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Scramoncin L, Gerdol R, Brancaleoni L. How Effective Is Environmental Protection for Ensuring the Vitality of Wild Orchid Species? A Case Study of a Protected Area in Italy. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 13:610. [PMID: 38475457 DOI: 10.3390/plants13050610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2023] [Revised: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024]
Abstract
Orchids are among the plants most threatened by anthropic impact and environmental changes. Therefore, all known orchid species are protected in several countries by regional, national and international legislation. Several studies have cast doubts on the effectiveness of legislation to ensure the protection of wild orchids. We assessed the vitality of four orchid populations in a coastal area in Northern Italy, by monitoring the vegetative and reproductive traits of the orchid populations growing both in the protected sites comprising the Natura 2000 network, and in non-protected sites. We also monitored the level of environmental threat to orchid vitality. The early-flowering deceptive species (Ophrys sphegodes and Anacamptis morio) exhibited high vegetative vitality and experienced similar levels of environmental threat in the protected and non-protected areas. However, their reproductive success was strongly jeopardized, probably by a failed pollination that impeded the fruit set. The late-flowering, partially or totally rewarding species (Anacamptis pyramidalis and Anacamptis coriophora) were more strongly impacted by spring mowing and ungulate herbivory and alien species. Only for A. coriophora were the herbivory and alien species invasions lower at the protected vs. non-protected sites, which ensured a higher population vitality at the protected sites. We conclude that the environmental protection in our study area is ineffective for preserving orchids without targeted actions against specific environmental threats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Scramoncin
- Department of Environmental and Prevention Sciences, University of Ferrara, C.so Ercole I D'Este 32, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Renato Gerdol
- Department of Environmental and Prevention Sciences, University of Ferrara, C.so Ercole I D'Este 32, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Lisa Brancaleoni
- Department of Environmental and Prevention Sciences, University of Ferrara, C.so Ercole I D'Este 32, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
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2
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Jiang Y, Yuan T. The effects of precipitation change on urban meadows in different design models and substrates. Sci Rep 2023; 13:20592. [PMID: 37996501 PMCID: PMC10667351 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-44974-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Climate change, such as temperature and precipitation changes, is becoming increasingly obvious, and in this context, planting designs need to urgently consider future climate change in advance. A field experiment was conducted in Beijing, China, where the future precipitation is predicted to increase, and extra irrigation was used to simulate the future precipitation increase. The species richness of sown meadows, including spontaneous plants and sown plants, and the adaptive strategies of the communities were recorded under different types of design models and substrates. The results showed that precipitation increased the diversity of sown plants and resource-demanding spontaneous plants but had no significant effect on the dry matter content of the entire community of species. Moreover, the interactions among precipitation and substrate, especially the design models, were significant. Of the models, the three-layer model had the highest species richness and least invasive plants. In addition, increased precipitation significantly changed the functional strategy of the plant community away from ruderals and towards competitor-stress tolerant species. This study provides guidance for the design and management of naturalistic plant communities under climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yarong Jiang
- College of Horticulture and Forestry Science, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
- School of Landscape Architecture, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China
- National Engineering Research Center for Floriculture, Beijing, 100083, China
- Beijing Laboratory of Urban and Rural Ecological Environment, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Tao Yuan
- School of Landscape Architecture, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China.
- National Engineering Research Center for Floriculture, Beijing, 100083, China.
- Beijing Laboratory of Urban and Rural Ecological Environment, Beijing, 100083, China.
