Evaluating the effectiveness of wildflower seed mixes for boosting floral diversity and bumblebee and hoverfly abundance in urban areas. Issue 5 (3rd March 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Blackmore, Lorna M.; Goulson, Dave; Stewart, Alan; Bezemer, Martijn
• Is Part Of: Insect conservation and diversity. Volume 7:Issue 5(2014)
• Page Start: 480
• Page End: 484
• Publication Date: 2014-03-03
• Subjects: Entomology -- Periodicals; Insects -- Conservation -- Periodicals; Biodiversity -- Periodicals; Insects -- Ecology -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 333.955716
• DOI: 10.1111/icad.12071
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1752-458X

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="icad12071-abs-00001"> <title>Abstract</title> <p> <list id="icad12071-list-0001" list-type="order"> <list-item> <p>There is growing interest in improving the biodiversity of urban and suburban areas. Here we report on the effectiveness of a very simple intervention that may be used to boost flower and pollinator abundance; the sowing of plots of wildflowers in amenity grasslands. The abundance of flowers, bumblebees (<italic>Bombus</italic> spp.), and hoverflies (Syrphidae) was surveyed in 30 such plots, either 1 or 2 years after they had been sown.</p> </list-item> <list-item> <p>Overall, sown plots had 25 times more flowers, 50 times more bumblebees, and 13 times more hoverflies compared to paired control plots. Floral abundance and bee abundance increased from year 1 to year 2, but hoverflies were more abundant in plots in their first year, reflecting their preference for shallow annual flowers. </p> </list-item> <list-item> <p>Our data demonstrate that flower‐poor amenity grasslands can be readily converted to flower‐rich areas that are highly attractive to pollinators, providing a simple tool for pollinator conservation in urban areas.</p> </list-item> </list> </p> </abstract>