Scarcity of flowering plants on Sedum roofs limits pollinator diversity

Green roofs can provide suitable habitats for pollinating insects in urban areas. Pollinators are a large and diverse group with high economic and ecological relevance to society. Yet their populations are in decline, highlighting the need for new habitats such as green roofs. An understanding of how local and landscape factors of green roofs shape pollinator communities is crucial to optimize the design and development of green roofs.

This study aimed to identify how the surrounding landscape and green roof characteristics influence pollinator diversity and abundance. Pollinators – such as bees, wasps, hoverflies and butterflies - were sampled using pan traps and hand netting on 25 green roofs that were categorized into three types based on functionality and vegetation structure: sedum roofs, nature roofs, and roof gardens. To assess pollinator communities, we examined species richness, abundance, and functional diversity—defined here as the range of ecological roles or traits. Roof characteristics (e.g., flower diversity, microrelief, vegetation cover, roof height, size, and age) and landscape factors (e.g. percentage of surrounding green, distance to surrounding green) were analysed in relation to these diversity metrics.

We show that a continuous supply of flowers throughout the year, flower abundance and the type of green roof significantly influence pollinator diversity and abundance. Sedum roofs supported lower pollinator diversity compared to the other roof types. Furthermore, our models indicated a decrease in pollinator diversity on higher green roofs, and when honeybee hives are present, while the presence of bee hotels increased pollinator abundance.

The study highlights the value of nature roofs and roof gardens, compared to sedum roofs for supporting pollinator diversity. This is linked to the importance of constant forage availability, especially in early spring, which is absent on most sedum roofs. The results from this study offer guidelines to green roof designers on how to design pollinator friendly roofs in urban areas.

Graphical Abstract

Pollinator species: Macropis europea (Hymenoptera: Melittidae), Helophilus pendulus (Diptera: Syrhidae) and Polyommatus icarus (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae). All three species were observed on green roofs during the authors’ fieldwork. Image created using biorender.com and personal drawings.

Highlights

• Biodiverse roofs and roof gardens support higher pollinator diversity compared to sedum roofs.

• A continuous supply of flowers throughout the year, along with a higher abundance of flowers, are key factors influencing pollinator diversity and abundance on green roofs.

• Roof height affects the diversity and abundance of different pollinator groups in distinct ways, a novel finding that needs further investigation.

• We provide guidelines for green roof designers, emphasizing the importance of selecting roof types and designs that ensure constant flower availability.