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When we think of bees, we think black and yellow. Yet these pollinators are so much more than that. Some are blue and green, much smaller than a dime or larger than the width of your thumb. There are picky “eaters” that pass flower after flower, while others visit almost any. We often think all bees live in hives, yet most burrow beneath our feet. This wide range of traits is seen throughout ~20,000 species worldwide. Together, they are responsible for pollinating 30% of the food that we eat. As the human population grows, it is crucial that we protect all bees and their vital contributions to food production.
Unfortunately, bee populations are declining worldwide, especially due to habitat loss linked to human expansion and urbanization. Yet, some cities support a wide variety of bees. St. Louis harbors over 200 species! Understanding why bees live in cities is increasingly important as more people flock to cities, raising the issue of sufficient food availability. Urban farms and community gardens are helping to combat food scarcity in cities, but their success depends on the presence of a large diversity of bee species and their pollination services. We at the Billiken Bee Lab want to know why some cities support diverse bee communities and how we can encourage their continued persistence.
Our goal with this project is to survey the bees of San Juan, Puerto Rico and collaborate with local researchers and undergraduate students at the University of Puerto Rico. Since this specific type of city – a city on a tropical island – is underrepresented in studies on urban bee communities, we will directly contribute to developing a deeper understanding of how bee species respond to urbanization. Your support helps protect and promote pollinators, while also fighting food scarcity.
