Bee Diversity Is Enhanced by Ecological Landscaping Along the Gowanus Canal Waterfront
Faculty Mentor
Timothy Leslie
Major/Area of Research
Nursing, Ecology
Description
INTRODUCTION: The Gowanus Canal in Brooklyn, NY, is one of the most polluted waterways in the United States and is currently undergoing extensive environmental remediation. The adjacent properties are also being redeveloped and feature new public outdoor spaces along the waterfront. These areas have been designed to be ecologically restorative, including the intentional introduction of native flowering plants. In this study, we conducted a bee survey to document how these new urban green spaces support bee diversity.
METHODS: Bees were monitored from April through October in 2025 at five sites along the Gowanus Canal waterfront. An earlier bee survey in 2022 was conducted prior to the landscape modifications and served as a baseline measure of bee diversity in the area. Bees were monitored using pan traps, insect nets, and visual observations, and identified to species level. Floral hosts of foraging bees were also recorded during net collection and visual observation. From these data, we summarized the overall diversity of bees in the area. We then examined associations between bees, their floral hosts, and the field sites using both bipartite network analyses and ordination techniques.
RESULTS: In total, we observed 593 bees comprising 32 different species, an increase from the 17 species recorded in 2022. Ordination revealed distinct bee assemblages among field sites. Network analysis identified several bee species with high levels of connectivity, although nearly one-third of the species were observed on only one floral host. The overall connectance of the bee-plant community was 11.4%.
DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION: These findings show that ecological landscaping along the Gowanus Canal waterfront has enhanced the diversity of bees in this area, even in the first year after establishment. Differences in bee assemblages among field sites could be explained by the types of flowering plants and nesting habitat at each site. The network analysis also provided insight into tactics for supporting pollinators based on links between bees and floral hosts and niche complementarity.
Bee Diversity Is Enhanced by Ecological Landscaping Along the Gowanus Canal Waterfront
INTRODUCTION: The Gowanus Canal in Brooklyn, NY, is one of the most polluted waterways in the United States and is currently undergoing extensive environmental remediation. The adjacent properties are also being redeveloped and feature new public outdoor spaces along the waterfront. These areas have been designed to be ecologically restorative, including the intentional introduction of native flowering plants. In this study, we conducted a bee survey to document how these new urban green spaces support bee diversity.
METHODS: Bees were monitored from April through October in 2025 at five sites along the Gowanus Canal waterfront. An earlier bee survey in 2022 was conducted prior to the landscape modifications and served as a baseline measure of bee diversity in the area. Bees were monitored using pan traps, insect nets, and visual observations, and identified to species level. Floral hosts of foraging bees were also recorded during net collection and visual observation. From these data, we summarized the overall diversity of bees in the area. We then examined associations between bees, their floral hosts, and the field sites using both bipartite network analyses and ordination techniques.
RESULTS: In total, we observed 593 bees comprising 32 different species, an increase from the 17 species recorded in 2022. Ordination revealed distinct bee assemblages among field sites. Network analysis identified several bee species with high levels of connectivity, although nearly one-third of the species were observed on only one floral host. The overall connectance of the bee-plant community was 11.4%.
DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION: These findings show that ecological landscaping along the Gowanus Canal waterfront has enhanced the diversity of bees in this area, even in the first year after establishment. Differences in bee assemblages among field sites could be explained by the types of flowering plants and nesting habitat at each site. The network analysis also provided insight into tactics for supporting pollinators based on links between bees and floral hosts and niche complementarity.