Does Habitat Fragmentation impact the species assemblage of pollinators in relict Heathlands across a UK city?

低地石南是一种古老的景观形式，以矮灌木石南群落为特征。这些重要的生态系统创造了复杂的马赛克栖息地，支持有价值的昆虫聚集。希思兰被列入英国生物多样性行动计划(BAP)优先栖息地名单(JNCC，2007)。农业集约化和城市化使这片曾经肥沃的土地减少到1800年占英格兰总面积的16%(英国自然，2002年)。尽管西米德兰兹郡进行了大规模的城市化，但伯明翰和黑乡仍保留着总面积达500公顷的零星石南地带(Trueman等人，2013年)。研究人员一致认为，传粉者的减少是全球关注的一个原因，需要进一步研究(Winfree等人，2009年；Bates等人)。2011年)。自1900年以来，英国已经失去了14种蜜蜂，另有35种濒临灭绝(Goulson，2019年)。尽管有几项研究强调了城市地区支持昆虫种群的价值(例如，Bates等人。关于残存的石南荒地对于维持该地区稀有传粉者多样性集合的重要性(Falk，1996；Falk and Lane，1999；Falk，2010)，(到目前为止)还没有一项研究聚焦于城市化对残存荒原传粉者群落的影响。这项研究是有价值的，因为碎片化的石南荒地的更新可以支持城市传粉者。这将为连接整个区域低地荒野的孤立地区提供管理建议。我们希望证明有必要重建和扩大西米德兰兹郡残存的石南地区，作为解决昆虫衰退的可行方案。该项目将研究(I)城市化对古石南荒地传粉者多样性的影响，并测试(Ii)石南荒地零碎地区的物种多样性是否低于相连地区。它将评估(Iii)荒地的地理扩张对传粉者多样性的影响，以及(Iv)量化独居针叶类(蜜蜂和黄蜂)筑巢的栖息地条件。该项目提供机会，向景观管理和自然保护领域的当地利益攸关方提供机会，告知如何在低地石南地区再生脆弱昆虫物种，同时为研究伙伴关系与当地居民合作提供外展机会。DR将与一个多学科的学者团队(景观生态学家、昆虫生物学家和自然资源保护者)以及一名经验丰富的无人机操作员合作，在目标区域拍摄高分辨率的荒原遗址的航空图像。这架无人机将在300dpi下产生2000万像素的图像，显示城市荒原的植被覆盖范围和裸露土地。该项目将提供一系列技能方面的培训，以开发该区域的传粉者数据库，更新和更新目标区域物种的现有知识。这将涉及利用公民科学来积累关于西米德兰兹郡整个城市重要筑巢聚集地的地理位置和物种组合的数据。

Lowland Heath is a form of ancient landscape characterised by dwarf shrub heather communities. These important ecosystems create complex mosaic habitats that support valuable assemblages of insects. Heathland is on the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) list of priority habitats (JNCC, 2007). Agricultural intensification and urbanisation have reduced this once prolific landscape to 16% of the total area of England which it occupied in 1800 (English Nature, 2002). Despite substantial urbanisation within the West Midlands, fragmented patches of heathland totaling 500 ha still remain in Birmingham and the Black Country (Trueman et al., 2013).Researchers agree that the decline of pollinators is a cause for global concern that warrants further research (Winfree et al., 2009; Bates et al. 2011). The UK has lost 14 bee species since 1900 with a further 35 species at risk of extinction (Goulson, 2019). Although several studies have highlighted the value of urban areas to support insect populations (e.g., Bates et al. 2011; Baldock et al., 2015; Hall et al, 2016), and the importance of relict heathlands for sustaining diverse metapopulations of rare pollinators in the region (Falk, 1996; Falk and Lane, 1999; Falk, 2010), no study (to date) has focused on the impacts of urbanisation on pollinator assemblages in relict heathlands.This research is valuable, as the regeneration of fragmented heathlands could support urban pollinators. This will inform management recommendations for connecting isolated areas of lowland heath across the region. We hope to demonstrate the need to regenerate and expand areas of relict heathland across the West Midlands, as a viable solution to insect decline. This project will examine (i) the impact of urbanisation on pollinator diversity in relic heathlands and test whether (ii) species diversity is lower in fragmented areas of heathland, compared to connected areas. It will assess (iii) the impact of geographical expansion of heathland on pollinator diversity and (iv) quantify the habitat conditions for nesting aggregates for solitary aculeates (bees & wasps).This project provides opportunities to inform local stakeholders in the fields of landscape management and nature conservation how to regenerate areas of lowland heath for vulnerable insect species, while providing outreach opportunities for the research partnership to work with local residents. The DR will work with a multidisciplinary team of academics (landscape ecologists, insect biologists and conservationists), as well as an experienced drone operator to capture high resolution aerial images of heathland sites across the target area. The drone will produce 20 megapixel images at 300 dpi, showing the extent of vegetation coverage and bare earth in urban heathlands. This project will provide training in a range of skills to develop a pollinator database for the region, updating and refreshing current knowledge of species in the target area. This will involve utilizing citizen science to accumulate data on the geographical locations and species assemblages of important nesting aggregations throughout the West Midlands conurbation.