization methods are described in the method column for transparency and reproducibility.
Proportions (%) are expressed as decimals (e.g., 0.43 = 43%).

For further clarification or questions, please contact the dataset managers.