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3
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Liang H, Li C, Xue D, Liu J, Jin K, Wang Y, Gao D, Chen Y, Li Y, Qiu L, Gao T. Lawn or spontaneous groundcover? Residents' perceptions of and preferences for alternative lawns in Xianyang, China. Front Psychol 2023; 14:1259920. [PMID: 38022966 PMCID: PMC10646185 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1259920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Within urban green spaces, spontaneous groundcovers, as potential alternatives for traditional lawns, have garnered attention due to their ecological adaptability. However, little attention has been paid to whether spontaneous groundcovers can serve as suitable replacements for lawns in terms of the aesthetic values and human preferences for each. Based on questionnaires accompanied by photo elicitation, this study explored the perceptions of and preferences for seven kinds of lawns and six kinds of spontaneous groundcovers in China. The effects of social backgrounds on people's perceptions of and preferences for ground covers were also analyzed. The results indicated a general equivalence in preferences for the lawn and spontaneous groundcover. The Taraxacum mongolicum - Cynodon dactylon - Conyza canadensis community was significantly preferred most among all of the selected ground covers. Spontaneous groundcovers were regarded as more natural, wild, variable, and species-richer compared to lawns, while lawns were perceived as better kept than spontaneous groundcovers. Ground covers were preferred which were perceived to have high ecological aesthetic value and low wildness. Industry and attention to herbaceous plants mostly affected human perceptions and preferences among the social background factors, and gender, age, education level, and occupation also had significant effects. The results thus provide the support for the application of spontaneous groundcovers in moderately developed cities, but such application should consider the comprehensive development of ecological aesthetic value and the applicability of different groups of residents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huiyi Liang
- College of Landscape Architecture and Art, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang, China
| | - Cangshuan Li
- College of Landscape Architecture and Art, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang, China
| | - Denggao Xue
- College of Landscape Architecture and Art, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang, China
| | - Jiangnan Liu
- College of Landscape Architecture and Art, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang, China
| | - Kedi Jin
- College of Landscape Architecture and Art, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang, China
| | - Yuebin Wang
- College of Landscape Architecture and Art, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang, China
| | - Dongyang Gao
- College of Landscape Architecture and Art, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang, China
| | - Yingyuan Chen
- College of Landscape Architecture and Art, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang, China
| | - Yapeng Li
- Forestry Science Institute of Xianyang, Xianyang, China
| | - Ling Qiu
- College of Landscape Architecture and Art, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang, China
| | - Tian Gao
- College of Landscape Architecture and Art, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang, China
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4
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Thompson GL, Bray N, Groffman PM, Kao-Kniffin J. Soil microbiomes in lawns reveal land-use legacy impacts on urban landscapes. Oecologia 2023:10.1007/s00442-023-05389-8. [PMID: 37286887 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-023-05389-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Land-use change is highly dynamic globally and there is great uncertainty about the effects of land-use legacies on contemporary environmental performance. We used a chronosequence of urban grasslands (lawns) that were converted from agricultural and forested lands from 10 to over 130 years prior to determine if land-use legacy influences components of soil biodiversity and composition over time. We used historical aerial imagery to identify sites in Baltimore County, MD (USA) with agricultural versus forest land-use history. Soil samples were taken from these sites as well as from existing well-studied agricultural and forest sites used as historical references by the National Science Foundation Long-Term Ecological Research Baltimore Ecosystem Study program. We found that the microbiomes in lawns of agricultural origin were similar to those in agricultural reference sites, which suggests that the ecological parameters on lawns and reference agricultural systems are similar in how they influence soil microbial community dynamics. In contrast, lawns that were previously forest showed distinct shifts in soil bacterial composition upon recent conversion but reverted back in composition similar to forest soils as the lawns aged over decades. Soil fungal communities shifted after forested land was converted to lawns, but unlike bacterial communities, did not revert in composition over time. Our results show that components of bacterial biodiversity and composition are resistant to change in previously forested lawns despite urbanization processes. Therefore land-use legacy, depending on the prior use, is an important factor to consider when examining urban ecological homogenization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grant L Thompson
- School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Natalie Bray
- School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Peter M Groffman
- Advanced Science Research Center at the Graduate Center, Environmental Sciences Initiative, City University of New York, New York, NY, 10031, USA
- Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Millbrook, NY, 12545, USA
| | - Jenny Kao-Kniffin
- School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA.
