Pollinators Without Borders

What can bees in Cotonou, Benin, teach us about biodiversity in Boston?

Professor Lauren Lynch, who recently joined Suffolk’s Department of Biochemistry, Chemistry, Environment & Physics, studies how pollinators like bees and butterflies, which play a critical role in plant fertilization by carrying pollen between flowers, adapt to urban environments. As a Fulbright researcher at the University of Abomey-Calavi in Benin, Lynch also looked at the impact these insects have on city life.

While many people associate pollinators with rural farming, encouraging them in cities supports vibrant green spaces, improves access to healthy food, and can create supplemental income opportunities, says Lynch. “People garden in cities all over the world, so pollinators are essential, not just for healthy ecosystems but for human well-being.”

Through research in Chicago and Cotonou, Benin, Lynch discovered that urban pollinators worldwide often have more in common with each other than with rural species. The challenges they face are similar, including finding food and nesting resources and adjusting to issues brought on by development and climate change. Generalist species thrive best, adapting to city landscaping and ornamental plants.

Now Lynch’s students are studying bee specimens collected from Benin, refining their identification skills to prepare for summer fieldwork in Boston. As they observe the pollinators that flit from seasonal plantings in the Boston Public Garden to Beacon Hill window boxes and sprouting vegetables in community gardens around the city, they’ll help us understand how to better support these vital residents. 

“We spend so much time thinking about the negative impacts people have on the environment, so I love to be able to point out positive impacts we can have,” says Lynch. Want to get involved? Plant flowers that bloom from spring to fall—and watch your garden come to life.