AUTHORS: Rebecca Tonietto*, University of Michigan-Flint; Paige Muñiz, Saint Louis University, Cornell University; Michael Arduser, Missouri Department of Conservation (retired); Gerardo Camilo, Saint Louis University
ABSTRACT: Many cities support diverse wild bee communities, including species indicative of high quality habitat. To this extent urban areas have recently been posed as potential refugia for pollinator conservation. In this study, we explored the value of different types of green space in a shrinking city for wild bee support and conservation. During the summer of 2016, we selected 18 sites across Detroit, Michigan, including 6 replicates each of farms, community gardens and vacant lots. We investigated the influences of plant community composition and surrounding land-use on wild bee community structure and the pollinator conservation potential of urban agriculture in shrinking cities. We found community gardens, urban farms and vacant lots support diverse and abundant wild bee communities in Detroit. Preliminary results indicate bee abundance was significantly predicted by bloom richness (p = 0.01) and the proportion of green space in the surrounding landscape (p = 0.03), but not by the type of urban agriculture (farm, vs. community garden).In collaboration with the growers, Keep Growing Detroit, Friends of the Rouge River, and Detroit-based landscape architects, we developed “Curb Appeal.” We present multiple designs at different scales and budgets for pollinator friendly, pocketbook friendly, storm water management optimized, and relatively salt tolerant living “fences” to serve as aesthetically pleasing street-side borders for gardens and farms in urban systems.
