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Berger JL, Staab M, Hartlieb M, Simons NK, Wells K, Gossner MM, Vogt J, Achury R, Seibold S, Hemp A, Weisser WW, Blüthgen N. The day after mowing: Time and type of mowing influence grassland arthropods. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2024:e3022. [PMID: 39099295 DOI: 10.1002/eap.3022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Revised: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 08/06/2024]
Abstract
Recent losses in the abundance and diversity of arthropods have been documented in many regions and ecosystems. In grasslands, such insect declines are largely attributed to land use, including modern machinery and mowing regimes. However, the effects of different mowing techniques on arthropods remain poorly understood. Using 11 years of data from 111 agricultural grassland plots across Germany, we analyzed the influence of various grassland management variables on the abundance and abundance-accounted species richness of four arthropod orders: Araneae, Coleoptera, Hemiptera, and Orthoptera. The analysis focused on detailed mowing information, for example, days after mowing and mower type, and compared their effect with other aspects of grassland management, that is, rolling, leveling, fertilization, and grazing. We found strong negative effects of mowing on all four arthropod orders, with arthropod abundance being lowest directly after mowing and steadily increasing to three to seven times the abundance after 100 days post-mowing. Likewise, Hemiptera and Coleoptera species richness was 30% higher 100 days after mowing. Mower width showed a positive effect on Orthoptera abundance, but not on the other arthropods. Arthropod abundance and Coleoptera species richness were lowest when a mulcher was used compared to rotary or bar mowers. In addition to mowing, intensive grazing negatively affected Orthoptera abundance but not the other orders. Mowing represents a highly disturbing and iterative stressor with negative effects on arthropod abundance and diversity, likely contributed by mowing-induced mortality and habitat alteration. While modifications of mowing techniques such as mower type or mowing height and width may help to reduce the negative impact of mowing on arthropods, our results show that mowing itself has the most substantial negative effect. Based on our results, we suggest that reduced mowing frequency, omission of mowing in parts of the grassland (refuges), or extensive grazing instead of mowing have the greatest potential to promote arthropod populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johanna L Berger
- Ecological Networks, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Michael Staab
- Ecological Networks, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Margarita Hartlieb
- Ecological Networks, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Nadja K Simons
- Applied Biodiversity Science, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Konstans Wells
- Department of Biosciences, Swansea University, Swansea, UK
| | - Martin M Gossner
- Forest Entomology, Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow, and Landscape Research WSL, Birmensdorf, Switzerland
- Institute of Terrestrial Ecosystems ITES, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Juliane Vogt
- Natura 2000-Station Unstrut-Hainich/Eichsfeld, Wildtierland Hainich gGmbH, Hörselberg-Hainich, Germany
| | - Rafael Achury
- Terrestrial Ecology Research Group, Department of Ecology and Ecosystem Management, Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany
| | - Sebastian Seibold
- Terrestrial Ecology Research Group, Department of Ecology and Ecosystem Management, Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany
- Forest Zoology, Technische Universität Dresden, Tharandt, Germany
| | - Andreas Hemp
- Department of Plant Systematics, University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Wolfgang W Weisser
- Terrestrial Ecology Research Group, Department of Ecology and Ecosystem Management, Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany
| | - Nico Blüthgen
- Ecological Networks, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany
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2
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Bonthoux S, Chollet S. Wilding cities for biodiversity and people: a transdisciplinary framework. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2024; 99:1458-1480. [PMID: 38514244 DOI: 10.1111/brv.13076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2022] [Revised: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
