The effects of urbanization on bee communities depends on floral resource availability and bee functional traits.

ABSTRACT: Wild bees are important pollinators in many ecosystems threatened by anthropogenic disturbance. Urban development can reduce and degrade natural habitat for bees and other pollinators. However, some researchers suggest that cities could also provide refuge for bees, given that agricultural intensification may pose a greater risk. In this study, we surveyed bee communities at 15 farms and gardens across an urban-rural gradient in southeastern Michigan, USA to evaluate the effect of urbanization on bees. We examined how floral resources, bee functional traits, temperature, farm size, and the spatial scale of analysis influence bee response to urbanization. We found that urbanization positively affected bee diversity and evenness but had no effect on total abundance or species richness. Addit

SUBMITTER: Wilson CJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6886752 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature