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How do urbanization and alien species affect the plant taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic diversity in different types of urban green areas?
AbstractHuman pressure on urban landscapes has serious consequences for urban plant species. Therefore, environmental and anthropogenic factors affect the assembly of urban wildlife in plant communities. For biodiversity conservation and ecosystem services in urban areas, it is crucial to understand the impacts of urbanization as well as the introduction of alien plant species on urban plant communities. On 47 sites in Poznań (W Poland), we studied variation within and between three management greenery habitats, i.e., urban parks, greenery associated with housing estates, and urban grasslands, as they relate to taxonomical, functional, and phylogenetic alpha and beta diversity. We also examined how urbanization (measured by ISA) and alien plant species relate to vegetation compositional differences. We found that both urbanization and alien plant species cover decreased alpha diversity, while urbanization had various impacts on beta diversity within each studied habitat. Our results suggest that human pressure leads to similarities in the urban flora, where plant species with specific functional traits adapted to the urban environment. To achieve sustainable urbanization, urban planners should not only create diverse green spaces but also eliminate alien plants, increasing the role of urban land management in promoting the wildness of plant biodiversity in cities.
Sown wildflower meadows: Can they replace natural meadows in urban spaces for bees, butterflies and hoverflies?
Abstract The decline in pollinator populations is partly due to human practices that have contributed to the loss of wild and flower‐rich habitats. In cities, especially city centres, urban green spaces, which are usually small, are often sown with wildflower meadows. The study compared the number and species richness of three main groups of pollinating insects (wild bees, butterflies and hoverflies) for two types of meadows in Warsaw: sown wildflower meadows and the natural meadows. The research results showed that there was no difference in the composition of insect‐pollinated plants between the meadow types. There was also no difference between the meadow types concerning the species richness of butterflies, bees and hoverflies. However, it was confirmed that the number of butterflies was twice as high in natural meadows than it was in sown floral meadows, while in the case of wild bees and hoverflies, no such differences were found. The study confirmed that areas sown with wildflowers, usually of small area, concentrate pollinating insects and have a similar value for pollinators as larger areas of natural meadow. Sown wildflower meadows, if properly cared for, can ensure the richness of melliferous plant species and thus positively affect the diversity and number of pollinators. Sown meadows can compensate insects for the absence of large, natural meadows, especially in the fragmented spaces in cities.
Osmia3DNest - Novel designed 3D printed artificial nest for solitary cavity‐nesting bees
Abstract The availability and appropriateness of nesting sites significantly influence the reproductive success and overall welfare of wild bees. Human‐induced factors contribute to the destruction of natural nesting habitats. To address these limitations, innovative solutions such as the development of artificial nests, offer alternative nest sites to support wild bee populations. We designed the Osmia3DNest, a 3D printed standardized nest tube for solitary cavity‐nesting bees, aiming to provide a safe for the environment, long‐life, time‐saving and biodegradable product that anyone can print. We proudly present the two Osmia3DNest models for mason bees—closed and open—using polylactic acid filament. We demonstrate the effectiveness of Osmia3DNest on mason bee reproduction parameters compared with traditional reed nests. Osmia3DNest can be an alternative to the other artificial nests, which people can customize for their necessity depending on their place of living (rural or urban area), and they can also be washed and reused several times and then decomposed. Osmia3DNest holds potential for wildlife biologists, management of pollinators, and educational outreach, offering adaptability for different bee species and experimental needs.
Pollinator assemblages in grasslands along river valleys depend on the urban matrix and local habitat scale variables
Land Use Change Consistently Reduces α‐ But Not β‐ and γ‐Diversity of Bees
ABSTRACTLand use change threatens global biodiversity and compromises ecosystem functions, including pollination and food production. Reduced taxonomic α‐diversity is often reported under land use change, yet the impacts could be different at larger spatial scales (i.e., γ‐diversity), either due to reduced β‐diversity amplifying diversity loss or increased β‐diversity dampening diversity loss. Additionally, studies often focus on taxonomic diversity, while other important biodiversity components, including phylogenetic diversity, can exhibit differential responses. Here, we evaluated how agricultural and urban land use alters the taxonomic and phylogenetic α‐, β‐, and γ‐diversity of an important pollinator taxon—bees. Using a multicontinental dataset of 3117 bee assemblages from 157 studies, we found that taxonomic α‐diversity was reduced by 16%–18% in both agricultural and urban habitats relative to natural habitats. Phylogenetic α‐diversity was decreased by 11%–12% in agricultural and urban habitats. Compared with natural habitats, taxonomic and phylogenetic β‐diversity increased by 11% and 6% in urban habitats, respectively, but exhibited no systematic change in agricultural habitats. We detected a 22% decline in taxonomic γ‐diversity and a 17% decline in phylogenetic γ‐diversity in agricultural habitats, but γ‐diversity of urban habitats was not significantly different from natural habitats. These findings highlight the threat of agricultural expansions to large‐scale bee diversity due to systematic γ‐diversity decline. In addition, while both urbanization and agriculture lead to consistent declines in α‐diversity, their impacts on β‐ or γ‐diversity vary, highlighting the need to study the effects of land use change at multiple scales.
