1
|
Fisher JC, Rankin E, Irvine KN, Goddard MA, Davies ZG, Dallimer M. Can biodiverse streetscapes mitigate the effects of noise and air pollution on human wellbeing? Environ Res 2022; 212:113154. [PMID: 35341752 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.113154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2021] [Revised: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 03/18/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Most of the global population are urban, with inhabitants exposed to raised levels of pollution. Pollutants negatively impact human wellbeing, and can alter the structure and diversity of ecosystems. Contrastingly, urban biodiversity can positively contribute to human wellbeing. We know little, however, about whether the negative impacts of pollution on wellbeing could be lessened for householders living on more biodiverse streets, as the complex interlinkages between pollution, biodiversity and wellbeing have rarely been examined. Here, we used structural equation modelling to simultaneously test whether biodiversity (actual and perceived) mediates the relationship between traffic-related pollution (noise, dB; nitrogen dioxide, NO2) or air pollution (PM2.5) and wellbeing (mental wellbeing, happiness). In summer 2019, we conducted questionnaires and biodiversity surveys, and collected noise and air pollution data, from households (n = 282) across the streetscapes of Leeds, UK. Biodiversity (actual or perceived) showed no mediating effects. However, increased flowering plant richness was positively associated with mental wellbeing. Traffic-related pollution negatively affected pollinator and flowering plant richness, but not wellbeing. This could be because householders are not exposed to high levels of noise or NO2 because they do not maintain front gardens on noisier streets. There was no measurable effect of air pollution on biodiversity or wellbeing. These findings shed light on the complex mechanisms through which biodiversity could improve human wellbeing. Enhancing the diversity of plant species in streetscapes would have a positive effect on wellbeing, further emphasising the important role that biodiverse urban streetscapes play in improving the liveability of cities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jessica C Fisher
- Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology (DICE), School of Anthropology and Conservation, University of Kent, Canterbury, CT2 7NR, UK.
| | - Eleanor Rankin
- Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology (DICE), School of Anthropology and Conservation, University of Kent, Canterbury, CT2 7NR, UK
| | - Katherine N Irvine
- Social, Economic and Geographical Sciences Department, James Hutton Institute, Craigiebuckler, Aberdeen, AB15 8QH, UK
| | - Mark A Goddard
- Sustainability Research Institute, School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Zoe G Davies
- Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology (DICE), School of Anthropology and Conservation, University of Kent, Canterbury, CT2 7NR, UK
| | - Martin Dallimer
- Sustainability Research Institute, School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Jorat ME, Goddard MA, Manning P, Lau HK, Ngeow S, Sohi SP, Manning DAC. Passive CO 2 removal in urban soils: Evidence from brownfield sites. Sci Total Environ 2020; 703:135573. [PMID: 31771848 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.135573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2019] [Revised: 10/30/2019] [Accepted: 11/15/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Management of urban brownfield land can contribute to significant removal of atmospheric CO2 through the development of soil carbonate minerals. However, the potential magnitude and stability of this carbon sink is poorly quantified as previous studies address a limited range of conditions and short durations. Furthermore, the suitability of carbonate-sequestering soils for construction has not been investigated. To address these issues we measured total inorganic carbon, permeability and ground strength in the top 20 cm of soil at 20 brownfield sites in northern England, between 2015 and 2017. Across all sites accumulation occurred at a rate of 1-16 t C ha-1 yr-1, as calcite (CaCO3), corresponding to removal of approximately 4-59 t CO2 ha-1 yr-1, with the highest rate in the first 15 years after demolition. C and O stable isotope analysis of calcite confirms the atmospheric origin of the measured inorganic carbon. Statistical modelling found that pH and the content of fine materials (combined silt and clay content) were the best predictors of the total inorganic carbon content of the samples. Measurement of permeability shows that sites with carbonated soils possess a similar risk of run-off or flooding to sandy soils. Soil strength, measured as in-situ bearing capacity, increased with carbonation. These results demonstrate that the management of urban brownfield land to retain fine material derived from concrete crushing on site following demolition will promote calcite precipitation in soils, and so offers an additional CO2 removal mechanism, with no detrimental effect on drainage and possible improvements in strength. Given the large area of brownfield land that is available for development, the contribution of this process to CO2 removal by urban soils needs to be recognised in CO2 mitigation policies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M Ehsan Jorat
- School of Applied Sciences, Abertay University, United Kingdom; School of Natural & Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, United Kingdom.
