Forschen für Wildbienen im Gemeinschaftsgarten

Why are we researching?

Our goal is to develop science-based gardening tips, implement them, and test their impact on pollinator and plant diversity.

To our project

Where are we researching?

We collaborate with several community gardens in Berlin and Munich that differ in urban context and gardening practices.

To the gardens

How do we research?

We combine urban ecology research and Citizen Science to jointly contribute evidence-based knowledge for urban conservation.

To our research

Create nesting sites for wild bees

Our research results suggest that in addition to foraging resources, nesting resources should be included in the management of pollinator-friendly gardens.

Learn more about our research

Occurrence of wild bee discovered

In our research, we have discovered a bee species that, to our knowledge, has not been previously documented in the region of Berlin, Germany. We discovered Lasioglossum limbellum in a community garden planted on concrete slabs with annual and perennial vegetation. This wild bee is a cavity-breeder in soft rocks – a natural habitat that does not functionally exist in urban areas – making this discovery particularly interesting.

Häufige Fragen zum Projekt

What are you doing right now?

We are currently evaluating all the data we have collected in the gardens. All the insects we have collected now have to be identified. This is relatively time-consuming and requires special expertise. We are also preparing the next step of citizen science. In workshops we want to discuss the results and practical implementation of measures with the gardeners.

What happens next in the project?

We are now evaluating all the results and will publish them scientifically. This is important because with the scientific publication our results will be examined by other scientists. We also want to discuss these results with gardeners and get their perspective on possible measures.

How can I participate?

In the project, we want to develop measures to protect and promote biodiversity in the garden. These measures can of course be adapted and implemented for any garden or even for the balcony. Unfortunately, only gardeners from the participating community gardens can participate in the citizen research.