Methods for sampling and collecting insect pollinators and flower visitors in global mangrove ecosystems: A critical systematic review
1 Institute for Marine and Riverine Ecologies and Economies, University of Guyana, Berbice Campus, John’s Science Centre, Corentyne, Berbice, Guyana.
2 Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Guyana, Berbice Campus, Tain, Corentyne, Berbice, Guyana.
3 Centre for the Study of Biodiversity, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Guyana, Turkeyen Campus, Turkeyen, East Coast Demerara, Guyana.
4 Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Guyana, Turkeyen Campus, Turkeyen, East Coast Demerara, Guyana.
Review
World Journal of Advanced Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences, 2026, 11(01), 001–070.
Article DOI: 10.53346/wjapls.2026.11.1.0015
Publication history:
Received on 21 May 2026; revised on 30 June 2026; accepted on 02 July 2026
Abstract:
Mangrove ecosystems are highly productive coastal habitats that provide essential ecological services and support complex biological interactions. Among these interactions, insect pollination plays a critical role in sustaining mangrove reproduction, maintaining genetic diversity, and enhancing ecosystem resilience. However, research on insect pollinator communities within mangrove ecosystems remains limited. This study synthesizes current scientific knowledge on insect pollination in mangrove systems and proposes a spatially informed methodological framework for investigating insect-mangrove interactions. The research integrates a systematic literature review with proposed ecological field approaches to address knowledge gaps related to pollinator diversity, sampling methodologies, and the ecological dynamics of mangrove pollination networks. A thematic review of peer-reviewed literature published between 2020 and 2025 was conducted using multiple academic databases, with earlier studies included to provide historical context. From 154 retrieved articles, 107 met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed to evaluate established insect sampling techniques in mangrove environments. The proposed framework of this review incorporates Geographic Information Systems (GIS), remote sensing, UAV-based habitat assessment, and structured ecological sampling across two randomly selected 100 m × 100 m plots. Insect pollinators are sampled using both active methods and passive methods, while floral visitation, pollinator behavior, vegetation composition, and environmental variables are recorded. By integrating spatial analysis with standardized sampling protocols, the study provides a baseline for documenting insect assemblages associated with key mangrove species such as Rhizophora mangle, Avicennia germinans, and Laguncularia racemosa. This review supports long-term ecological monitoring and highlights the vulnerability of mangrove pollination networks to climate change, habitat fragmentation, and anthropogenic pressures, thereby contributing to improved biodiversity conservation and mangrove management in Guyana and the neotropics.
Keywords:
Insect pollinators; Insect flower visitors; GIS Mapping; Mangrove ecosystems; Active Sampling; Passive Sampling; Insect collection; Insect identification; Insect preservation, Neotropic
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Copyright © 2026 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article. This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Liscense 4.0