BioCiTrees implemented an integrated set of field, laboratory, and analytical activities over a two-year period to understand the role of urban trees in mitigating air pollution and supporting insect biodiversity. In 2024, air pollution mitigation was quantified through passive deposition on leaf surfaces generating a robust dataset on particulate deposition across 23 species. Arthropod communities were assessed using the branch shaking technique, with specimens collected and identified in the laboratory. Functional traits were measured to link plant strategies with ecosystem services, including leaf area and thickness for pollution retention, and traits related to floral resources and bark structure for habitat provisioning. A social-ecological perspective was incorporated through a questionnaire targeting local residents, gathering information on perceptions of urban green areas and their benefits. Although response rates were moderate, the data provide relevant insights into public awareness and priorities.
In spring 2025, fieldwork was expanded to multiple urban contexts in southern Spain (Seville, Málaga, and Granada), capturing variability across climatic conditions. Sampling campaigns measured the same ecosystem services and plant traits. Data processing is ongoing and will be analysed in the coming months. This multi-city approach strengthens dataset robustness and transferability, enabling comparative analyses across Mediterranean urban environments.
We decided to incorporate urban heat island mitigation in the project, identifying vegetation spatial patterns and priority intervention areas in the metropolitan area of Granada. Temperature measurements beneath canopies of 19 species and in open areas will allow further exploration of traits-temperature relationships. Overall, the project will generate a comprehensive dataset linking plant traits, insect biodiversity, air pollution retention, and heat mitigation, representing a major step toward assessing urban tree multifunctionality.
