Understanding Urban Nature 

How do urban gardens contribute towards maintaining biodiversity? A group of Portland State University and Oregon State University researchers, along with teachers and neighbors in the communities we have worked in, have been collecting insects and spiders (arthropods), counting bird species, measuring the shrub and tree cover, and studying bees and other pollinators in different neighborhoods and community gardens in Portland, Oregon. Among our findings are the tree canopy has a big influence on the arthropods available for birds to eat, and on the diversity of birds. Also, there is a large diversity of native bees in Portland gardens. We continue to study gardens. We invite you to participate in this study.

How do gardens support Biodiversity?

By collecting data on the bees and other pollinators, birds, arthropods (insects, spiders and other invertebrates) that birds eat and the vegetation in gardens, we can understand how we might better support biodiversity.