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5
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Li X, Zhang S, Huang R, Feng L, Xu S, Liu B. Diversity and distribution variation of urban spontaneous vegetation with distinct frequencies along river corridors in a fast-growing city. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2023; 333:117446. [PMID: 36758408 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.117446] [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: 09/06/2022] [Revised: 12/28/2022] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
River corridors are vital to urban ecology, regulating climate and providing habitats for animals. Spontaneous plants naturally colonize various spaces therein, where they play important roles. Previous studies have explored many factors driving spontaneous plant diversity at the city scale and in specific habitats. However, we lack a holistic understanding of the diversity and distribution of variation of spontaneous vegetation that directly reflects the effects of urbanization. We conducted a field study of 1250 sample plots along river corridors in Chengdu, a fast-growing city in China, and the spontaneous plants in fifteen microhabitat types were surveyed. Diversity and distribution patterns were examined for species with distinct dispersal abilities. There was a far greater richness of occasional species compared to dominant and common species, but occasional species were markedly less abundant. Vacant lots and natural riverbanks harbored the most species, but revetment walls and lawns also supported a considerable number of species, especially in the city center. Species diversity among different urban areas was strongly related to microhabitat conditions. The proportions of dominant, common, and occasional species varied among communities. In communities on vacant lots of less urbanized areas, the richness of dominant species was greater, whereas in green spaces created by planted vegetation, occasional species were more diverse. Green space microenvironments are hospitable to some rare species. Urbanization and microhabitats have co-effects and thus ultimately determine diversity and distribution patterns. Such patterns, if linked to ecological and ornamental value, can provide a new perspective and nature-based solutions to urban rewilding and landscape design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaopeng Li
- School of Architecture, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, 611756, Sichuan, China.
| | - Sining Zhang
- School of Architecture, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, 611756, Sichuan, China.
| | - Rui Huang
- School of Architecture, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, 611756, Sichuan, China.
| | - Li Feng
- Chengdu Park City Construction and Development Research Institute, Chengdu, 610031, Sichuan, China.
| | - Sihui Xu
- School of Architecture, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, 611756, Sichuan, China.
| | - Baichuan Liu
- School of Architecture, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, 611756, Sichuan, China.
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6
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Mollashahi H, Szymura M, Perera PCD, Szymura TH. The effect of grassland type and proximity to the city center on urban soil and vegetation coverage. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2023; 195:599. [PMID: 37081193 PMCID: PMC10119043 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-023-11210-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Urban soils with associated vegetation are important components of urban ecosystems, providing multiple regulating and supporting ecosystem services. This study aimed to analyze the differences in the soil chemistry and vegetation of urban grasslands considering urbanization gradient and urban grassland type (UGT). We hypothesized that the chemical properties of soil, such as metal content, as well as vegetation traits, differ according to grassland type (lawns, grasslands in parks, grasslands on river embankments, and roadsides) and the location of grassland patches (city center versus peripheries). Our samples included 94 UGT patches which each patch represented by four square sampling plots sized 1 m2. The results showed high differentiation of measured traits unrelated to UGT and location. The exception was K content, with a relatively high concentration in lawns, and some metals (Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn), with higher concentrations in the city center than in the peripheries. We found two grassland patches located in the city center where the concentrations of Pb, Zn, and Cu exceeded the level authorized by Polish standards. In the case of vegetation traits, the variability was not structured considering the UGT and location of the patches, except for bare soil cover, which was higher in lawns in the city center compared to embankments in the peripheries. We observed correlations between vegetation traits and soil chemical properties. The vascular plant species richness decreased when N, P, and C content, along with an increase in grass cover and a decrease in herbs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hassanali Mollashahi
- Institute of Agroecology and Plant Production, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Grunwaldzki Sq 24a, Norwida St. 25, 50-363, Wroclaw, Poland.