Pollinator‐Promoting Interventions in European Urban Habitats—A Synthesis
ABSTRACTPollinators receive considerable interest due to their fundamental role in ecosystem functioning and human well‐being. Unlike farmlands, studies of urban pollinator‐promoting interventions are scarce and have not been synthesised, hampering policy implementation. To fill this gap, we compared pollinator‐promoting interventions (treatment) with conventionally managed (control) sites regarding vegetation, floral resources, and pollinators. Our synthesis investigated 1051 sampling sites with different interventions (abandonment, extensive mowing, flower sowing, and combined practices) and habitats (parks, grasslands, road verges, private and public gardens) from 28 European datasets at pooled‐ and study‐levels. Urban pollinator‐promoting interventions generally benefited plants and pollinators with taxon, intervention, habitat, and spatio‐temporal specific differences. Pooled analyses showed mostly positive and never negative treatment effects, while study‐level details described primarily positive and neutral but rarely negative effects. Bumblebees and butterflies benefited most from the interventions. Some effects were stronger for interventions involving flower sowing, interventions occurring in road verges, and interventions located in Northwestern Europe. Although regulations, guidelines, and monitoring are improving, knowledge gaps remain for some pollinator taxa (e.g., beetles), regions (e.g., Mediterranean), and novel interventions (e.g., for ground‐nesting insects). Further collaborative studies from around the world could help cities bring people, plants, and pollinators together by creating resilient, multi‐functional urban spaces.
Optimizing pear orchard productivity through managed Osmia bicornis L.: A study on pollination efficiency and its role in geitonogamy
AbstractMost pear cultivars require cross‐pollination to enhance yields in both self‐fertile and partially self‐fertile cultivars. Due to the deficit of wild bees and the limited pollination efficiency of honey bees, alternative commercial pollinators should be considered. This study examined the pollination efficiency of the managed bee Osmia bicornis in a pear orchard containing three cultivars: ‘Conference’, ‘Deyonne du Comice’, and ‘Alexander Lucas’. The introduction of O. bicornis into the pear orchard proved effective, with this species comprising up to one‐fifth of the total pollinator population when nesting sites were located within 60 m of the trees. The management of O. bicornis improved fruit set in self‐sterile cultivars but did not affect parthenocarpic cultivars. The higher number of fruits per inflorescence, as well as greater fruit weight and diameter, when flowers were pollinated by red mason bees rather than self‐pollination, predict an improvement in the total yield. compared to self‐pollination. The pollen bag method employed in the study highlighted the vital role of O. bicornis in geitonogamy in pears. The findings demonstrate that the use of these managed bees can enhance yields in single‐cultivar orchards, including self‐pollinating and parthenocarpic cultivars.
Effect of Osmia bicornis supplemental pollination on seed yield of forest seed orchards
AbstractOur study investigated the possibility of using the red mason bee Osmia bicornis as a pollinator of forest seed orchards of frequently grown European trees: insect - pollinated Tilia cordata and Prunus avium. Moreover, we checked whether the presence of O. bicornis has an impact on the pollination results of Quercus petraea, which is wind - pollinated. Data were collected from 8 forest seed orchards in western Poland between 2018 and 2020. We assessed whether the presence of O. bicornis populations affects the number and mass of seeds and seed quality. Supplementing forest orchards with O. bicornis affected seed yield. The generalized linear mixed models indicated that the number of seeds and the proportion of viable seeds, but not seed mass, were higher in the Tilia cordata trees, when additionally pollinated with O. bicornis added as a pollinator.