Search Results for “pollinators”

Thursday, April 25, 2024

Urban Gardens Provide Stable Nectar Supply for Pollinators

August 7, 2022January 30, 2023 Julia Bebout 0 Comments community ecology, gardens, plant ecology, pollinators

Insect pollinators are in trouble, and many plants on farms or in the wild need them to be able to grow fruits and reproduce. With so much at stake for plants around the world, and the humans who depend on them, how can we stop the decline of insect pollinator populations? Urban gardens may have a role to play in supporting pollinators, especially if we plant flowers that provide a stable supply of nectar, their most important food.

Case Studies Cities Environmental Science

Community and home gardens are hotspots for pollinators in cities

March 5, 2019September 12, 2022 Lindsay Green-Gavrielidis 0 Comments gardens, land use, pollinators, urban areas, urban management

Pollinators, such as bees, are important parts of the environment since they are required for plant success and fruit production by humans and animals alike. However, populations of pollinators have been declining worldwide due to a number of issues, including widespread pesticide use and loss of habitats. A recent study conducted by researchers in the UK and their colleagues examined pollinator use of urban areas, comparing community gardens, home gardens, cemeteries, and other spaces. The researchers show that the abundance and diversity of many pollinator groups was highest in community and home gardens, and suggest that urban planners should increase these spaces to boost pollinator populations.

Climate Ecosystems

Giving Them a Fighting Chance: How To Save Insects from Climate Change

July 1, 2023June 23, 2023 Andrea Valcarcel 0 Comments Climate Change, climate crisis, climate resiliency, insects

Insects, as small as they are, are even more important than you may think. Sadly, climate change and warming are slowly depleting insect populations as our urban spaces grow and the use of pesticides in rural areas increases. Actions like planting native plants and decreasing the concentration of concrete-sealed spaces could help create a world where insects are more resilient to the changing environment.

Animal behavior Ecosystems Environmental Science

Commuting to… pollinate? How bees are choosing fragmented sites to forage

May 25, 2023May 28, 2023 Lauren Otolski 0 Comments bees, Conservation, fragmentation, pollinators

Like social bees, solitary bees are important pollinators. How do they choose where to forage when their habitat is broken up?

Ecosystems Environmental Science

A weed by any other name would smell as sweet: Unsung pollination heroes

September 8, 2022September 8, 2022 Etienne Herrick 0 Comments biodiversity, pollinators, weeds, wildflowers

Weeds often get a bad rap, but new research suggests we should think twice before pulling them out of our gardens and farm fields. In fact, they may be even more beneficial than wildflower patches. Read on to learn more about how farmers’ and gardeners’ number one enemy – weeds – could actually be pollinators’ number one ally!

Animal behavior Cities

Is your garden bee-friendly? – City gardens promote bee parasites

April 20, 2022April 20, 2022 Brandi Pessman 0 Comments bees, cities, gardens, Parasites

Parasites are threatening pollinator populations worldwide, raising concerns for the future of our food security. How we manage our gardens in cities could impact parasite transmission among pollinators, especially bees. Researchers found that bee parasites decrease when we plant plenty of flowers to promote diverse pollinators. We also reduce parasites when we refrain from mulching our gardens, as mulch covers nests for ground-nesting bees. As spring approaches, will your garden be friendlier to bees or their parasites?

Animal behavior Climate Ecosystems

Alpine Plants May Struggle for Pollination as Climate Warms

February 7, 2022January 30, 2023 Julia Bebout 0 Comments alpine, bees, Climate Change, flies, flowers, Global Warming, plant communities, plant-pollinator interactions, pollinators, species interactions

Climate warming is likely to change how plants and pollinators interact in mountain ecosystems, with possible consequences for biodiversity.

Close-up image of a honey bee sitting on a green leaf

Animal behavior Cities Ecosystems Environmental Science

Decoding the Waggle Dance: The Importance of Flowers in Urban Landscapes for Honey Bees

February 4, 2022February 17, 2022 Jenna Zukswert 0 Comments

Bee populations are threatened due to habitat loss and fragmentation, partly due to the expansion and intensification of agriculture worldwide. By videotaping and analyzing the “waggle dances” of honey bees near London, scientists compared the distance that bees need to travel to reach nectar in urban and agricultural landscapes. Bees needed to travel less far to reach nectar and pollen in urban areas vs. agricultural areas, underscoring the importance of urban planted areas, like gardens, in supporting honey bee populations. Establishing flowering plants in agricultural landscapes could help support honey bee populations.

Ecosystems Environmental Science Remote Environments

Who Pollinates a Potent Plant?

November 4, 2021September 16, 2022 Brianne Palmer 0 Comments botanic gardens, Corpse flower, tropical ecosystems

About once a decade, the corpse flower blooms and attracts human visitors of all ages who want to see the short-lived flower and smell the plant’s natural perfume of rotting flesh. But in the wild, these plants must attract a different kind of visitor –pollinators. Read on to learn more about the mysterious pollinators of the Corpse Flower and learn about the questions scientists still don’t know the answers to.

Animal behavior

Flying on the Edge – Bees use linear features to navigate

November 3, 2021April 12, 2023 Brandi Pessman 0 Comments agriculture, bees, landscape, pollinators

Ever noticed how straight roads or the edges of crop fields are? Humans love turning naturally curvy land into straight lines. While land modification poses significant threats to many animals, some can take advantage of these changes. A new study found that bumble bees exploit human-made lines and edges to navigate to food sources. Taking the path most traveled may make all the difference for these bees.

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