S07 - Session P2 - Plant-syrphid interactions in an urban farm matrix

Authors: Agata Morelli, Simone Flaminio, Daniele Sommaggio, Francesco Orsini, Giovanni Bazzocchi *

Insects are responsible for pollinating most of the food, fibre and fuel crops worldwide along with contributing to many ecosystem services. However, global declines in pollinator populations jeopardize the provisioning of these ecosystem services in both managed and natural ecosystems. Urbanization has detrimental effects on biodiversity and ecosystem integrity as agricultural and semi-natural habitats are converted into landscapes dominated by built features. Urban agricultural sites are a growing component of urban landscapes and harness the ability to increase the sustainability of cities by serving as a source of biodiversity conservation, reducing their ecological footprint and improving the quality of life. In this study, the structure of plant-pollinator networks for syrphid fly communities across an urban farm in Bologna, Italy, was explored through sampling methods including observational plots and pan traps. The results underline the necessity for greater focus on alternative pollinators, in this instance syrphid flies, as providers of pollination services, especially in urban settings where bee declines are drastic. Furthermore, syrphids can act as buffers that protect agriculture from the observed pollinator declines, as syrphids are abundant in urban agricultural settings and in some instances may visit plants avoided by other pollinators. As urban agriculture fosters significant environmental, economic and social value, it is critical to understand the ecosystem services that sustain it and which management inputs to implement that provide suitable areas of habitat for pollinators.