Researchers from Tokyo Metropolitan University discovered that biodiversity in large parks in urban environments can be influenced by smaller green areas nearby. They surveyed two insect families, one more mobile than the other, in major parks throughout the Tokyo Metropolitan Area. The more mobile species appeared to benefit from their surroundings, whereas the less mobile species did not. Their work emphasises the importance of managing smaller areas in order to preserve biodiversity. Prominent green spaces in urban centers provide habitats for local wildlife and are vital to maintaining biodiversity. However, that doesn’t mean other areas are devoid of life: for example, such spaces are often surrounded by smaller, fragmented patches of green like gardens and roadsides which form a "hospitable matrix" surrounding the central park or grassland. Though the composition and area of parks themselves are often the focus of studies, surrounding areas are often described as an impenetrable "sea" surrounding a central "island." Its impact on biodiversity remains to be addressed.
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