| | - Mark A Goddard
- School of Natural & Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, United Kingdom; Department of Geography and Environmental Sciences, Northumbria University, United Kingdom
| | - Peter Manning
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Hiu Kwan Lau
- School of Natural & Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, United Kingdom
| | - Samuel Ngeow
- School of Natural & Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, United Kingdom
| | - Saran P Sohi
- School of GeoSciences, University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - David A C Manning
- School of Natural & Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
La Sorte FA, Lepczyk CA, Aronson MFJ, Goddard MA, Hedblom M, Katti M, MacGregor‐Fors I, Mörtberg U, Nilon CH, Warren PS, Williams NSG, Yang J. The phylogenetic and functional diversity of regional breeding bird assemblages is reduced and constricted through urbanization. DIVERS DISTRIB 2018. [DOI: 10.1111/ddi.12738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Myla F. J. Aronson
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources Rutgers The State University of New Jersey New Brunswick NJ USA
| | - Mark A. Goddard
- Sustainability Research Institute School of Earth and Environment University of Leeds UK
| | - Marcus Hedblom
- Department of Swedish Forest Resource Management Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences Umeå Sweden
| | - Madhusudan Katti
- Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources Chancellor's Faculty Excellence Program for Leadership in Public Science North Carolina State University Raleigh NC USA
| | - Ian MacGregor‐Fors
- Red de Ambiente y Sustentabilidad Instituto de Ecología A.C. (INECOL) Xalapa México
| | - Ulla Mörtberg
- Environmental Management and Assessment Research Group KTH Royal Institute of Technology Stockholm Sweden
| | - Charles H. Nilon
- School of Natural Resources University of Missouri Columbia MO USA
| | - Paige S. Warren
- Department of Environmental Conservation University of Massachusetts Amherst Amherst MA USA
| | | | - Jun Yang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Earth System Modeling Department of Earth System Science Tsinghua University Beijing China
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Lepczyk CA, Aronson MFJ, Evans KL, Goddard MA, Lerman SB, MacIvor JS. Biodiversity in the City: Fundamental Questions for Understanding the Ecology of Urban Green Spaces for Biodiversity Conservation. Bioscience 2017. [DOI: 10.1093/biosci/bix079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 266] [Impact Index Per Article: 38.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
|
5
|
Aronson MFJ, Nilon CH, Lepczyk CA, Parker TS, Warren PS, Cilliers SS, Goddard MA, Hahs AK, Herzog C, Katti M, La Sorte FA, Williams NSG, Zipperer W. Hierarchical filters determine community assembly of urban species pools. Ecology 2017; 97:2952-2963. [PMID: 27870023 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.1535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 188] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2016] [Revised: 05/30/2016] [Accepted: 07/05/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The majority of humanity now lives in cities or towns, with this proportion expected to continue increasing for the foreseeable future. As novel ecosystems, urban areas offer an ideal opportunity to examine multi-scalar processes involved in community assembly as well as the role of human activities in modulating environmental drivers of biodiversity. Although ecologists have made great strides in recent decades at documenting ecological relationships in urban areas, much remains unknown, and we still need to identify the major ecological factors, aside from habitat loss, behind the persistence or extinction of species and guilds of species in cities. Given this paucity of knowledge, there is an immediate need to facilitate collaborative, interdisciplinary research on the patterns and drivers of biodiversity in cities at multiple spatial scales. In this review, we introduce a new conceptual framework for understanding the filtering processes that mold diversity of urban floras and faunas. We hypothesize that the following hierarchical series of filters influence species distributions in cities: (1) regional climatic and biogeographical factors; (2) human facilitation; (3) urban form and development history; (4) socioeconomic and cultural factors; and (5) species interactions. In addition to these filters, life history and functional traits of species are important in determining community assembly and act at multiple spatial scales. Using these filters as a conceptual framework can help frame future research needed to elucidate processes of community assembly in urban areas. Understanding how humans influence community structure and processes will aid in the management, design, and planning of our cities to best support biodiversity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Myla F J Aronson
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Natural Resources, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, New Jersey, 08901, USA
