Ecology of native bee interactions in urban environments: insights for decision-making

• Grant number: 23/17943-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: April 01, 2024
• Status: Discontinued
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Ecology - Applied Ecology
• Principal Investigator: Isabel Alves dos Santos
• Grantee: Amanda Fernandes Pereira Machado
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 25/02585-3 - Ecological and human influences on urban green spaces, BE.EP.DR

Abstract

In recent years, urbanization has caused significant alterations to the environment, impacting the biodiversity that persists in this setting. In the case of pollinators, impermeable surfaces affect their foraging and dispersal activities, consequently impacting their survival. Contrary to this urban hostility, urban parks emerge as 'urban refuges' for pollinators, providing essential floral resources. This study focuses on the functional diversity of bee species as a response to urbanization, including variations in body size as an indicator. Additionally, the management of urban green spaces is influenced by the people occupying these areas, affecting urban biodiversity. Therefore, the research aims to investigate the potential of urban parks in promoting bee communities and understanding human perception of the ecological role of these insects. To assess the effects of urbanization on bees, the study will be conducted in urban parks in São Paulo. Functional diversity will be analyzed by identifying bee species present and observing possible changes in the body size of two species in the study locations. Human perception will be investigated through the application of questionnaires, aiming to understand park users' awareness of the role of bees in urban parks. At the end of the project, the goal is to comprehend how urban parks contribute to the conservation of native bees and contribute to the development of conservation policies in cities.