Can sown wildflowers compensate for cities’ lack of natural meadows to support pollinating insects?

Wiley

In a study published in Ecological Entomology, a journal from the Royal Entomological Society, researchers assessed whether a shortage of natural meadows in urban spaces for pollinating insects might be addressed by creating meadows where wildflowers are planted or sown among grasses.

The research, which was conducted in Warsaw, Poland, showed no difference in the composition of insect-pollinated plants between these two meadow types. There was also no difference between the meadow types concerning the species richness of butterflies, bees, and hoverflies. The number of butterflies was twice as high in natural meadows than it was in sown floral meadows, however. No such differences were found for wild bees and hoverflies.

“The proper management of urban greenery involves combining the well-being of city residents and the protection of habitats. In this way, we can alleviate the hostile environment of urban space for wildlife,” the authors wrote. “Our research has shown that sowing flower meadows may be such a method.”

URL upon publication: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/een.13396

 

Additional Information
NOTE: The information contained in this release is protected by copyright. Please include journal attribution in all coverage. For more information or to obtain a PDF of any study, please contact: Sara Henning-Stout, newsroom@wiley.com.

About the Journal
Ecological Entomology is a leading journal focusing on original research concerning insects and related invertebrates' ecology. Aimed at ecologists driven by ecological or evolutionary theory, we prioritize innovative contributions testing specific hypotheses. Our journal publishes full-length Original Articles, Reviews, Short Communications, and Methods papers, all intended to advance the field of ecological entomology.

About Wiley      
Wiley is one of the world’s largest publishers and a trusted leader in research and learning. Our industry-leading content, services, platforms, and knowledge networks are tailored to meet the evolving needs of our customers and partners, including researchers, students, instructors, professionals, institutions, and corporations. We empower knowledge-seekers to transform today’s biggest obstacles into tomorrow’s brightest opportunities. For more than two centuries, Wiley has been delivering on its timeless mission to unlock human potential. Visit us at Wiley.com. Follow us on Facebook, X, LinkedIn and Instagram.

---

Journal

Ecological Entomology

DOI

10.1111/een.13396 

Article Title

Sown wildflower meadows: Can they replace natural meadows in urban spaces for bees, butterflies, and hoverflies?

Article Publication Date

20-Nov-2024