| | - Charles H Nilon
- School of Natural Resources, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, 65211, USA
| | - Christopher A Lepczyk
- School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama, 36849, USA
| | - Tommy S Parker
- Ecological Research Center, The University of Memphis, Memphis, Tennessee, 38152, USA
| | - Paige S Warren
- Department of Environmental Conservation, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts, 01003, USA
| | - Sarel S Cilliers
- Unit of Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom, 2520, South Africa
| | - Mark A Goddard
- School of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK
| | - Amy K Hahs
- Australian Research Centre for Urban Ecology, Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, c/o School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Cecilia Herzog
- Department of Architecture and Urbanism, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, 22451-900, Brazil
| | - Madhusudan Katti
- Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources, Chancellor's Faculty Excellence Program for Leadership in Public Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, 27695, USA
| | - Frank A La Sorte
- Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, 14850, USA
| | - Nicholas S G Williams
- Australian Research Centre for Urban Ecology, Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, c/o School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, 3010, Australia.,School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Richmond, Victoria, 3121, Australia
| | - Wayne Zipperer
- USDA Forest Service Southern Research Station, Gainesville, Florida, 32611, USA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Nilon CH, Aronson MFJ, Cilliers SS, Dobbs C, Frazee LJ, Goddard MA, O’Neill KM, Roberts D, Stander EK, Werner P, Winter M, Yocom KP. Planning for the Future of Urban Biodiversity: A Global Review of City-Scale Initiatives. Bioscience 2017. [DOI: 10.1093/biosci/bix012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
|
7
|
Gunton RM, van Asperen EN, Basden A, Bookless D, Araya Y, Hanson DR, Goddard MA, Otieno G, Jones GO. Beyond Ecosystem Services: Valuing the Invaluable. Trends Ecol Evol 2017; 32:249-257. [PMID: 28214039 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2017.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2016] [Revised: 12/30/2016] [Accepted: 01/11/2017] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The ecosystem services framework (ESF) is advantageous and widely used for itemising and quantifying ways in which humans benefit from natural places. However, it suffers from two important problems: (i) incoherence of definitions and (ii) a narrow approach to valuation, inadequate to represent the full range of human motives for conservation and the diverse interests of different stakeholders. These shortcomings can lead to a range of problems including double-counting, blind spots and unintended consequences. In this opinion article, we propose an ecosystem valuing framework as a broader and more rigorous way to deliver the benefits currently sought from the ESF, without the conceptual problems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Richard M Gunton
- School of Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK; West Yorkshire School of Christian Studies, Outwood House, Leeds LS18 4JN, UK.
| | | | - Andrew Basden
- Salford Business School, University of Salford, Salford M5 4WT, UK
| | - David Bookless
- A Rocha International, 89 Worship Street, London EC2A 2BF, UK; Faculty of Divinity, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB3 9BS, UK
| | - Yoseph Araya
- School of Environment Earth & Ecosystems, Open University, Milton Keynes, Milton Keynes MK7 6AA, UK
| | - David R Hanson
- West Yorkshire School of Christian Studies, Outwood House, Leeds LS18 4JN, UK
| | - Mark A Goddard
- School of Civil Engineering & Geosciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UK
| | - George Otieno
- School of Arts & Communication, Leeds Trinity University, Horsforth, Leeds LS18 5HD, UK
| | - Gareth O Jones
- West Yorkshire School of Christian Studies, Outwood House, Leeds LS18 4JN, UK
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Affiliation(s)
- Deepa Senapathi
- Centre for Agri‐Environmental Research School of Agriculture Policy & Development University of Reading ReadingRG6 6AR UK
| | - Mark A. Goddard
- School of Civil Engineering and Geosciences Newcastle University Newcastle upon TyneNE1 7RU UK
| | | | - Katherine C. R. Baldock
- School of Biological Sciences University of Bristol BristolBS8 1TQ UK
- Cabot Institute University of Bristol Royal Fort House BristolBS8 1UJ UK
