Dry grassland within the urban matrix acts as favourable habitat for different pollinators including endangered species

Abstract

This study highlights the potential of urban dry grasslands for diverse pollinator communities of wild bees and hoverflies, including rare and endangered species. By using pan trap sampling on 49 study sites distributed across the urban environment, responses of wild bee and hoverfly communities to urban features at two spatial scales (urban matrix and local habitat) were examined. A total of 1246 hoverfly individuals (Syrphidae) from 31 species and 1463 bee individuals (Apoidea) from 107 species were collected. Our analysis showed that hoverflies are impacted by urban matrix features and local floral resources, whereas wild bees only respond to patch size at the local habitat scale and endangered wild bee species additionally to non-native pollinator-friendly plants. Given the different responses of wild bees and hoverflies to the urban environment, we recommend multi-taxon approaches for urban conservation practice. Urban dry grasslands and the diversity of pollinator-friendly plants, including non-native species, should be conserved and promoted to support urban pollinator diversity.