Small-Scale Habitat Conditions Are More Important Than Site Context for Influencing Pollinator Visitation

The ability of insects to persist in urban greenspace depends on their usefully interact with available plant resources. Greenspace design influences plant–insect interactions by: (1) limiting the plant-species pool for interaction through choice, (2) that are site-occupancy dynamics, and (3) mediating insect preferences based context particular structural barriers, microclimatic changes or competition. We designed an experiment measure effect attributes site occupancy while keeping availability constant. Using a set five functionally distinct flowering species (“phytometres”), we used occupancy-detection modelling test factors affecting probability visitation eight groups pollinating (ants, beetles, butterflies, bumblebees, honeybees, small bees, hoverflies amend other flies) across 102 squares Munich, Germany. found detecting was low most functional groups, situational factors, such as weather competition from co-occurring flowers, were primary drivers visitation. Increasing proportion unsealed surfaces quantity diversity flowers had positive influence interaction, and, lesser extent, occupancy. Landscape connectivity area important only few groups. Together, our results suggest small-scale habitat conditions more than influencing pollinator Designers can encourage contiguous provision floral resources internal barriers.