<
https://www.thecooldown.com/outdoors/boosting-biodiversity-in-cities-wildflowers-in-small-patch/>
'A recent study from researchers at the University of Warsaw found that small
patches of wildflowers can foster the same biodiversity as entire meadows.
Researchers recorded the number of species present in sown wildflower meadows
and natural meadows and found "no difference in the composition of
insect-pollinated plants between the meadow types," according to the study,
which was published in
Ecological Entomology.
This is great news for homeowners and cities looking to boost the presence of
pollinators — even a small patch of wildflowers will bring in those essential
bugs.
Pollinators, including bees, butterflies, bats, and beetles, are extremely
important to the environment. "Three-fourths of the world's flowering plants
and about 35% of the world's food crops depend on animal pollinators," per the
U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Unfortunately, pollinators face many threats, which puts "one out of every
three bites of food we eat" at risk, too, the USDA says.
Habitat loss is the main reason pollinator populations are on the decline as
well as invasive species, harmful pesticides, and the rising global
temperature. Restoring their habitat by converting urban areas — dirt,
sidewalk, or grass — into wildflower gardens is a great first step to
protecting pollinators.
You can take action from your own yard. Convert your traditional grass lawn
into a native plant lawn to support local wildlife, all while saving time and
money on maintenance such as watering and mowing. Even a handful of native
wildflowers sprinkled throughout your backyard can make a big difference.
The study's findings provide an incentive for urban areas to incorporate native
flowers. The researchers wrote, per
The Guardian, that "replacing some mowed
green areas with flower meadows may enhance biodiversity, especially by
providing a mosaic of meadow types. By sowing flower meadows, we quickly create
colourful habitats that are eagerly visited by city inhabitants."'
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
