Can trait matching inform the design of pollinator-friendly urban green spaces? A review and synthesis of the literature

Abstract

Land use change is a major driver of pollinator decline and loss of pollination services. For plant and pollinator interactions to persist in rapidly changing urban systems, co-occurring species must share matching traits, including phenological, morphological, and physiological traits. Thus, the knowledge of trait matching among interacting plants and pollinators can aid in the design of pollinator habitats and enhance the conservation value of urban green spaces, but this remains relatively understudied. Here, we review how trait matching facilitates the persistence of interactions and creation of new interactions in urban plant–pollinator networks. We highlight four major urban drivers facilitating the restructuring of plant–pollinator networks through species loss and gain in urban areas. We also show different pathways by which the matching of morphological, phenological, and physiological traits of interacting plants and pollinators is affected by urbanization. Furthermore, we show how the knowledge of functional traits can help to predict novel plant–pollinator interactions in urban environments, including those among exotic species. Finally, we show how the application of trait matching can aid management practices, facilitating the design and creation of sustainable green spaces that will accommodate functionally diverse pollinators and plants within the urban matrix.