Accelerating urbanisation and associated lifestyle changes result in loss of biodiversity and diminished wellbeing of people through fewer direct interactions and experiences with nature. In this review, we propose the notion of urban wilding (the promotion of autonomous ecological processes that are independent of historical land-use conditions, with minimal direct human maintenance and planting interventions) and investigate its propensity to improve biodiversity and people-nature connections in cities. Through a large interdisciplinary synthesis, we explore the ecological mechanisms through which urban wilding can promote biodiversity in cities, investigate the attitudes and relations of city dwellers towards urban wild spaces, and discuss the integration of urban wilding into the fabric of cities and its governance. We show that favouring assembly spontaneity by reducing planting interventions, and functional spontaneity by limiting maintenance practices, can promote plant diversity and provide ecological resources for numerous organisms at habitat and city scales. These processes could reverse biotic homogenisation, but further studies are needed to understand the effects of wilding on invasive species and their consequences. From a socio-ecological perspective, the attitudes of city dwellers towards spontaneous vegetation are modulated by successional stages, with grassland and woodland stages preferred, but dense shrubby vegetation stages disliked. Wild spaces can diversify physical interactions with nature, and enrich multi-sensory, affective and cognitive experiences of nature in cities. However, some aspects of wild spaces can cause anxiety, feeling unsafe, and the perception of abandonment. These negative attitudes could be mitigated by subtle design and maintenance interventions. While nature has long been thought of as ornamental and instrumental in cities, urban wilding could help to develop relational and intrinsic values of nature in the fabric of cities. Wildness and its singular aesthetics should be combined with cultural norms, resident uses and urban functions to plan and design urban spatial configurations promoting human-non-human cohabitation. For urban wilding to be socially just and adapted to the needs of residents, its implementation should be backed by inclusive governance opening up discussion forums to residents and urban workers. Scientists can support these changes by collaborating with urban actors to design and experiment with new wild spaces promoting biodiversity and wellbeing of people in cities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sébastien Bonthoux
- Ecole de la Nature et du Paysage - INSA CVL, CNRS UMR 7324 CITERES, 3 rue de la Chocolaterie, CS, Blois, 23410 41034, France
- LTSER, Zone Atelier Loire, UMR 7324 - CITERES, BP 60449, 37204, TOURS, 03, France
| | - Simon Chollet
- Université de Rennes, CNRS UMR 6553 ECOBIO [Ecosystèmes, biodiversité, évolution], Campus de Beaulieu - Bat 14A, 263 Av Gal Leclerc, Rennes, 35700, France
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3
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Hordley LA, Fox R. Wildlife-friendly garden practices increase butterfly abundance and species richness in urban and arable landscapes. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 929:171503. [PMID: 38453093 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Revised: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 03/03/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024]
Abstract
Insect declines are being reported worldwide and private, residential gardens could provide refugia for these species under increasing land use change. Interest in wildlife-friendly gardening has increased, but many management recommendations lack a scientific evidence-base. We used a large citizen science scheme, the Garden Butterfly Survey (GBS), with data from over 600 gardens across Great Britain (2016-2021) to determine how the surrounding landscape influences the abundance and species richness of butterflies in gardens and whether wildlife-friendly gardening practices, such as having long grass and providing nectar plants, benefit butterflies. First, we show that GBS provides reliable estimates of species abundances by comparing with results from standardised, long-term monitoring data. Garden size and surrounding land use had significant effects on butterfly abundance and richness in gardens, including positive relationships with garden size, woodland and arable farmland and negative relationships with urbanisation. Both the presence and area of long grass in gardens were positively related to higher butterfly richness and abundance, with the latter being driven by butterflies that use grasses as larval host plants. These effects differed depending on the surrounding landscape, such that long grass resulted in higher garden butterfly abundance in landscapes dominated by arable farming, and higher abundance and richness in highly urbanised areas. The presence of flowering ivy (Hedera spp.) in gardens resulted in higher abundance of Celastrina argiolus holly blue which uses ivy as a larval host, and of Vanessa atalanta red admiral and Polygonia c-album comma, which favour it as a nectar source. Our work provides evidence that undertaking simple wildlife-friendly garden practices can be beneficial for attracting butterflies, particularly in heavily modified areas. With over 728,000 ha of gardens in Great Britain, the cumulative effect of leaving areas of lawn uncut and providing nectar and larval host plants could be key for helping biodiversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisbeth A Hordley
- Butterfly Conservation, Manor Yard, East Lulworth, Wareham, Dorset BH20 5QP, UK.
