Powered by OpenAIRE graph
Found an issue? Give us feedback
image/svg+xml art designer at PLoS, modified by Wikipedia users Nina, Beao, JakobVoss, and AnonMoos Open Access logo, converted into svg, designed by PLoS. This version with transparent background. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Open_Access_logo_PLoS_white.svg art designer at PLoS, modified by Wikipedia users Nina, Beao, JakobVoss, and AnonMoos http://www.plos.org/ Biological Conservat...arrow_drop_down
image/svg+xml art designer at PLoS, modified by Wikipedia users Nina, Beao, JakobVoss, and AnonMoos Open Access logo, converted into svg, designed by PLoS. This version with transparent background. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Open_Access_logo_PLoS_white.svg art designer at PLoS, modified by Wikipedia users Nina, Beao, JakobVoss, and AnonMoos http://www.plos.org/
Biological Conservation
Article . 2026 . Peer-reviewed
License: CC BY
Data sources: Crossref
ZENODO
Article . 2026
License: CC BY
Data sources: Datacite
ZENODO
Article . 2026
License: CC BY
Data sources: Datacite
versions View all 3 versions
addClaim

Species-habitat networks inform pollinator conservation strategies in cities

Authors: Geppert, Costanza; Cappellari, Andree; Mei, Maurizio; Paniccia, Dino; Marini, Lorenzo;

Species-habitat networks inform pollinator conservation strategies in cities

Abstract

As more people live in cities, research on the ecological role of urban green for pollinators is accumulating. However, most studies have focused on the diversity patterns at the local scale, while an urgent question is to understand how to manage whole cities to maximise pollinator conservation. Here, we selected 105 sites belonging to 6 habitat types (abandoned meadows, crop field margins, gardens, parks, parks managed with a pollinator friendly mowing regime, and road margins) in the city of Padua (Italy). We sampled bees and hoverflies using transect walks, from spring to late summer, and analysed species-habitat networks to understand how pollinator communities were organized across urban green areas. We found that most pollinator species interacted with most habitat types in the city, creating a highly generalistic and robust network. Compared to all other habitats, road margins had a very small influence over the network and hosted the lowest pollinator abundance and species richness. Green areas in the landscape positively affected wild bees but local patch quality, in terms of flowers and low mowing regime, was key. Network robustness decreased when the patches with the highest quality were removed first, and pollinators depended on the patches with the highest flower cover and vegetation height. Except for road margins, all habitat patches could support pollinator species. Therefore, urban planning strategies could be tailored without considering habitat identity, for example by increasing the overall amount of green areas and by implementing management practices that enhance the floral resources across all urban green spaces.

  • BIP!
    Impact byBIP!
    selected citations
    These citations are derived from selected sources.
    This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
    0
    popularity
    This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network.
    Average
    influence
    This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
    Average
    impulse
    This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network.
    Average
Powered by OpenAIRE graph
Found an issue? Give us feedback
selected citations
These citations are derived from selected sources.
This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Citations provided by BIP!
popularity
This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Popularity provided by BIP!
influence
This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Influence provided by BIP!
impulse
This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Impulse provided by BIP!
0
Average
Average
Average