| | - Magdalena Szymura
- Institute of Agroecology and Plant Production, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Grunwaldzki Sq 24a, Norwida St. 25, 50-363, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Peliyagodage Chathura Dineth Perera
- Institute of Agroecology and Plant Production, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Grunwaldzki Sq 24a, Norwida St. 25, 50-363, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Tomasz H Szymura
- Department of Ecology, Biogeochemistry and Environmental Protection, University of Wrocław, Wrocław, Poland
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7
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Liu H, Todd JL, Luo H. Turfgrass Salinity Stress and Tolerance-A Review. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 12:925. [PMID: 36840273 PMCID: PMC9961807 DOI: 10.3390/plants12040925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2023] [Revised: 02/04/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Turfgrasses are ground cover plants with intensive fibrous roots to encounter different edaphic stresses. The major edaphic stressors of turfgrasses often include soil salinity, drought, flooding, acidity, soil compaction by heavy traffic, unbalanced soil nutrients, heavy metals, and soil pollutants, as well as many other unfavorable soil conditions. The stressors are the results of either naturally occurring soil limitations or anthropogenic activities. Under any of these stressful conditions, turfgrass quality will be reduced along with the loss of economic values and ability to perform its recreational and functional purposes. Amongst edaphic stresses, soil salinity is one of the major stressors as it is highly connected with drought and heat stresses of turfgrasses. Four major salinity sources are naturally occurring in soils: recycled water as the irrigation, regular fertilization, and air-borne saline particle depositions. Although there are only a few dozen grass species from the Poaceae family used as turfgrasses, these turfgrasses vary from salinity-intolerant to halophytes interspecifically and intraspecifically. Enhancement of turfgrass salinity tolerance has been a very active research and practical area as well in the past several decades. This review attempts to target new developments of turfgrasses in those soil salinity stresses mentioned above and provides insight for more promising turfgrasses in the future with improved salinity tolerances to meet future turfgrass requirements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haibo Liu
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA
| | - Jason L. Todd
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA
| | - Hong Luo
- Department of Genetics and Biochemistry, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA
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8
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Persson AS, Westman A, Smith TJ, Mayfield MM, Olsson P, Smith HG, Fuller R. Backyard buzz: human population density modifies the value of vegetation cover for insect pollinators in a subtropical city. Urban Ecosyst 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s11252-022-01277-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
AbstractUrbanisation drives overall declines in insect pollinators. Although urban green spaces can provide suitable habitat for pollinators much remains to be learned about how urban landscapes either promote or negatively impact pollinators. We investigated how backyard design, local (100 m) and landscape (500 m) scale vegetation cover and human population density were associated with non-eusocial native bee species, eusocial bees (Apis mellifera and Tetragonula spp.), and hoverflies, in residential green spaces of the subtropical city Brisbane, Australia. We found that associations between bee abundance and vegetation cover were moderated by human density, but the direction of this effect differed for non-eusocial and eusocial species. Non-eusocial bee abundance was positively associated with tree cover at local and landscape scales when human densities were low, but negatively so at high human population densities. We suggest this may be because the quality of vegetation for non-eusocial bees deteriorates as human density increases. In contrast, abundance of eusocial bees was negatively associated with increasing local cover of grass and shrubs at low levels of human density, but positively associated at high densities. This affinity to humans could partly be explained by domesticated “kept” hives. We found no effect of urban gradients on bee species richness. Hoverfly abundance was negatively related to human density and positively related to vegetation cover at local and landscape scales. At the backyard scale, both bee species richness and bee and hoverfly abundances were positively associated to flower abundance. Backyards with more vegetation cover had higher densities of non-eusocial bees. Our results thus support the idea that urban greening in densely populated areas at multiple spatial scales can benefit a range of insect pollinators.
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9
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Doll C, Polyakov M, Pannell DJ, Burton MP. Rethinking urban park irrigation under climate change. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2022; 314:115012. [PMID: 35462251 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.115012] [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: 12/06/2021] [Revised: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 04/02/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Climate change is forcing cities to reassess their water management practices, particularly for water-intensive applications like park irrigation. If water scarcity requires governments to deviate from current park management norms and allocate less water towards parks, it is essential that park managers design spaces that maintain community wellbeing. We apply the hedonic pricing method and use detailed park management information to assess the value of parks in a region where local climatic conditions require extensive irrigation to keep turf green, and where climate change is further constraining water supplies. Here we show that the impacts of irrigation on the value of parks differ depending on the dwelling types of the nearby housing populations that they serve. In most cases, the convention that parks have to be irrigated to deliver ecosystem services to the public is supported. However, we find that non-irrigated park areas are also valued positively by nearby apartment dwellers. Accelerating rates of urbanization and shifts towards high-density living may support the development of more diverse park options that are less water-intensive. Increased visibility of these alternative park forms, which could include more areas of native vegetation that do not require irrigation, may subsequently influence public expectations for landscape design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire Doll
- The University of Western Australia, School of Agriculture and Environment, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia.
| | | | - David J Pannell
- The University of Western Australia, School of Agriculture and Environment, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia.
| | - Michael P Burton
- The University of Western Australia, School of Agriculture and Environment, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia.
