Áreas verdes urbanas como refúgio para visitantes florais: uma revisão sob o olhar da ciência cidadã

Abstract

Increasing urbanization has caused significant negative impacts on biodiversity, such as the loss of natural habitats and the reduction of species essential for ecological balance. The degradation of urban environments and the decrease in connectivity between green areas are critical issues, especially for the preservation of pollinators, which play a fundamental role in maintaining biodiversity and agriculture. In this context, Citizen Science emerges as an innovative approach, allowing the community to actively participate in data collection and monitoring of pollinators in urban areas. This work evaluates the role of green areas in the conservation of floral visitors through a systematic review of Citizen Science studies. Articles focused on floral visitors and green areas were analyzed, based on searches in academic databases, with emphasis on aspects such as year of publication, country of the first author, journal, studied environment and methods used. The research revealed an increase in the number of publications since 2010, with data coming from diverse sources, including samples taken by citizens and information collected on social networks. Community participation was mostly contributory. Bees were the most frequently studied flower visitors, followed by butterflies. The studies focused on urban environments such as parks, gardens and green spaces, as well as agricultural areas. The results indicate a growing production of studies in temperate zones, with a predominance of data coming from Europe, followed by North and South America. The review highlights the need for greater involvement of citizen science in Brazil and reinforces the importance of green areas for the conservation of pollinators. Studies indicate that habitats with greater plant diversity favor the survival and dispersal of these flower visitors. In addition, connectivity between urban green areas is essential for maintaining populations. The intensification of Citizen Science research has boosted community engagement in the conservation and monitoring of these ecosystems.