B.Y.O. Bees: Managing wild bee biodiversity in urban greenspaces

Area of Science:

• Urban Ecology
• Conservation Biology
• Entomology

Background:

• Urban development threatens local biodiversity, impacting essential pollinators.
• Urban greenspaces can support pollinator biodiversity, but effectiveness depends on landscape attributes.
• Understanding how urban management influences wild bee communities is crucial for conservation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of greenspace and landscape-level features on wild bee community composition and diversity in Appleton, Wisconsin.
• To determine the influence of pollinator management practices on wild bee abundance and species richness.
• To identify key greenspace attributes that correlate with higher wild bee populations.

Main Methods:

• Conducted periodic sampling of native bees using pan traps at 15 urban and suburban greenspaces over two years.
• Classified greenspaces by development level (urban/suburban) and management status (managed/unmanaged for pollinators).
• Quantified greenspace attributes including floral and tree diversity, floral color diversity, proximity to water, and used satellite data (NLCD, NDVI).

Main Results:

• Actively managed greenspaces showed significantly higher wild bee abundance and species richness.
• Active management practices, such as planting native wildflowers, were stronger predictors of bee abundance and richness than greenspace size.
• Within-greenspace factors like floral diversity, tree diversity, and proximity to water positively correlated with bee abundance and richness.

Conclusions:

• Active management of urban greenspaces is more effective for supporting wild bee populations than simply increasing greenspace area.
• Prioritizing wildflower planting, invasive species removal, nesting habitat creation, and water resources enhances urban pollinator conservation cost-effectively.
• Urban planning should integrate targeted management strategies to maximize pollinator support in city environments.