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Ouvrard P, Hicks DM, Mouland M, Nicholls JA, Baldock KCR, Goddard MA, Kunin WE, Potts SG, Thieme T, Veromann E, Stone GN. Molecular taxonomic analysis of the plant associations of adult pollen beetles (Nitidulidae: Meligethinae), and the population structure of Brassicogethes aeneus. Genome 2016; 59:1101-1116. [PMID: 27824505 DOI: 10.1139/gen-2016-0020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Pollen beetles (Nitidulidae: Meligethinae) are among the most abundant flower-visiting insects in Europe. While some species damage millions of hectares of crops annually, the biology of many species is little known. We assessed the utility of a 797 base pair fragment of the cytochrome oxidase 1 gene to resolve molecular operational taxonomic units (MOTUs) in 750 adult pollen beetles sampled from flowers of 63 plant species sampled across the UK and continental Europe. We used the same locus to analyse region-scale patterns in population structure and demography in an economically important pest, Brassicogethes aeneus. We identified 44 Meligethinae at ∼2% divergence, 35 of which contained published sequences. A few specimens could not be identified because the MOTUs containing them included published sequences for multiple Linnaean species, suggesting either retention of ancestral haplotype polymorphism or identification errors in published sequences. Over 90% of UK specimens were identifiable as B. aeneus. Plant associations of adult B. aeneus were found to be far wider taxonomically than for their larvae. UK B. aeneus populations showed contrasting affiliations between the north (most similar to Scandinavia and the Baltic) and south (most similar to western continental Europe), with strong signatures of population growth in the south.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pierre Ouvrard
- a Institute of Evolutionary Biology, University of Edinburgh, Kings Buildings, Charlotte Auerbach Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JT, UK.,b Earth and Life Institute - Agronomy, Université catholique de Louvain, Place Croix du Sud 2, 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | - Damien M Hicks
- a Institute of Evolutionary Biology, University of Edinburgh, Kings Buildings, Charlotte Auerbach Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JT, UK
| | - Molly Mouland
- a Institute of Evolutionary Biology, University of Edinburgh, Kings Buildings, Charlotte Auerbach Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JT, UK
| | - James A Nicholls
- a Institute of Evolutionary Biology, University of Edinburgh, Kings Buildings, Charlotte Auerbach Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JT, UK
| | - Katherine C R Baldock
- c School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, 24 Tyndall Avenue, Bristol, BS8 1TQUG, UK.,d Cabot Institute, University of Bristol, Woodland Road, Bristol, BS8 1UJ, UK
| | - Mark A Goddard
- e School of Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
| | - William E Kunin
- e School of Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Simon G Potts
- f Centre for Agri-Environmental Research, School of Agriculture, Policy and Development, University of Reading, Reading, RG6 6AR, UK
| | - Thomas Thieme
- g BTL Bio-Test Labor GmbH Sagerheide, Kirchstrasse 3, D-18184 Thulendorf, Germany
| | - Eve Veromann
- h Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Kreutzwaldi 1, Tartu 51014, Estonia
| | - Graham N Stone
- a Institute of Evolutionary Biology, University of Edinburgh, Kings Buildings, Charlotte Auerbach Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JT, UK
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Hicks DM, Ouvrard P, Baldock KCR, Baude M, Goddard MA, Kunin WE, Mitschunas N, Memmott J, Morse H, Nikolitsi M, Osgathorpe LM, Potts SG, Robertson KM, Scott AV, Sinclair F, Westbury DB, Stone GN. Food for Pollinators: Quantifying the Nectar and Pollen Resources of Urban Flower Meadows. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0158117. [PMID: 27341588 PMCID: PMC4920406 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0158117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2015] [Accepted: 06/12/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Planted meadows are increasingly used to improve the biodiversity and aesthetic amenity value of urban areas. Although many ‘pollinator-friendly’ seed mixes are available, the floral resources these provide to flower-visiting insects, and how these change through time, are largely unknown. Such data are necessary to compare the resources provided by alternative meadow seed mixes to each other and to other flowering habitats. We used quantitative surveys of over 2 million flowers to estimate the nectar and pollen resources offered by two exemplar commercial seed mixes (one annual, one perennial) and associated weeds grown as 300m2 meadows across four UK cities, sampled at six time points between May and September 2013. Nectar sugar and pollen rewards per flower varied widely across 65 species surveyed, with native British weed species (including dandelion, Taraxacum agg.) contributing the top five nectar producers and two of the top ten pollen producers. Seed mix species yielding the highest rewards per flower included Leontodon hispidus, Centaurea cyanus and C. nigra for nectar, and Papaver rhoeas, Eschscholzia californica and Malva moschata for pollen. Perennial meadows produced up to 20x more nectar and up to 6x more pollen than annual meadows, which in turn produced far more than amenity grassland controls. Perennial