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10
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Teixeira CP, Fernandes CO, Ryan R, Ahern J. Attitudes and preferences towards plants in urban green spaces: Implications for the design and management of Novel Urban Ecosystems. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2022; 314:115103. [PMID: 35468436 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.115103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2022] [Revised: 04/15/2022] [Accepted: 04/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Catarina Patoilo Teixeira
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão, Universidade do Porto, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal; Departamento de Geociências, Ambiente e Ordenamento do Território, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, rua do Campo Alegre 687, 4169-007, Porto, Portugal; BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus de Vairão, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal.
| | - Cláudia Oliveira Fernandes
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão, Universidade do Porto, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal; Departamento de Geociências, Ambiente e Ordenamento do Território, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, rua do Campo Alegre 687, 4169-007, Porto, Portugal; BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus de Vairão, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal.
| | - Robert Ryan
- Department of Landscape Architecture and Regional Planning, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, 01003-2901, USA.
| | - Jack Ahern
- Department of Landscape Architecture and Regional Planning, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, 01003-2901, USA.
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11
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Assessing Xeriscaping as a Retrofit Sustainable Water Consumption Approach for a Desert University Campus. WATER 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/w14111681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
Assessing water usage associated with urban green infrastructure is crucial for water resource management and sustainable planning of desert campus areas. A public university campus layout in the desert region is considered an urban city subject to urban water consumption (UWC) of significant intensity and extent, even though the urban layout is essential to all campus occupants’ comfort and environmental sustainability needs. Hence, there is a need to reduce its detrimental effects through sustainable methods for campus water content. This study focuses on assessing urban xeriscaping landscape quantities as a practical potential approach to support university campus decision-makers in reducing urban water consumption and preserving the urban campus water content as asset management and life quality. Four selected landscape field experiments were undertaken by adopting xeriscaping landscape design instead of existing conventional urban design at King Faisal University’s (KFU) campus layout, Al-Ahsaa, Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia. The study built a specific practical sustainability retrofit approach in water conservation from conventional to xeriscaping method inside the existing public desert campus area. Applying the study approach framework considering xeriscaping layout design provided sustainability requirements, retrofit approach, and pathway to effective landscape mapping, based on reasonable and accurate quantities of xeriscaping landscape items, to convert the KFU campus layout as a low water consumption campus with an average reduction of 41% water consumption within the remaining campus layout. The results of this study contribute to the water conservation and management in university desert campus and opens the door for other studies on the use of this approach for thermal reduction, economic and environmental benefits beside its value for water reduction.
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12
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Shahani F, Pineda-Pinto M, Frantzeskaki N. Transformative low-carbon urban innovations: Operationalizing transformative capacity for urban planning. AMBIO 2022; 51:1179-1198. [PMID: 34843099 PMCID: PMC8931143 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-021-01653-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2021] [Revised: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Cities can set in motion sustainability transitions through experimentation and innovation. To invest in and mainstream solutions that contribute to urban transformation agendas, urban planners needs to understand which innovations have transformational potential as well as how these innovations can accelerate sustainability transitions. In order to explore this, existing frameworks of transformative capacity provide the guidance, but they are generic, abstract, and challenging to apply for urban planning. As part of our effort to develop a more operational version of the transformative capacity framework by Wolfram (2016), we conducted a systematic scoping review of the academic literature to determine the characteristics of people-based and nature-based low-carbon innovations that constitutes their transformative capacity. After reviewing 65 records, we identified dimensions indicating each of the transformative capacity components through analysis and synthesis. Besides contributing to the science-policy interface through a knowledge synthesis on low-carbon people-based and nature-based innovations, this paper examines bridging frameworks to inform urban planners in developing practical solutions and actionable elements for low-carbon urban futures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatemeh Shahani
- Centre for Urban Transitions, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Melissa Pineda-Pinto
- Centre for Urban Transitions, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Niki Frantzeskaki
- Centre for Urban Transitions, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Australia
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13
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Pereira P, Baró F. Greening the city: Thriving for biodiversity and sustainability. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 817:153032. [PMID: 35007590 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.153032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Urban population and urbanisation are increasing rapidly, mainly in developing countries, usually at the expense of green and blue areas. This trend will decrease the ecosystems' capacity to supply ecosystem services (ES) and threaten human wellbeing. Therefore, it is key to establish greening policies in urbanising areas, which are essential to improve the liveability of cities. Restoring and developing green and blue infrastructures using nature-based solutions is vital to improving urban biodiversity and urban ecosystems. Healthy urban ecosystems have a high capacity to supply regulating (e.g., air, noise, climate and water regulation), provisioning (e.g., food, medicinal plants, biomass) and cultural (e.g., recreation, landscape aesthetics, social cohesion) ES. This multifunctionality can provide diverse environmental, social and economic benefits to urban residents, hence contributing to the sustainability of urban areas. However, urban green and blue areas are also associated with ecosystem disservices (e.g., plant allergies or poisoning, emission of biogenic volatile organic compounds, unpleasant smells), tradeoffs (e.g., increased water consumption, wildfire risk, associated management costs) and implementation barriers (e.g., political motivation, lack of knowledge, time and workload). Overall, the SI published 8 articles from different parts of the world, such as China, the USA, Italy or Spain, focused on important aspects of greening the city (e.g., green roofs, green walls, green infrastructures, sustainable mobility).
