Abstract

Urbanization is a complex socio-economic process that is occurring rapidly, with consequences for urban and adjacent ecosystems. One factor affecting plant and insect interactions in urban landscapes is habitat connectivity, which can be influenced by planting choices, fragmentation, and the presence of corridors. In cities, plantings’ aesthetics and ease of management are typically prioritized, with effects on insect communities and soil health usually treated as secondary considerations. To examine the effects of planting choices on ecosystem services in urban landscapes, we created four spatial arrangements of ten native plant species from two different color groups. We observed these plantings over 20 days in summer 2025, noting the number and types of insects visiting flowers. We also quantified the abundance of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) spores in soils around native plants and plant roots from seeds germinated under different planting arrangements. Total insect visitation was higher on yellow flower species than purple flowers, and visitor diversity differed by plant species. Planting patterns and spacing did not have a significant effect on insect abundance, richness, or their combined metric, diversity. This study can inform best practices for maximizing ecosystem services in western North Carolina’s urban landscapes by considering what will attract the most pollinators and increase beneficial relationships with AM Fungi.

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