Ground-nesting bees are highly sensitive to changes in vegetation, flower supply and soil properties caused by plant invasions. The direct and indirect effects of twelve alien invasive plant species were investigated under field conditions. Invasion generally reduced flower resources, increased vegetation height and affected some soil properties. While invasion had a negative effect and the amount and diversity of flowers had a positive effect on ground-nesting bees, but no relationship was found between the soil properties and bees. Our findings suggest that it would be worth exploring the issue in more depth, for example using more specific field methods to explore the role of additional soil parameters. Our present publication is a first step towards future research exploring the role of soil properties on bees.
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This research was supported by the National Talent Programme of Hungary and the Prime Minister's Office (NTP-NFTÖ-21-B-0288), and by the National Laboratory for Health Security (RRF-2.3.1-21-2022-00006), Centre for Ecological Research, Budapest, Hungary.