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Affiliation(s)
- Paulo Pereira
- Environmental Management Center, Mykolas Romeris University, Ateities street, 20, Vilnius 08303, Lithuania.
| | - Francesc Baró
- Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Geography Department, Pleinlaan 2, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium; Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Sociology Department, Pleinlaan 2, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium; Institute of Environmental Science and Technology (ICTA), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Edifici Z (ICTA-ICP), Carrer de les Columnes s/n, Campus de la UAB, 08193 Bellaterra, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain
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14
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Choi CJ, Valiente J, Schiavon M, Dhillon B, Crow WT, Stingl U. Bermudagrass Cultivars with Different Tolerance to Nematode Damage Are Characterized by Distinct Fungal but Similar Bacterial and Archaeal Microbiomes. Microorganisms 2022; 10:457. [PMID: 35208911 PMCID: PMC8878055 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10020457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2022] [Revised: 02/01/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Turfgrass landscapes have expanded rapidly in recent decades and are a major vegetation type in urbanizing ecosystems. While turfgrass areas provide numerous ecosystem services in urban environments, ecological side effects from intensive management are raising concerns regarding their sustainability. One potentially promising approach to ameliorate the ecological impact and decrease the use of agricultural chemicals is to take advantage of naturally evolved turfgrass-associated microbes by harnessing beneficial services provided by microbiomes. Unfortunately, especially compared to agricultural crops, the microbiomes of turfgrasses are not well understood. Here, we analyzed microbial communities inhabiting the leaf and root endospheres as well as soil in two bermudagrass cultivars, 'Latitude 36' and 'TifTuf', which exhibit distinct tolerance to nematode damage, with the goal of identifying potential differences in the microbiomes that might explain their distinct phenotype. We used 16S rRNA gene V4 and ITS2 amplicon sequencing to characterize the microbiomes in combination with microbial cultivation efforts to identify potentially beneficial endophytic fungi and bacteria. Our results show that Latitude 36 and TifTuf showed markedly different fungal microbiomes, each harboring unique taxa from Ascomycota and Glomeromycota, respectively. In contrast, less difference was observed from bacterial and archaeal microbiomes, which were dominated by Bacteroidetes and Thaumarchaeota, respectively. The TifTuf microbiomes exhibited lower microbial diversity compared to Latitude 36. Many sequences could not be classified to a higher taxonomic resolution, indicating a relatively high abundance of hitherto undescribed microorganisms. Our results provide new insights into the structure and composition of turfgrass microbiomes but also raise important questions regarding the functional attributes of key taxa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chang Jae Choi
- Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center, Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Davie, FL 33314, USA
| | | | - Marco Schiavon
- Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center, Department of Environmental Horticulture, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Davie, FL 33314, USA;
| | - Braham Dhillon
- Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center, Department of Plant Pathology, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Davie, FL 33314, USA;
| | - William T. Crow
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA;
| | - Ulrich Stingl
- Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center, Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Davie, FL 33314, USA
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15
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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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16
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Barnes MR. Urban Lawns as Nature-Based Learning Spaces. ECOPSYCHOLOGY 2021. [DOI: 10.1089/eco.2021.0025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Michael R. Barnes
- Department of Horticultural Science, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
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17
