Butterflies are being hit hardest by urban growth. Shrinking habitats and food availability are causing their populations to decline. The same applies to many wild bees that fly early in spring.

This is a meta-analysis showing that certain species are more impacted by urbanization than others. In particular, butterflies are susceptible and beekeeping could be exacerbating the issue by displacing native pollinators.

Research Paper: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ele.14277

  • em2English
    1·
    1 year ago

    Urban sprawl is endangering more than just our pollinators. Urban growth boundaries/urban growth areas should help from encroaching natural habitats, as it encourages more dense development rather than creating big plots of single family homes, but we’re growing too fast.In Oregon, the ugb gets adjusted every five years.

    In addition to sprawl, these cities also make it more difficult for pollinators because of ordinances that require your lawns to be a certain way and length. Bees won’t get anything from a yard full of Kentucky grass at 2 inch max height vs a clover field.

    Overall, it all sucks and I hate lawns.

    Also, link to the paper since it’s not in print yet and only online. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37345567/