How Informed Design Can Make a Difference: Supporting Insect Pollinators in Cities

Sheila K. Schueller (), Zhelin Li, Zoe Bliss, Rachelle Roake and Beth Weiler
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Sheila K. Schueller: School for Environment and Sustainability, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
Zhelin Li: School for Environment and Sustainability, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
Zoe Bliss: School for Environment and Sustainability, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
Rachelle Roake: School for Environment and Sustainability, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
Beth Weiler: School for Environment and Sustainability, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA

Land, 2023, vol. 12, issue 7, 1-22

Abstract: Pollinators are responsible for the reproduction of many plant and crop species and provide important diversity for food webs and cultural value. Despite the critical ecosystem services provided by pollinators, rapid pollinator declines are occurring in response to anthropogenic activities that cause the loss of suitable habitat. There is an opportunity for urban green space to support pollination ecosystem services locally and across the landscape. However, there is a lack of practical but evidence-based guidance on how urban green space can be designed effectively to provide floral resources and other habitat needs to a diverse assemblage of pollinators. We examine the existing pollinator research in this paper to address the following questions specific to insect pollinators in temperate urban settings: (1) Which pollinators can be the focus of efforts to increase pollinator ecosystem services in cities? (2) Which plants and what arrangements of plants are most attractive and supportive to urban pollinators? (3) What do urban pollinators need beyond floral resources? (4) How can the surrounding landscape inform where to prioritize new habitat creation within cities? Using these questions as a framework, we provide specific and informed management and planning recommendations that optimize pollinator ecosystem value in urban settings.

Keywords: pollinator; bees; pollination ecosystem services; urban green space; urban design; landscape typology; gardens; plant–pollinator interactions; urban biodiversity; research-practice gap (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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