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On‐site floral resources and surrounding landscape characteristics impact pollinator biodiversity at solar parks

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Article numbere12307
<mark>Journal publication date</mark>31/03/2024
<mark>Journal</mark>Ecological Solutions and Evidence
Issue number1
Volume5
Publication StatusPublished
Early online date9/02/24
<mark>Original language</mark>English

Abstract

There is increasing land use change for solar parks and growing recognition that they could be used to support insect pollinators. However, understanding of pollinator response to solar park developments is limited and empirical data are lacking. We combine field observations with landcover data to quantify the impact of on‐site floral resources and surrounding landscape characteristics on solar park pollinator abundance and species richness. We surveyed pollinators and flowering plants at 15 solar parks across England in 2021, used a landcover map to assess the surrounding high‐quality habitat and aerial imagery to measure woody linear features (hedgerows, woodland edges and lines of trees). In total, 1397 pollinators were recorded, including 899 butterflies (64%), 171 hoverflies (12%), 161 bumble bees (12%), 157 moths (11%), and nine honeybees (