meadows produced resources earlier in the year than annual meadows, but both seed mixes delivered very low resource levels early in the year and these were provided almost entirely by native weeds. Pollen volume per flower is well predicted statistically by floral morphology, and nectar sugar mass and pollen volume per unit area are correlated with flower counts, raising the possibility that resource levels can be estimated for species or habitats where they cannot be measured directly. Our approach does not incorporate resource quality information (for example, pollen protein or essential amino acid content), but can easily do so when suitable data exist. Our approach should inform the design of new seed mixes to ensure continuity in floral resource availability throughout the year, and to identify suitable species to fill resource gaps in established mixes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Damien M. Hicks
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, University of Edinburgh, Kings Buildings, Charlotte Auerbach Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JT, United Kingdom
| | - Pierre Ouvrard
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, University of Edinburgh, Kings Buildings, Charlotte Auerbach Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JT, United Kingdom
- Earth and Life Institute - Agronomy, Université catholique de Louvain, Place Croix du Sud 2, 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | - Katherine C. R. Baldock
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, 24 Tyndall Avenue, Bristol, BS8 1TQUG, United Kingdom
- Cabot Institute, University of Bristol, Woodland Road, Bristol, BS8 1UJ, United Kingdom
| | - Mathilde Baude
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, 24 Tyndall Avenue, Bristol, BS8 1TQUG, United Kingdom
- Collegium Sciences et Techniques, EA 1207 LBLGC, Université d’Orléans, 45067, Orléans, France
| | - Mark A. Goddard
- School of Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, United Kingdom
| | - William E. Kunin
- School of Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, United Kingdom
| | - Nadine Mitschunas
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, 24 Tyndall Avenue, Bristol, BS8 1TQUG, United Kingdom
- Centre for Agri-Environmental Research, School of Agriculture, Policy and Development, University of Reading, Reading, RG6 6AR, United Kingdom
| | - Jane Memmott
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, 24 Tyndall Avenue, Bristol, BS8 1TQUG, United Kingdom
- Cabot Institute, University of Bristol, Woodland Road, Bristol, BS8 1UJ, United Kingdom
| | - Helen Morse
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, 24 Tyndall Avenue, Bristol, BS8 1TQUG, United Kingdom
| | - Maria Nikolitsi
- School of Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, United Kingdom
| | - Lynne M. Osgathorpe
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, 24 Tyndall Avenue, Bristol, BS8 1TQUG, United Kingdom
| | - Simon G. Potts
- Centre for Agri-Environmental Research, School of Agriculture, Policy and Development, University of Reading, Reading, RG6 6AR, United Kingdom
| | | | - Anna V. Scott
- Centre for Agri-Environmental Research, School of Agriculture, Policy and Development, University of Reading, Reading, RG6 6AR, United Kingdom
| | - Frazer Sinclair
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, University of Edinburgh, Kings Buildings, Charlotte Auerbach Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JT, United Kingdom
- Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, Gola Rainforest National Park, Kenema, Sierra Leone
| | - Duncan B. Westbury
- Institute of Science & the Environment, The University of Worcester, Henwick Grove, Worcester, WR2 6AJ, United Kingdom
| | - Graham N. Stone
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, University of Edinburgh, Kings Buildings, Charlotte Auerbach Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JT, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Baldock KCR, Goddard MA, Hicks DM, Kunin WE, Mitschunas N, Osgathorpe LM, Potts SG, Robertson KM, Scott AV, Stone GN, Vaughan IP, Memmott J. Where is the UK's pollinator biodiversity? The importance of urban areas for flower-visiting insects. Proc Biol Sci 2015; 282:20142849. [PMID: 25673686 PMCID: PMC4345454 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2014.2849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 204] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2014] [Accepted: 01/07/2015] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Insect pollinators provide a crucial ecosystem service, but are under threat. Urban areas could be important for pollinators, though their value relative to other habitats is poorly known. We compared pollinator communities using quantified flower-visitation networks in 36 sites (each 1 km(2)) in three landscapes: urban, farmland and nature reserves. Overall, flower-visitor abundance and species richness did not differ significantly between the three landscape types. Bee abundance did not differ between landscapes, but bee species richness was higher in urban areas than farmland. Hoverfly