| | - Richard Fox
- Butterfly Conservation, Manor Yard, East Lulworth, Wareham, Dorset BH20 5QP, UK
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4
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Nawrath M, Fürst K, Hutchins M, Seifert-Dähnn I. Milder, wilder, drier: Understanding preferences for urban nature-based solutions in China. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 921:171148. [PMID: 38401726 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/26/2024]
Abstract
Nature-based solutions have gained recognition for their potential to address urban environmental challenges, particularly in rapidly urbanising countries such as China. However, financial and spatial constraints hinder their widespread adoption. Here we explore urban residents' preferences for nature-based solutions targeting stormwater management, urban heat island reduction, and biodiversity support through monetary, time, and space contributions. We carried out three choice experiment surveys with 1536 Chinese respondents, employing three payment vehicles: willingness to pay (WTP), willingness to contribute time (WTCT), and a novel metric, willingness to contribute space (WTCS). The WTCS metric assesses individuals' willingness to voluntarily convert sealed surfaces on private land into greenspace. We found strong preferences for temperature and flooding reduction across all payment vehicles, reflecting substantial challenges of urban heat islands and flooding in China. Additionally, we reveal a preference for moderate greenspace management intensity, highlighting the potential for biodiversity benefits through reduced management intensities. The introduction of the WTCS payment vehicle expands the methodological toolkit for choice experiments and offers a novel approach to assess citizen support for nature-based solutions. These findings have practical implications for designing effective nature-based solutions programs to address urban environmental challenges and meet the preferences of urban residents in China and beyond.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maximilian Nawrath
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research, Økernveien 94, 0579 Oslo, Norway.
| | - Kathinka Fürst
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research, Økernveien 94, 0579 Oslo, Norway
| | - Michael Hutchins
- UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Maclean Building, Benson Lane, Crowmarsh Gifford, Wallingford, Oxfordshire OX10 8BB, UK; Department of Earth Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham Hill, Egham TW20 0EX, UK
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5
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Fan K, Chu H, Eldridge DJ, Gaitan JJ, Liu YR, Sokoya B, Wang JT, Hu HW, He JZ, Sun W, Cui H, Alfaro FD, Abades S, Bastida F, Díaz-López M, Bamigboye AR, Berdugo M, Blanco-Pastor JL, Grebenc T, Duran J, Illán JG, Makhalanyane TP, Mukherjee A, Nahberger TU, Peñaloza-Bojacá GF, Plaza C, Verma JP, Rey A, Rodríguez A, Siebe C, Teixido AL, Trivedi P, Wang L, Wang J, Yang T, Zhou XQ, Zhou X, Zaady E, Tedersoo L, Delgado-Baquerizo M. Soil biodiversity supports the delivery of multiple ecosystem functions in urban greenspaces. Nat Ecol Evol 2023; 7:113-126. [PMID: 36631668 DOI: 10.1038/s41559-022-01935-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
While the contribution of biodiversity to supporting multiple ecosystem functions is well established in natural ecosystems, the relationship of the above- and below-ground diversity with ecosystem multifunctionality remains virtually unknown in urban greenspaces. Here we conducted a standardized survey of urban greenspaces from 56 municipalities across six continents, aiming to investigate the relationships of plant and soil biodiversity (diversity of bacteria, fungi, protists and invertebrates, and metagenomics-based functional diversity) with 18 surrogates of ecosystem functions from nine ecosystem services. We found that soil biodiversity across biomes was significantly and positively correlated with multiple dimensions of ecosystem functions, and contributed to key ecosystem services such as microbially driven carbon pools, organic matter decomposition, plant productivity, nutrient cycling, water regulation, plant-soil mutualism, plant pathogen control and antibiotic resistance regulation. Plant diversity only indirectly influenced multifunctionality in urban greenspaces via changes in soil conditions that were associated with soil biodiversity. These findings were maintained after controlling for climate, spatial context, soil properties, vegetation and management practices. This study provides solid evidence that conserving soil biodiversity in urban greenspaces is key to supporting multiple dimensions of ecosystem functioning, which is critical for the sustainability of urban ecosystems and human wellbeing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kunkun Fan
- State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Haiyan Chu
- State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, China. .,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
| | - David J Eldridge
- Centre for Ecosystem Science, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Juan J Gaitan
- National Institute of Agricultural Technology (INTA), Institute of Soil Science, Hurlingham, Argentina.,National University of Luján, Department of Technology, Luján, Argentina.,National Research Council of Argentina (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Yu-Rong Liu
- College of Resources and Environment, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Blessing Sokoya
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Jun-Tao Wang
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Penrith, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Hang-Wei Hu
- School of Agriculture and Food, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Ji-Zheng He
- School of Agriculture and Food, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Wei Sun
- Institute of Grassland Science, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, China
| | - Haiying Cui
- Institute of Grassland Science, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, China
| | - Fernando D Alfaro
- GEMA Center for Genomics, Ecology and Environment, Faculty of Interdisciplinary Studies, Universidad Mayor, Santiago, Chile
| | - Sebastian Abades
- GEMA Center for Genomics, Ecology and Environment, Faculty of Interdisciplinary Studies, Universidad Mayor, Santiago, Chile