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Fuentes TL. Homeowner preferences drive lawn care practices and species diversity patterns in new lawn floras. JOURNAL OF URBAN ECOLOGY 2021. [DOI: 10.1093/jue/juab015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Households intensively manage lawns to create uniformly green, low diversity plant communities. Because lawns occupy a large proportion of urban green space, they are a crucial case for understanding how people manipulate urban vegetation. In this study, I focused on 58 homeowners who purchased a newly constructed home and yard in the Seattle Metropolitan Statistical Area, USA, to see how preferences, lawn care regimes and new lawn floras develop within a multi-scalar urban environment. A typical homeowner watered 3 times in spring, watered 24 times in summer, applied fertilizer twice, mowed 21 times and edged 15 times. Most new lawn turfgrasses were Lolium perenne, Poa pratensis and/or Festuca spp. Mean species richness was 6.5 ± 5.3 species. The most frequent species were non-native and cosmopolitan (turfgrasses, Hypochaeris radicata, Taraxacum officinale and Trifolium repens). Five variables increased the probability of homeowners managing their lawns as turfgrass monocultures: living in a neighborhood with larger yards, summer watering frequency, fertilizer frequency, valuing space for children and valuing wildlife habitat. Valuing an easy to manage yard decreased the turfgrass monoculture probability. In polyculture yards, having a larger lawn was positively correlated with non-turfgrass species richness, but elevation was negatively correlated. Homeowners who valued space for children appeared to have more intensive lawn care regimes than those who valued wildlife habitat or easy to manage yards. Although lawn floras result from complex interactions of the environment and households, urban characteristics appeared to be weaker drivers of diversity than homeowner preferences and lawn care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tracy L Fuentes
- Urban Design and Planning, University of Washington, Box 355740, 410 Gould Hall, Seattle, WA, 98195-5740, USA
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18
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Hwang YH, Jain A. Landscape design approaches to enhance human–wildlife interactions in a compact tropical city. JOURNAL OF URBAN ECOLOGY 2021. [DOI: 10.1093/jue/juab007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Urban landscapes have the potential to conserve wildlife. Despite increasing recognition of this potential, there are few collaborative efforts to integrate ecology and conservation principles into context-dependent, spatial and actionable design strategies. To address this issue and to encourage multi-disciplinary research on urban human–wildlife interactions, we ask the following questions. To what extent should design and planning actions be aligned with urban ecology in the context of a compact city? How can wildlife conservation meet the seemingly conflictual demands of urban development and public preference? To answer these questions, we refer to the relevant literature and a number of design projects. Using the compact tropical city of Singapore as a case study, we propose 12 design strategies. We encourage designers and planners to strengthen the links between wildlife and urban dwellers and promote wildlife conservation within cities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun Hye Hwang
- Department of Architecture, School of Design and Environment, National University of Singapore, 4 Architecture Drive, Singapore 117566, Singapore
| | - Anuj Jain
- Department of Architecture, School of Design and Environment, National University of Singapore, 4 Architecture Drive, Singapore 117566, Singapore
- Nature Society (Singapore), 510 Geylang Road, #02-05, Singapore 389466, Singapore
- BirdLife International (Asia), 354 Tangling Road, #01-16/17, Singapore 247672, Singapore
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19
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Wastelands, Greenways and Gentrification: Introducing a Comparative Framework with a Focus on Detroit, USA. SUSTAINABILITY 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/su12156189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Vacant, abandoned or unproductive land parcels, sometimes called “wastelands”, offer opportunities to create new green spaces in cities. Such spaces may be utilized to add to the stock of urban nature, expand recreational green space, promote real estate or commercial development, or simply remain undefined. These various trajectories have significant implications for population health, ecosystem services and real estate values. However, they may also contribute to inequitable outcomes. Are disadvantaged communities, which may be paradoxically rich in wastelands, more advantaged when green space redevelopment occurs, or are they more at risk of green gentrification and associated displacement? To address this question, we first review some of the literature relative to wastelands, especially as they relate to processes of urban change such as depopulation, land use planning, regrowth and gentrification. We utilize historical redlining maps, the Detroit Master Plan and projected land use scenarios from the Detroit Future City (DFC) Strategic Framework Plan to identify areas of vulnerability or possibility within walking distance of the proposed Joe Louis Greenway (JLG). Finally, we consider how wastelands situated along the JLG may be reframed as flexible opportunity spaces, their potential leveraged to advance environmental justice, economic opportunity, and social equity, especially as the City of Detroit takes socioeconomic and racial equity as a key orienting principle—an alternative to green gentrification that we call green reparations.
