Dataset of the collected flower-visiting insects from three sites in the Middle Atlas region
Data files
May 18, 2026 version files 435.02 KB
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data_aitakka_et_al_2026_JIDC.csv
433.09 KB
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README.md
1.94 KB
May 18, 2026 version files 435.02 KB
-
data_aitakka_et_al_2026_JIDC.csv
433.09 KB
-
README.md
1.94 KB
Abstract
Wild bees play a crucial role in sustaining ecosystem functioning and plant reproduction, yet comprehensive information on their diversity and seasonal dynamics remains limited in North Africa. In this study, we investigated how wild bee communities vary across contrasting sites and seasons in the Middle Atlas region of Morocco. Flower-visiting insects were surveyed using standardized pan-trap sampling from March to August over two consecutive years across three contrasting sites differing in vegetation characteristics and disturbance levels. A total of 3,842 insect individuals were recorded, with communities dominated by flies (43.2%), followed by beetles (25.0%) and wild bees (18.7%). The wild bee assemblage comprised 753 individuals representing 76 species across 19 genera and six families, with Andrena and Lasioglossum being the most species-rich and abundant genera. Species accumulation analyses indicated high sampling completeness overall, although additional rare species are likely to occur, particularly at Zerouka during late summer. Bee communities exhibited strong spatial and seasonal structuring. Moudmam supported the highest species richness and abundance, while Ras el Ma and Zerouka hosted distinct assemblages characterized by differences in dominant taxa and site characteristics. Seasonal turnover was pronounced, with early spring communities dominated by Andrena species and summer assemblages increasingly characterized by halictid and long-tongued bees. In addition, the survey documented two species newly recorded for Morocco, two endemic species, and sixteen species newly recorded for the Fès–Meknès region. Overall, our findings reveal marked differences in pollinator communities across sites and seasons and provide a comprehensive assessment of wild bee diversity in the Middle Atlas. These results contribute valuable baseline data for understanding and conserving pollinator diversity in Mediterranean mountain ecosystems.
Description of the data and file structure
The dataset contains sampling and identification data for flower-visiting insects collected over two consecutive years across three sites in the province of Ifrane, Middle Atlas, Morocco. It was used to investigate the spatial and seasonal dynamics of wild bee diversity and community composition in the Middle Atlas Mountains.
File name: data_aitakka_et_al_2026_JIDC.csv
The "data" table provides the complete dataset of insect specimens collected during the study. Manuscript title: Seasonal dynamics and site-level variation in wild bee diversity and community composition in the Middle Atlas Mountains. Authors: Ait Akka Aziz*, Sentil Ahlam, Lafraxo Soufyane, Skaou Ayyoub, El Omry Othmane, Bari Amina, Guemmouh Raja
Each row corresponds to a species, with sampling and determination information provided in columns
Column Designation
- Year: Year of sampling (2023/2degrees 024)
- Site : Site of sampling (Moumam / Ras el Ma / Zeroudegrees ka)
- Latitude : Latitude in decimal degrees of the site of sampling
- Longitude : Longitude in decimal of the site of sampling
- Altitude : Altitude of the site m asl
- Sampling_period: Period of sampling (Early spring / Late spring / early summer / Late summer)
- Sampling_day : Exact day of Trap deployment
- Collect method: Pan trapping into
- Transect_D: Identifier assigned to each transect
- Insect_group : Sampled insects, grouped into 7 groups: Wild bees, wasps, Honey bee, Syrphids, non-syrphid flies, Butterflies and Beetles
- Insect_family: family name (for wild bees only)
- Insect_genus : Genus name (for wild bees only)
- Species_name : Species names (for wild bees) only with author and year
- who: Sex of the specimen (provided for wild bees only)
- Determiner : Initials of taxonomist that determined bee specimens