| | | | | | - Adebola R Bamigboye
- Natural History Museum (Botany Unit), Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria
| | - Miguel Berdugo
- Institut de Biologia Evolutiva (UPF-CSIC), Barcelona, Spain.,Institute of Integrative Biology, Department of Environment Systems Science, ETH Zurich, Univeritätstrasse, Zurich, Switzerland
| | | | - Tine Grebenc
- Department of Forest Physiology and Genetics, Slovenian Forestry Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Jorge Duran
- Misión Biolóxica de Galicia, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Pontevedra, Spain.,Centre for Functional Ecology, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Calçada Martim de Freitas, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Javier G Illán
- Department of Entomology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
| | - Thulani P Makhalanyane
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Arpan Mukherjee
- Plant-Microbe Interaction Lab, Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Tina U Nahberger
- Department of Forest Physiology and Genetics, Slovenian Forestry Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Gabriel F Peñaloza-Bojacá
- Laboratório de Sistemática Vegetal, Departamento de Botânica, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Pampulha, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - César Plaza
- Instituto de Ciencias Agrarias, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jay Prakash Verma
- Plant-Microbe Interaction Lab, Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India.,Soil Microbiology Lab, Department of Soil Science, Federal University of Ceara, Fortaleza, Brazil
| | - Ana Rey
- Department of Biogeography and Global Change, National Museum of Natural History (MNCN), Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) C/ Serrano 115bis, Madrid, Spain
| | - Alexandra Rodríguez
- Centre for Functional Ecology, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Calçada Martim de Freitas, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Christina Siebe
- Instituto de Geología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, México D.F., México
| | - Alberto L Teixido
- Departamento de Botância e Ecologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Boa Esperança, Cuiabá, Brazil
| | - Pankaj Trivedi
- Microbiome Network and Department of Agricultural Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Ling Wang
- Institute of Grassland Science, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, China
| | - Jianyong Wang
- Institute of Grassland Science, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, China
| | - Tianxue Yang
- Institute of Grassland Science, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, China
| | - Xin-Quan Zhou
- College of Resources and Environment, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiaobing Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, China
| | - Eli Zaady
- Department of Natural Resources, Agricultural Research Organization, Institute of Plant Sciences, Gilat Research Center, Negev, Israel
| | - Leho Tedersoo
- Department of Mycology and Microbiology, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Manuel Delgado-Baquerizo
- Laboratorio de Biodiversidad y Funcionamiento Ecosistémico, Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiología de Sevilla (IRNAS), CSIC, Sevilla, Spain. .,Unidad Asociada CSIC-UPO (BioFun), Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Sevilla, Spain.
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6
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Bernard-Verdier M, Seitz B, Buchholz S, Kowarik I, Lasunción Mejía S, Jeschke JM. Grassland allergenicity increases with urbanisation and plant invasions. AMBIO 2022; 51:2261-2277. [PMID: 35594005 PMCID: PMC9481851 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-022-01741-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2021] [Revised: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 04/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Pollen allergies have been on the rise in cities, where anthropogenic disturbances, warmer climate and introduced species are shaping novel urban ecosystems. Yet, the allergenic potential of these urban ecosystems, in particular spontaneous vegetation outside parks and gardens, remains poorly known. We quantified the allergenic properties of 56 dry grasslands along a double gradient of urbanisation and plant invasion in Berlin (Germany). 30% of grassland species were classified as allergenic, most of them being natives. Urbanisation was associated with an increase in abundance and diversity of pollen allergens, mainly driven by an increase in allergenic non-native plants. While not inherently more allergenic than native plants, the pool of non-natives contributed a larger biochemical diversity of allergens and flowered later than natives, creating a broader potential spectrum of allergy. Managing novel risks to urban public health will involve not only targeted action on allergenic non-natives, but also policies at the habitat scale favouring plant community assembly of a diverse, low-allergenicity vegetation. Similar approaches could be easily replicated in other cities to provide a broad quantification and mapping of urban allergy risks and drivers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maud Bernard-Verdier
- Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Königin-Luise-Straße 1-3, 14195 Berlin, Germany
- Berlin-Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB), Berlin, Germany
- Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), Müggelseedamm 301, 12587, Berlin, Germany
| | - Birgit Seitz
- Berlin-Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB), Berlin, Germany
- Department of Ecology, Technische Universität Berlin, Rothenburgstraße 12, 12165 Berlin, Germany
| | - Sascha Buchholz
- Berlin-Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB), Berlin, Germany
- Department of Ecology, Technische Universität Berlin, Rothenburgstraße 12, 12165 Berlin, Germany
- Institute of Landscape Ecology, University of Münster, Heisenbergstraße 2, 48149 Munster, Germany
| | - Ingo Kowarik
- Berlin-Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB), Berlin, Germany
- Department of Ecology, Technische Universität Berlin, Rothenburgstraße 12, 12165 Berlin, Germany
| | - Sara Lasunción Mejía
- Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Königin-Luise-Straße 1-3, 14195 Berlin, Germany
- Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jonathan M. Jeschke
- Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Königin-Luise-Straße 1-3, 14195 Berlin, Germany
- Berlin-Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB), Berlin, Germany
- Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), Müggelseedamm 301, 12587, Berlin, Germany
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7
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Abstract
AbstractInvertebrates comprise the most diversified animal group on Earth. Due to their long evolutionary history and small size, invertebrates occupy a remarkable range of ecological niches, and play an important role as “ecosystem engineers” by structuring networks of mutualistic and antagonistic ecological interactions in almost all terrestrial ecosystems. Urban forests provide critical ecosystem services to humans, and, as in other systems, invertebrates are central to structuring and maintaining the functioning of urban forests. Identifying the role of invertebrates in urban forests can help elucidate their importance to practitioners and the public, not only to preserve biodiversity in urban environments, but also to make the public aware of their functional importance in maintaining healthy greenspaces. In this review, we examine the multiple functional roles that invertebrates play in urban forests that contribute to ecosystem service provisioning, including pollination, predation, herbivory, seed and microorganism dispersal and organic matter decomposition, but also those that lead to disservices, primarily from a public health perspective, e.g., transmission of invertebrate-borne diseases. We then identify a number of ecological filters that structure urban forest invertebrate communities, such as changes in habitat structure, increased landscape imperviousness, microclimatic changes and pollution. We also discuss the complexity of ways that forest invertebrates respond to urbanisation, including acclimation, local extinction and evolution. Finally, we present management recommendations to support and conserve viable and diverse urban forest invertebrate populations into the future.
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8
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Sustainable Management Practices for Urban Green Spaces to Support Green Infrastructure: An Italian Case Study. SUSTAINABILITY 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/su14074243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Traditional land-use planning models have proven inadequate to address contemporary issues in sustainable development and protection governance. In recent years, new ‘performance based’ approaches that integrate ecosystem services (ES) provided via green infrastructure (GI) into traditional spatial planning models have been proven to reach a higher level of environmental performance, necessary to improve quality of life for all people. In Italy, there are no mandatory planning instruments to design and manage GI, which still remains a component of the traditional land-use plan. Here, the development of urban green spaces (UGS) based on ‘quantitative assessment’ is not suitable for guaranteeing the supply of ES. In addition, the scarcity of financial resources to develop ‘green standards’, as prescribed in the land-use plan to strategically design the GI, is an issue for most Italian public administrations. The paper provides the results of a test case conducted in a public green area of the city of Ancona, where the experimentation of a diversified maintenance strategy of an urban lawn significantly reduced the management cost and improved the environmental performance of green spaces. The identification of a unified management strategy to be applied to all the public UGS can help to achieve better results in support of sustainability, to redesign the continuity of GI and to develop strategies for future urban green master plans.
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9
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Evaluation model of ecological economic benefits based on discrete mathematical algorithm. Trop Ecol 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s42965-022-00227-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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10
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Cultivar blends: A strategy for creating more resilient warm season turfgrass lawns. Urban Ecosyst 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s11252-021-01195-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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11
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Towards the Circular Soil Concept: Optimization of Engineered Soils for Green Infrastructure Application. SUSTAINABILITY 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/su14020905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
At conventional construction sites, the removal of soil and other excavated materials causes enormous mass movement, with a significant climate impact and contribution to global CO2 release. This study aimed to generate a Circular Soil concept for reusing excavated materials by creating engineered soils for landscape construction at large building sites. Engineered soils act as a substitute for natural soils and fulfill vital technical and soil functions when installing an urban green infrastructure (GI). In a field study, the vegetation performance on engineered soils was evaluated to establish a methodological approach, to assess the applicability of the Circular Soil concept. First, the technical specifications (grain-size distribution) were modeled for intensive green roof and turfgrass applications. Then, the soil components were optimized, mixed, installed and tested for greenery purposes, focusing on plant growth performance indicators (vitality, projective cover ratio and grass-herb ratio) to assess the vegetation performance. The results showed that the engineered soils match the performance of the reference soil alternatives. In conclusion, the Circular Soil concept has a high potential to contribute considerably to sustainable on-site soil management and the circular economy. It can be applied on a larger scale for urban GI development and sustainable resources management in the landscaping and construction sector.
