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<p>Urbanisation profoundly transforms the landscape, leading to environmental changes which can affect plants, insect pollinators, and their interactions. Trees are the most prominent component of the urban green infrastructure but little is known about their reproduction throughout cities. Here we assessed how the urbanisation degree affects pollination and reproductive success of the native out-crosser tree <i>Vachellia caven</i> in Córdoba, Argentina. Specifically, we evaluated if urbanisation causes changes in pollinator richness, diversity and visitation frequencies, and the consequent effects on the fruit set. We also examined the urbanisation effects on the quality and quantity of floral resources provided by <i>V. caven</i>, and the potential effects of these factors on pollinator communities and their visitation frequencies. We found that increased urbanisation did negatively impact the fruit set, but not through changes in pollinator communities. Notably, the native wasp <i>Brachygastra lecheguana</i> emerged as the primary urban pollinator of <i>V. caven</i> whereas the increase in <i>Apis mellifera</i> frequency with urbanisation did not seem to influence their reproductive success. Regarding resources, pollen quality remained unaffected by urbanisation and was not a key factor for bees. However, urbanisation did negatively affect the quantity of resources which may partially explain the results observed for visitation frequencies. Remarkably, despite the negative effect of urbanisation on the fruit set, <i>V. caven</i> produced fruit throughout the city providing valuable local seed sources for native vegetation restoration. This is a key precedent for encouraging the planting of native trees that successfully reproduce in urban environments and support diverse communities of pollinators.</p>

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Unravelling the paths to urban fruitfulness: factors behind insect pollination and reproductive success of a native tree

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年8月8日

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  • Giovana María Galfrascoli,
  • María Silvina Fenoglio,
  • Alejandro Enet,
  • Gloria Robles,
  • Ana Calviño

摘要

Urbanisation profoundly transforms the landscape, leading to environmental changes which can affect plants, insect pollinators, and their interactions. Trees are the most prominent component of the urban green infrastructure but little is known about their reproduction throughout cities. Here we assessed how the urbanisation degree affects pollination and reproductive success of the native out-crosser tree Vachellia caven in Córdoba, Argentina. Specifically, we evaluated if urbanisation causes changes in pollinator richness, diversity and visitation frequencies, and the consequent effects on the fruit set. We also examined the urbanisation effects on the quality and quantity of floral resources provided by V. caven, and the potential effects of these factors on pollinator communities and their visitation frequencies. We found that increased urbanisation did negatively impact the fruit set, but not through changes in pollinator communities. Notably, the native wasp Brachygastra lecheguana emerged as the primary urban pollinator of V. caven whereas the increase in Apis mellifera frequency with urbanisation did not seem to influence their reproductive success. Regarding resources, pollen quality remained unaffected by urbanisation and was not a key factor for bees. However, urbanisation did negatively affect the quantity of resources which may partially explain the results observed for visitation frequencies. Remarkably, despite the negative effect of urbanisation on the fruit set, V. caven produced fruit throughout the city providing valuable local seed sources for native vegetation restoration. This is a key precedent for encouraging the planting of native trees that successfully reproduce in urban environments and support diverse communities of pollinators.