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Impacts of Habitat Fragmentation on Pollinator Diversity in Agricultural Landscapes
1 , 2 , 2 , 2 , * 3
1  Department of Pharmacology, RGS College of Pharmacy, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, 226203, India
2  Department of Pharmacy, RGS College of Pharmacy, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, 226203, India
3  Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, RGS College of Pharmacy, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, 226203, India
Academic Editor: Ettore Randi

Published: 05 February 2026 by MDPI in The 1st International Online Conference on Biology session Conservation Biology
Abstract:

Habitat fragmentation poses a significant threat to pollinator communities, particularly within intensively managed agricultural landscapes. In India, the expansion of monoculture cropping and urban encroachment has led to the progressive isolation of semi-natural habitats that traditionally support a high diversity of pollinators. This study examines the relationship between habitat configuration, landscape heterogeneity, and pollinator diversity across multiple agroecosystems in northern and central India. Field surveys and spatial analyses were employed to quantify pollinator abundance, species richness, and community composition in relation to patch size, edge density, and habitat connectivity. Results indicate a marked decline in both the taxonomic and functional diversity of pollinators with increasing habitat isolation and reduced floral resource availability. Fragmented landscapes exhibited a dominance of generalist species such as Apis cerana and A. dorsata, while specialist and solitary bees showed sharp declines in occurrence. The analysis further suggests that small fragments with high structural complexity such as hedgerows, fallow fields, and riparian buffers play a disproportionately important role in sustaining pollinator assemblages. These findings highlight the urgent need to integrate biodiversity-friendly land-use planning within agricultural policy frameworks. Enhancing habitat connectivity through agroforestry corridors, diversified crop mosaics, and conservation of native vegetation can mitigate the negative effects of fragmentation. Sustaining pollinator diversity is not only critical for maintaining ecosystem resilience but also for ensuring stable crop yields and food security in India’s agrarian landscapes.

Keywords: Habitat Fragmentation; Pollinator Diversity; Agricultural Landscapes; Landscape Ecology; Biodiversity Conservation
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