Document Type
Article
Author ORCID Identifier
Tyler M. Wilson https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9383-1564
Journal/Book Title/Conference
Conservation
Volume
5
Issue
4
Publisher
MDPI AG
Publication Date
10-7-2025
Journal Article Version
Version of Record
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
First Page
1
Last Page
8
Abstract
Understanding wild bee diversity is critical for pollinator conservation, particularly in understudied tropical regions like coastal Ecuador. This preliminary study provides a photography-based assessment of bee diversity at Finca Botánica, an organic and regenerative farm on Ecuador’s central Pacific coast. Over a 10-day survey in December 2024, researchers documented 51 bee species across four families, with Apidae being the most represented. The study highlights a predominance of solitary, ground-nesting bees and a lower-than-expected diversity of Meliponini (stingless bees) and Euglossini (orchid bees) compared to other regions of Ecuador. Many species were found in forest patches, ecological corridors, and cover-cropped maize fields, underscoring the role of sustainable farming practices in supporting pollinator diversity. While photographic methods provided valuable preliminary data, they also revealed limitations in species-level identification, reinforcing the need for future specimen-based surveys. These findings suggest that Ecuador’s dry coastal forests may harbor a richer bee community than previously recognized and that organic farms can serve as important refuges for native pollinators.
Recommended Citation
Wilson, J.S.; Wilson, T.M.; Packer, C.; Pacheco, O. A Preliminary, Photography-Based Assessment of Bee Diversity at the Finca Botánica Organic Farm in the Central Pacific Coast of Ecuador. Conservation 2025, 5, 57. https://doi.org/10.3390/conservation5040057