Bumble bees (Bombus spp) along a gradient of increasing urbanization.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Bumble bees and other wild bees are important pollinators of wild flowers and several cultivated crop plants, and have declined in diversity and abundance during the last decades. The main cause of the decline is believed to be habitat destruction and fragmentation associated with urbanization and agricultural intensification. Urbanization is a process that involves dramatic and persistent changes of the landscape, increasing the amount of built-up areas while decreasing the amount of green areas. However, urban green areas can also provide suitable alternative habitats for wild bees.

Methodology/principal findings

We studied bumble bees in allotment gardens, i.e. intensively managed flower rich green areas, along a gradient of urbanization from the inner city of

SUBMITTER: Ahrne K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2679196 | biostudies-literature | 2009

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature