Pesticide residues in ornamental plants marketed as bee friendly: Levels in flowers, leaves, roots and soil

Environmental Pollution, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 345, P. 123466 - 123466

Published: Jan. 29, 2024

Ornamental plants rich in pollen and nectar are often marketed as "pollinator-friendly" by flower retailers. However, even though the attractive from a foraging perspective, i.e rich, bees other pollinating insects could be at risk exposure of pesticide residues on or used during production. Pesticides ornamental plant production lead to environmental emissions both cultivation, retailer displays when planted gardens consumers. This study aims investigate what pesticides that perennial sold Sweden if pose for wild pollinators. We analyze an array 536 whole flowers, leaves, roots soil 54 individual (46 had flowers) specifically "bee friendly". In addition, seeds 65 seed bags were analyzed same pesticides. Our result show first time distribution between soils plants. also all contained least one pesticide, some samples up 19 different substances.

Language: Английский

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Local and landscape factors differentially influence predatory arthropods in urban agroecosystems

Ecosphere, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 15(3)

Published: March 1, 2024

Abstract Like other urban green spaces, community gardens can act as biodiversity refugees, especially for small organisms like arthropods. In turn, arthropods provide important ecosystem pest control services to these agroecosystems. Thus, an often‐asked question among gardeners is how improve and surrounding areas natural enemies associated services. We examine local vegetation garden characteristics, well the landscape composition, affect ground‐dwelling beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae Staphylinidae), spiders (Araneae), opilionids (Opiliones), ladybird Coccinellidae), all of which are predators. summer 2019, we collected predators, vegetation, ground cover, characteristic data from 10 in city Seattle, Washington. found that different groups with environmental variables at scales; probably related differences their dispersal capabilities, habits, diets. Floral (number flowers number species flower) had a negative effect on nonflying (spiders, opilionids, beetles), but not flying ones (ladybird beetles). The only taxon was significantly affected by landscape‐scale variable Opiliones, group examined exclusively disperses ground. Our results show contrasting similar studies regions highlight need expand taxa study.

Language: Английский

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Sustainable nature‐based solutions require establishment and maintenance of keystone plant‐pollinator interactions

Journal of Ecology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 112(11), P. 2432 - 2441

Published: June 24, 2024

Abstract Many nature‐based solutions (NBS), including urban greenspaces, agriculture and agroforestry, depend upon animal‐pollinated plants to sequester carbon or provide other ecosystem services. Thus, long‐term success of these also depends resilient pollinator communities. Despite their importance functioning communities, a literature search revealed that 0%–3% papers on NBS related topics considered pollinators pollination. Pollinators were more likely be in the subgroup agricultural production, where 12.5% Conservation species interactions is essential conservation biodiversity sustained benefits NBS. By applying our understanding ecology plant‐pollinator mutualisms implementation NBS, we can promote under future climatic conditions. In particular, point need identify keystone pollinators, those contribute most maintenance, community stability function, leverage efforts. We further advocate for use phylogenetic trait‐based analyses understand characteristics associated with keystoneness. Synthesis : Resilience pollination services rests responses partners, likelihood they continue express traits confer mutual benefit climates. outsized gain insight into mechanisms underlying resilience rely changing world.

Language: Английский

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Urban pollinator communities are structured by local-scale garden features, not landscape context

Landscape Ecology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 40(3)

Published: Feb. 22, 2025

Language: Английский

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It is not Risky, it is Healthy. Assessing of Soil Enzymatic Activity, Heavy Metal Contamination, and Health Risk for Urban Gardens Land Development in Warsaw, Poland

Land Degradation and Development, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: April 3, 2025

ABSTRACT Urban gardens (UG) in densely populated cities serve as vital spaces, fostering community well‐being, biodiversity, and local food production. Yet, these face a growing threat from air soil contamination, particularly like Warsaw (Poland), where proximity to major roads, an international airport, industrial activities elevates the risks. This study, focusing on six UGs Warsaw, assessed (including potentially toxic elements (PTE) content using spectrophotometric method, toxicity health risks OECD 208 test method US EPA Hazard identification method) quality (PM 2.5 concentration) recorded at 1.5 m with calibrated Nephelometer. The results revealed that PTE concentrations remained low, dehydrogenase activity (DHA) phytotoxicity tests showing no effects. Both microbial plant growth were unaffected by pollution levels, suggesting maintain healthy ecosystems. Moreover, risk assessments confirmed significant associated exposure garden soils for either adults or children. reduction of PM levels within further highlights their role protective green spaces. These findings support idea UGs, even areas exposed urban stressors, do not pose environmental risks, making them safe, valuable components infrastructure.

Language: Английский

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Domestic Gardens Mitigate Risk of Exposure of Pollinators to Pesticides—An Urban-Rural Case Study Using a Red Mason Bee Species for Biomonitoring

Sustainability, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 12(22), P. 9427 - 9427

Published: Nov. 12, 2020

Domestic gardens supply pollinators with valuable habitats, but the risk of exposure to pesticides has been little investigated. Artificial nesting shelters a red mason bee species (Osmia bicornis) were placed in two suburban and commercial fruit orchards determine contamination forage sources by pesticides. Larval pollen provisions collected from total 14 nests. They consisted mainly oaks (65–100% weight/sample), Brassicaceae (≤34% w/s) trees (≤1.6% w/s). Overall, 30 detected each sample contained mixture 11–21 pesticide residues. The residues significantly lower garden samples than orchard samples. difference was attributed abundant fungicides pyrimethanil boscalid, which sprayed present on average at 1004 ppb 648 samples, respectively. results suggested that can benefit domestic foraging floral less contaminated adjacent croplands.

Language: Английский

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Can biodiverse streetscapes mitigate the effects of noise and air pollution on human wellbeing?

Environmental Research, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 212, P. 113154 - 113154

Published: March 24, 2022

Most of the global population are urban, with inhabitants exposed to raised levels pollution. Pollutants negatively impact human wellbeing, and can alter structure diversity ecosystems. Contrastingly, urban biodiversity positively contribute wellbeing. We know little, however, about whether negative impacts pollution on wellbeing could be lessened for householders living more biodiverse streets, as complex interlinkages between pollution, have rarely been examined. Here, we used structural equation modelling simultaneously test (actual perceived) mediates relationship traffic-related (noise, dB; nitrogen dioxide, NO2) or air (PM2.5) (mental happiness). In summer 2019, conducted questionnaires surveys, collected noise data, from households (n = 282) across streetscapes Leeds, UK. Biodiversity showed no mediating effects. However, increased flowering plant richness was associated mental Traffic-related affected pollinator richness, but not This because high NO2 they do maintain front gardens noisier streets. There measurable effect These findings shed light mechanisms through which improve Enhancing species in would a positive further emphasising important role that play improving liveability cities.

Language: Английский

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On the Role of Natural and Induced Landscape Heterogeneity for the Support of Pollinators: A Green Infrastructure Perspective Applied in a Peri-Urban System

Land, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 12(2), P. 387 - 387

Published: Jan. 31, 2023

Pollinators are key ecosystem components and their conservation represents a critical target for both nature human health. In world of increasing urbanisation, cities peri-urban areas have to be active players in addressing this target, in-depth knowledge the effects urbanisation gradient related landscape features on pollinators has acquired. Accordingly, an experimental study relationships between bee communities natural vs. human-induced environmental heterogeneity been carried out transitional Metropolitan area Rome (Italy). A multi-step procedure was adopted, arranged into plant field sampling, detailed mapping actual potential ecosystems, combined processing modelling respective results. The contribution findings deployment pollinator-friendly Green Infrastructure (GI) then explored, with statistical correlations diversity metrics adopted defining restoration actions multi-criteria analysis site prioritisation area. Such planned GI could represent effective solution enhancing resilience resistance landscapes against land take agricultural intensification, as local expressions global biodiversity loss drivers.

Language: Английский

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A review of the opportunities to support pollinator populations in South African cities

PeerJ, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 10, P. e12788 - e12788

Published: March 11, 2022

Globally insects are declining, but some guilds of pollinators finding refuge in urban landscapes. The body knowledge on is relatively mature, which means it now possible to begin make generalization. Unfortunately, studies do not represent climatic regions evenly and there a gap research from the African continent. This study aimed address gaps pollination South Africa identify opportunities improve habitats for pollinators. We reviewed international literature with landscape ecology focus, drawing an emphasis agricultural ecosystem services. findings show that taxa ( e.g . large-bodied, cavity nesting bees) will exploit environments increasing abundance intensity. Moderately sensitive (such as small-bodied, ground-nesting take advantage only if local supportive their needs resource provision habitat connectivity. poor rely services subsistence agriculture reproduction wild-foraged medicines food. Potential interventions quality include strategic mowing practices, conversion turf-grass floral rich habitats, scientific confirmation lists highly attractive flowers, inclusion small-scale flower patches throughout matrix. Further needed fill both specialized generalized (Diptera, Halictids, Lepidoptera Hopliini) areas where ornamental indigenous flowering plants valued.

Language: Английский

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Urban bee functional groups response to landscape context in the Southeastern US

Frontiers in Sustainable Cities, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 5

Published: May 5, 2023

We investigated the influence of landscape cover on urban bee community functional groups. observed a diversity groups across primarily forested and sites, however particular species were favored by forest/urban spaces. Results point to importance further investigating nuance land use impacts pollinator communities, in demonstrates merit heterogeneity. Conservation forest remnants environments can positively impact wild bees multiple

Language: Английский

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