Urban areas can have a variety of green spaces: gardens, parks, and roadside and median plantings. It turns out that these spaces can serve as pollinator refuges.
A study by researchers at the University of British Columbia found that reducing lawn mowing and creating pollinator meadows – essentially parks for bugs – significantly boosts pollinator diversity and creates healthier and more resilient ecosystems.
The 3-year study surveyed pollinators in 18 urban parks across the city of Vancouver. It compared parks where meadows were planted and mowing was restricted with parks that were kept as standard turfgrass lawns.
Parks with meadows saw an immediate increase in pollinator species – from 21 to 47 more wild bee and hoverfly species – compared to parks without meadows. These increases continued over the entire three-year study period.
The researchers identified more than 100 species of wild bees and hoverflies and 35 of them were only found in parks with meadows.
People think of urban landscapes as poor environments for biodiversity, but this study demonstrated that even relatively small changes can have significant impacts. Even a patchwork of small habitats can allow species to move freely and settle into multiple areas quickly.
The researchers had advice for urban residents as well. They suggest that people reduce mowing, plant native flowering shrubs and trees, create diverse habitats that incorporate a variety of plants that bloom at different times, avoid pesticide use, and leave natural nesting sites for pollinators.
Preserving pollinators is an important task and having a few parks for bugs can really help.
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How ‘parks for bugs’ boost pollinators in Vancouver
Photo, posted September 19, 2011, courtesy of Eric Bridiers / U.S. Mission Geneva via Flickr.
Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio
