Green roofs and pollinators, useful green spots for some wild bee species (Hymenoptera: Anthophila), but not so much for hoverflies (Diptera: Syrphidae)

Abstract

Urbanisation has become one of the major anthropogenic drivers behind insect decline in abundance, biomass and species richness over the past decades. As a result, bees and other pollinators' natural habitats are reduced and degraded. Green roofs are frequently recommended as ways to counter the negative impacts of urbanisation on nature and enhance the amount of green space in cities. In this study we evaluated the pollinator (more specifically wild bees and hoverflies) diversity, abundance and species richness on twenty green roofs in Antwerp, Belgium. We analysed the influence of roof characteristics (age, surface area, height, percent cover of green space surrounding each site) on species richness or abundance of pollinators. In total we found 40 different wild bee species on the green roofs. None of the physical roof characteristics appear to explain differences in wild bees species richness and abundance. Neither could we attribute the difference in roof vegetation cover, i.e. roofs build-up with only Sedum species and roofs with a combined cover of Sedum, herbs and grasses, to differences in diversity, abundance, or species richness. We found a positive trend, although not significant, in community weighted mean body size for wild bees with an increase in green roof surface area. Roof wild bee communities were identified as social polylectic individuals, with a preference for ground nesting. Only eleven individuals from eight different hoverfly species were found. Our results show that green roofs can be a suitable habitat for wild bee species living in urban areas regardless of the roofs’ characteristics, but hoverflies have more difficulties conquering these urban green spaces.