General Zoology, Institute for Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Hoher Weg 8, 06120, Halle, Germany.
German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Deutscher Platz 5e, 04103, Leipzig, Germany.
Nat Commun. 2020 Jan 29;11(1):576. doi: 10.1038/s41467-020-14496-6.
Urbanisation is an important global driver of biodiversity change, negatively impacting some species groups whilst providing opportunities for others. Yet its impact on ecosystem services is poorly investigated. Here, using a replicated experimental design, we test how Central European cities impact flying insects and the ecosystem service of pollination. City sites have lower insect species richness, particularly of Diptera and Lepidoptera, than neighbouring rural sites. In contrast, Hymenoptera, especially bees, show higher species richness and flower visitation rates in cities, where our experimentally derived measure of pollination is correspondingly higher. As well as revealing facets of biodiversity (e.g. phylogenetic diversity) that correlate well with pollination, we also find that ecotones in insect-friendly green cover surrounding both urban and rural sites boost pollination. Appropriately managed cities could enhance the conservation of Hymenoptera and thereby act as hotspots for pollination services that bees provide to wild flowers and crops grown in urban settings.
城市化是全球生物多样性变化的一个重要驱动因素，对一些物种群体产生负面影响，同时为其他物种提供机会。然而，它对生态系统服务的影响还没有得到充分的研究。在这里，我们使用重复实验设计来测试中欧城市如何影响飞行昆虫和授粉这一生态系统服务。城市地区的昆虫物种丰富度较低，特别是双翅目和鳞翅目昆虫，而邻近的农村地区则较高。相比之下，膜翅目昆虫，尤其是蜜蜂，在城市中的物种丰富度和访花率更高，而我们通过实验得出的授粉衡量标准也相应更高。除了揭示与授粉密切相关的生物多样性方面（例如系统发育多样性）之外，我们还发现，城市和农村地区周围有利于昆虫的绿色覆盖的生态交错带可以促进授粉。如果城市得到妥善管理，可以增强膜翅目昆虫的保护，从而成为城市环境中蜜蜂为野生花卉和作物提供授粉服务的热点。