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12
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Cadotte MW, Potgieter LJ, Wang CJ, MacIvor JS. Invasion theory as a management tool for increasing native biodiversity in urban ecosystems. J Appl Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.13953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Marc W. Cadotte
- Department of Biological Sciences University of Toronto‐Scarborough Toronto ON Canada
| | - Luke J. Potgieter
- Department of Biological Sciences University of Toronto‐Scarborough Toronto ON Canada
| | - Chih Julie Wang
- Department of Biological Sciences University of Toronto‐Scarborough Toronto ON Canada
| | - J. Scott MacIvor
- Department of Biological Sciences University of Toronto‐Scarborough Toronto ON Canada
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13
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Abstract
Urban green infrastructure significantly influences the functioning of a city and the comfort of its residents. Lawns are an essential element of public greenery. They represent a live component, and if they are lacking, of low quality, or neglected, this will cause major problems in the urban environment. The vegetation structure of urban grassy areas changes under the influence of different management methods used for their maintenance. The main goal of this study was to evaluate the species diversity of urban lawns and to determine the influence of this vegetation on factors based on the representation of the species found. Three sites with urban lawns were chosen in a built-up city area where different types of vegetation management were applied: Typical management, in which grassy areas are mowed twice a year; intensive management, in which lawns are mowed several times a year and the biomass is removed; and extensive management, in which lawns are mowed irregularly, once a year at most, and the biomass is left unevenly on the site. Extensive management and unkempt urban grassy areas represent a high risk of fire due to the presence of plant species that produce great amounts of biomass. Combined with dry and warm weather, the dead biomass can lead to outbreaks of fire. Extensive management of urban grassy areas brings some benefits, such as lower maintenance costs and increased biodiversity and bioretention. On the other hand, intensive management reduces the risk of fire and the biodiversity of the plant community. Attention should be paid to the composition of vegetative species and their functions that could threaten the safety of residents, with the risk of fire being one of them. However, the vegetation biomass of grassy areas affected by management practices is only a precondition for the risk of fire because weather and drought occurrence play important roles as well.
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Penczykowski RM, Sieg RD. Plantago spp. as Models for Studying the Ecology and Evolution of Species Interactions across Environmental Gradients. Am Nat 2021; 198:158-176. [PMID: 34143715 DOI: 10.1086/714589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
AbstractA central challenge in ecology and evolutionary biology is to understand how variation in abiotic and biotic factors combine to shape the distribution, abundance, and diversity of focal species. Environmental gradients, whether natural (e.g., latitude, elevation, ocean proximity) or anthropogenic (e.g., land-use intensity, urbanization), provide compelling settings for addressing this challenge. However, not all organisms are amenable to the observational and experimental approaches required for untangling the factors that structure species along gradients. Here we highlight herbaceous plants in the genus Plantago as models for studying the ecology and evolution of species interactions along abiotic gradients. Plantago lanceolata and P. major are native to Europe and Asia but distributed globally, and they are established models for studying population ecology and interactions with herbivores, pathogens, and soil microbes. Studying restricted range congeners in comparison with those cosmopolitan species can provide insight into abiotic and biotic determinants of range size and population structure. We highlight one such species, P. rugelii, which is endemic to eastern North America. We give an overview of the literature on these focal Plantago species and explain why they are logical candidates for studies of species interactions across environmental gradients. Finally, we emphasize collaborative and community science approaches that can facilitate such research and note the amenability of Plantago for authentic research projects in science education.