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20
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A multifunctional alternative lawn where warm-season grass and cold-season flowers coexist. LANDSCAPE AND ECOLOGICAL ENGINEERING 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s11355-020-00423-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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21
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Franzén M, Betzholtz PE, Pettersson LB, Forsman A. Urban moth communities suggest that life in the city favours thermophilic multi-dimensional generalists. Proc Biol Sci 2020; 287:20193014. [PMID: 32517620 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2019.3014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Biodiversity is challenged worldwide by exploitation, global warming, changes in land use and increasing urbanization. It is hypothesized that communities in urban areas should consist primarily of generalist species with broad niches that are able to cope with novel, variable, fragmented, warmer and unpredictable environments shaped by human pressures. We surveyed moth communities in three cities in northern Europe and compared them with neighbouring moth assemblages constituting species pools of potential colonizers. We found that urban moth communities consisted of multi-dimensional generalist species that had larger distribution ranges, more variable colour patterns, longer reproductive seasons, broader diets, were more likely to overwinter as an egg, more thermophilic, and occupied more habitat types compared with moth communities in surrounding areas. When body size was analysed separately, results indicated that city occupancy was associated with larger size, but this effect disappeared when body size was analysed together with the other traits. Our findings indicate that urbanization imposes a spatial filtering process in favour of thermophilic species characterized by high intraspecific diversity and multi-dimensional generalist lifestyles over specialized species with narrow niches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Markus Franzén
- Ecology and Evolution in Microbial Model Systems, EEMIS, Department of Biology and Environmental Science, Linnaeus University, 39182 Kalmar, Sweden
| | | | - Lars B Pettersson
- Biodiversity Unit, Department of Biology, Lund University, 22362 Lund, Sweden
| | - Anders Forsman
- Ecology and Evolution in Microbial Model Systems, EEMIS, Department of Biology and Environmental Science, Linnaeus University, 39182 Kalmar, Sweden
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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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23
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Lawns in Cities: From a Globalised Urban Green Space Phenomenon to Sustainable Nature-Based Solutions. LAND 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/land9030073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
This opinion paper discusses urban lawns, the most common part of open green spaces and urban green infrastructures. It highlights both the ecosystem services and also disservices provided by urban lawns based on the authors’ experience of working within interdisciplinary research projects on lawns in different cities of Europe (Germany, Sweden and Russia), New Zealand (Christchurch), USA (Syracuse, NY) and Australia (Perth). It complements this experience with a detailed literature review based on the most recent studies of different biophysical, social, planning and design aspects of lawns. We also used an international workshop as an important part of the research methodology. We argue that although lawns of Europe and the United States of America are now relatively well studied, other parts of the world still underestimate the importance of researching lawns as a complex ecological and social phenomenon. One of the core objectives of this paper is to share a paradigm of nature-based solutions in the context of lawns, which can be an important step towards finding resilient sustainable alternatives for urban green spaces in the time of growing urbanisation, increased urban land use competition, various user demands and related societal challenges of the urban environment. We hypothesise that these solutions may be found in urban ecosystems and various local native plant communities that are rich in species and able to withstand harsh conditions such as heavy trampling and droughts. To support the theoretical hypothesis of the relevance of nature-based solutions for lawns we also suggest and discuss the concept of two natures—different approaches to the vision of urban nature, including the understanding and appreciation of lawns. This will help to increase the awareness of existing local ecological approaches as well as an importance of introducing innovative landscape architecture practices. This article suggests that there is a potential for future transdisciplinary international research that might aid our understanding of lawns in different climatic and socio-cultural conditions as well as develop locally adapted (to environmental conditions, social needs and management policies) and accepted nature-based solutions.
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24
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Thompson GL, Kao-Kniffin J. Urban Grassland Management Implications for Soil C and N Dynamics: A Microbial Perspective. Front Ecol Evol 2019. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2019.00315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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25
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Aguilera G, Ekroos J, Persson AS, Pettersson LB, Öckinger E. Intensive management reduces butterfly diversity over time in urban green spaces. Urban Ecosyst 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s11252-018-0818-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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