陜西 王 嬌

In an effort to help out important in?sects like bees and butterflies,bus stops across the United Kingdom (UK) and Eu?rope are getting living roofs.Small gardens on bus shelter roofs are being planted with flowers chosen to help support the strug?gling insects.Called“bee bus stops”or“buzz stops”,the gardens provide much?needed islands of nature in a tough,man?made environment of a city.

Humans count on bees and other“pollinators”(傳粉昆蟲) like butterflies to help grow plants,such as flowers,trees and crops.When these insects visit flow?ers,they collect pollen—a yellow powder in the center of most flowers.Without bees or other insects bringing pollen from one flower to another,many plants could not produce seeds or grow fruits or vegetables.

But in recent years,insect numbers have been dropping sharply.As humans have taken over more and more land for cit?ies,roads and farms,natural areas have dis?appeared.Bee bus stops are a small step to?wards supporting these important insects.

Bee bus stops are like ordinary bus shelters,but small gardens have been added to the roofs.The gardens are filled with flow?ers and plants chosen to attract bees and but?terflies.In the UK,The Wildlife Trusts is giving advice on the locations of the shelters and the plants that are included.

Research shows that these bus stops—along with many other steps taken to sup?port pollinators—may be helping.After de?cades of dropping numbers,bee popula?tions in the Netherlands seem to have be?come more stable over the last few years.The little gardens can also help to slightly lower city temperatures.

Reading Check

What's the function of little gardens on bus stops'roofs?