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15
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Klaus VH, Kiehl K. A conceptual framework for urban ecological restoration and rehabilitation. Basic Appl Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.baae.2021.02.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
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16
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Abstract
Cities and towns are complex ecosystems with features that can vary dramatically in space and time. Our knowledge of the spatial structure of urban land and ecological systems is expanding. These systems have been investigated across spatial scales, urban to rural gradients, networks of urban macrosystems, and global megalopolises. However, the temporal dimensions of urban ecosystems – such as those related to ecological cycles and historical legacies – are far less understood and investigated. Here, we outline the main dimensions of time that can shape how events in urban ecosystems unfold, which we categorize as: (i) time flows and duration, (ii) synchrony, lags, and delays, (iii) trends and transitions, (iv) cycles and hysteresis, (v) legacies and priming, (vi) temporal hotspots and hot moments, and (vii) stochastic vs. deterministic processes affecting our ability to forecast the future of cities and the species that live in them. First, we demonstrate the roles of these understudied dimensions by discussing exemplary studies. We then propose key future research directions for investigating how processes over time may regulate the structure and functioning of urban land and biodiversity, as well as its effects on and implications for urban ecology. Our analysis and conceptual framework highlights that several temporal dimensions of urban ecosystems – like those related to temporal hotspots/moments and stochastic vs. deterministic processes – are understudied. This offers important research opportunities to further urban ecology and a comprehensive research agenda valuing the “Urban Chronos” – the change of urban ecosystems through time.
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Pithon JA, Duflot R, Beaujouan V, Jagaille M, Pain G, Daniel H. Grasslands provide diverse opportunities for bird species along an urban-rural gradient. Urban Ecosyst 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s11252-021-01114-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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18
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Acceptance of near-natural greenspace management relates to ecological and socio-cultural assigned values among European urbanites. Basic Appl Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.baae.2020.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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19
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Mollashahi H, Szymura M, Szymura TH. Connectivity assessment and prioritization of urban grasslands as a helpful tool for effective management of urban ecosystem services. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0244452. [PMID: 33370396 PMCID: PMC7769447 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0244452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2020] [Accepted: 12/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Urban grasslands are usually managed as short-cut lawns and have limited biodiversity. Urban grasslands with low-intensity management are species rich and can perform numerous ecosystem services, but they are not accepted by citizens everywhere. Further, increasing and/or maintaining a relatively high level of plant species richness in an urban environment is limited by restricted plant dispersal. In this study, we examined the connectivity of urban grasslands and prioritized the grassland patches with regard to their role in connectivity in an urban landscape. We used high-resolution data from a land use system to map grassland patches in Wrocław city, Silesia, southwest Poland, Central Europe, and applied a graph theory approach to assess their connectivity and prioritization. We next constructed a model for several dispersal distance thresholds (2, 20, 44, 100, and 1000 m), reflecting plants with differing dispersal potential. Our results revealed low connectivity of urban grassland patches, especially for plants with low dispersal ability (2–20 m). The priority of patches was correlated with their area for all dispersal distance thresholds. Most of the large patches important to overall connectivity were located in urban peripheries, while in the city center, connectivity was more restricted and grassland area per capita was the lowest. The presence of a river created a corridor, allowing plants to migrate along watercourse, but it also created a barrier dividing the system. The results suggest that increasing the plant species richness in urban grasslands in the city center requires seed addition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hassanali Mollashahi
- Institute of Agroecology and Plant Production, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Wrocław, Poland
- * E-mail:
| | - Magdalena Szymura
- Institute of Agroecology and Plant Production, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Tomasz H. Szymura
- Department of Ecology, Biogeochemistry and Environmental Protection, University of Wrocław, Wrocław, Poland
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Knapp JL, Phillips BB, Clements J, Shaw RF, Osborne JL. Socio‐psychological factors, beyond knowledge, predict people’s engagement in pollinator conservation. PEOPLE AND NATURE 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/pan3.10168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Jessica L. Knapp
- Environment and Sustainability Institute University of Exeter Penryn UK
- Department of Biology Lund University Lund Sweden
| | | | - Jen Clements
- Environment and Sustainability Institute University of Exeter Penryn UK
| | - Rosalind F. Shaw
- Environment and Sustainability Institute University of Exeter Penryn UK
| | - Juliet L. Osborne
- Environment and Sustainability Institute University of Exeter Penryn UK
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21
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Vacant lot soil degradation and mowing frequency shape communities of belowground invertebrates and urban spontaneous vegetation. Urban Ecosyst 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s11252-020-01069-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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22
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Fischer LK, Neuenkamp L, Lampinen J, Tuomi M, Alday JG, Bucharova A, Cancellieri L, Casado‐Arzuaga I, Čeplová N, Cerveró L, Deák B, Eriksson O, Fellowes MDE, Fernández de Manuel B, Filibeck G, González‐Guzmán A, Hinojosa MB, Kowarik I, Lumbierres B, Miguel A, Pardo R, Pons X, Rodríguez‐García E, Schröder R, Gaia Sperandii M, Unterweger P, Valkó O, Vázquez V, Klaus VH. Public attitudes toward biodiversity‐friendly greenspace management in Europe. Conserv Lett 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/conl.12718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Leonie K. Fischer
- Department of Ecology, Chair of Ecosystem Science/Plant EcologyTechnische Universität Berlin Berlin Germany
- Berlin‐Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB) Berlin Germany
- Institute of Landscape Planning and EcologyUniversity of Stuttgart Stuttgart Germany
| | - Lena Neuenkamp
- Institute of Plant SciencesUniversity of Bern Bern Switzerland
- Institute of Ecology and Earth ScienceUniversity of Tartu Tartu Estonia
| | | | - Maria Tuomi
- Department of BiologyUniversity of Turku Turku Finland
| | - Josu G. Alday
- Department of Crop and Forest SciencesUniversity of Lleida Lleida Spain
- Joint Reseach Unit CTFC—AGROTECNIO Lleida Spain
| | - Anna Bucharova
- Eberhard‐Karls‐Universität TübingenInstitute of Evolution and Ecology Tübingen Germany
- Westfälische Wilhelms‐Universität MünsterInstitute of Landscape Ecology Münster Germany
| | - Laura Cancellieri
- Department of Agriculture and Forest Sciences (DAFNE)University of Tuscia Viterbo Italy
| | - Izaskun Casado‐Arzuaga
- Department of Plant Biology and EcologyUniversity of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) Bizkaia Spain
| | - Natálie Čeplová
- Department of Biology, Faculty of EducationMasaryk University Brno Czech Republic
| | - Lluïsa Cerveró
- Estudi TALP (Territori Arquitectura i Laboratori de Paisatge) Valencia Spain
| | - Balázs Deák
- Centre for Ecological ResearchInstitute of Ecology and Botany MTA‐ÖK Lendület Seed Ecology Research Group Vácrátót Hungary
| | - Ove Eriksson
- Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant SciencesStockholm University Stockholm Sweden
| | - Mark D. E. Fellowes
- People and Wildlife Research Group, School of Biological SciencesUniversity of Reading Reading Berkshire UK
| | | | - Goffredo Filibeck
- Department of Agriculture and Forest Sciences (DAFNE)University of Tuscia Viterbo Italy
| | | | - M. Belen Hinojosa
- Department of Environmental SciencesUniversity of Castilla‐La Mancha Toledo Spain
| | - Ingo Kowarik
- Department of Ecology, Chair of Ecosystem Science/Plant EcologyTechnische Universität Berlin Berlin Germany
- Berlin‐Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB) Berlin Germany
| | - Belén Lumbierres
- Department of Crop and Forest SciencesUniversity of Lleida Lleida Spain
| | - Ana Miguel
- Estudi TALP (Territori Arquitectura i Laboratori de Paisatge) Valencia Spain
| | - Rosa Pardo
- Estudi TALP (Territori Arquitectura i Laboratori de Paisatge) Valencia Spain
| | - Xavier Pons
- Department of Crop and Forest SciencesUniversity of Lleida Lleida Spain
| | - Encarna Rodríguez‐García
- Instituto Universitario de Gestión Forestal Sostenible, Universidad de Valladolid Palencia Spain
- ALEB (Active Learning in Ecology and Biotechnology) El Siscar (Santomera) Murcia Spain
| | - Roland Schröder
- Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Landscape ArchitectureOsnabrück University of Applied Sciences Osnabrück Germany
| | | | | | - Orsolya Valkó
- Centre for Ecological ResearchInstitute of Ecology and Botany MTA‐ÖK Lendület Seed Ecology Research Group Vácrátót Hungary
| | - Víctor Vázquez
- Department of Ecology, Faculty of SciencesUniversity of Málaga Málaga Spain
- Department of Research and DevelopmentCoccosphere Environmental Analysis Málaga Spain
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