Bee Diversity in the Rural–Urban Interface of Bengaluru and Scope for Pollinator-Integrated Urban Agriculture

Abstract

Cities all over the world are expanding rapidly and eating into their rural peripheries. Pollination is a key ecosystem service essential for the majority of crops. As natural vegetation and agricultural land are lost to urban expansion, it becomes imperative to preserve pollinators within cityscapes. We examined the bee community in Bengaluru to ascertain whether the city can support pollination services in the light of the growing interest in urban agriculture. Using pan traps, we sampled bees in 18 sites spread across the rural–urban interface of North Bengaluru. Background floral composition was surveyed within a buffer area around each site. Urban sites recorded higher species richness of both bees and flowering plants, than the adjoining transition and rural sites. The correlation observed between bees and flowering plants is in line with other studies that highlight the role of the floral community in shaping bee community dynamics. Further, it is likely that urban regions are favourable to bees as they lack large swaths of chemically intensive monocultures which are common in rural areas. The study indicates that the city is capable of supporting initiatives such as urban farming and locavory that could help improve green infrastructure and liveability of urban landscapes.