Abstract:
Urban environments are becoming increasingly fragmented and dominated by human-made structures, which has significant impacts on local ecosystems and biodiversity. Residential yards, as common features of urban landscapes, can play an important role in supporting urban biodiversity and ecosystem services. This study investigates how residential yards influence plant-pollinator interactions and contribute to the structure of urban food webs. We conducted a comparative study in two residential neighborhoods with different yard management practices: one neighborhood with native plant gardens and the other with conventional lawns. We surveyed plant-pollinator interactions and collected data on plant species composition, flower abundance, and pollinator diversity in both neighborhoods.
Our results showed that yards with native plant gardens had significantly higher plant species richness and flower abundance compared to conventional lawns. This, in turn, supported a greater diversity and abundance of pollinators, including bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. The native plant gardens also facilitated more specialized plant-pollinator interactions, indicating a higher degree of coevolution between plants and their pollinators. Additionally, we found that the presence of native plant gardens in one neighborhood positively influenced pollinator visitation in the neighboring conventional lawns, suggesting a spillover effect of habitat enhancement.
Our study demonstrates the potential of residential yards to contribute to urban food webs by providing resources for pollinators and promoting specialized plant-pollinator interactions. Encouraging the adoption of native plant gardens in urban landscapes can enhance biodiversity, support ecosystem services, and foster more resilient urban ecosystems. These findings have implications for urban planning, conservation, and sustainable landscape management practices in cities.