abundance was higher in farmland and nature reserves than urban sites, but species richness did not differ significantly. While urban pollinator assemblages were more homogeneous across space than those in farmland or nature reserves, there was no significant difference in the numbers of rarer species between the three landscapes. Network-level specialization was higher in farmland than urban sites. Relative to other habitats, urban visitors foraged from a greater number of plant species (higher generality) but also visited a lower proportion of available plant species (higher specialization), both possibly driven by higher urban plant richness. Urban areas are growing, and improving their value for pollinators should be part of any national strategy to conserve and restore pollinators.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Katherine C R Baldock
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Life Sciences Building, Bristol BS8 1TQ, UK Cabot Institute, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1UJ, UK
| | - Mark A Goddard
- School of Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK School of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UK
| | - Damien M Hicks
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, University of Edinburgh, Kings Buildings, Edinburgh EH9 3JT, UK
| | | | - Nadine Mitschunas
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Life Sciences Building, Bristol BS8 1TQ, UK School of Agriculture, Policy and Development, University of Reading, Reading RG6 6AR, UK
| | - Lynne M Osgathorpe
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Life Sciences Building, Bristol BS8 1TQ, UK
| | - Simon G Potts
- School of Agriculture, Policy and Development, University of Reading, Reading RG6 6AR, UK
| | | | - Anna V Scott
- School of Agriculture, Policy and Development, University of Reading, Reading RG6 6AR, UK
| | - Graham N Stone
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, University of Edinburgh, Kings Buildings, Edinburgh EH9 3JT, UK
| | - Ian P Vaughan
- Cardiff School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Museum Avenue, Cardiff CF10 3AX, UK
| | - Jane Memmott
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Life Sciences Building, Bristol BS8 1TQ, UK Cabot Institute, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1UJ, UK
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Aronson MFJ, La Sorte FA, Nilon CH, Katti M, Goddard MA, Lepczyk CA, Warren PS, Williams NSG, Cilliers S, Clarkson B, Dobbs C, Dolan R, Hedblom M, Klotz S, Kooijmans JL, Kühn I, Macgregor-Fors I, McDonnell M, Mörtberg U, Pysek P, Siebert S, Sushinsky J, Werner P, Winter M. A global analysis of the impacts of urbanization on bird and plant diversity reveals key anthropogenic drivers. Proc Biol Sci 2014; 281:20133330. [PMID: 24523278 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2013.3330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 478] [Impact Index Per Article: 47.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Urbanization contributes to the loss of the world's biodiversity and the homogenization of its biota. However, comparative studies of urban biodiversity leading to robust generalities of the status and drivers of biodiversity in cities at the global scale are lacking. Here, we compiled the largest global dataset to date of two diverse taxa in cities: birds (54 cities) and plants (110 cities). We found that the majority of urban bird and plant species are native in the world's cities. Few plants and birds are cosmopolitan, the most common being Columba livia and Poa annua. The density of bird and plant species (the number of species per km(2)) has declined substantially: only 8% of native bird and 25% of native plant species are currently present compared with estimates of non-urban density of species. The current density of species in cities and the loss in density of species was best explained by anthropogenic features (landcover, city age) rather than by non-anthropogenic factors (geography, climate, topography). As urbanization continues to expand, efforts directed towards the conservation of intact vegetation within urban landscapes could support higher concentrations of both bird and plant species. Despite declines in the density of species, cities still retain endemic native species, thus providing opportunities for regional and global biodiversity conservation, restoration and education.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Myla F J Aronson
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, , New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA, Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, , Ithaca, NY 14850, USA, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences, University of Missouri, , Columbia, MO 65211, USA, Department of Biology, California State University, , Fresno, CA 93740, USA, School of Biology, University of Leeds, , Leeds LS2 9JT, UK, Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, , Honolulu, HI 96822, USA, Department of Environmental Conservation, University of Massachusetts at Amherst, , Amherst, MA 01003, USA, School of Land and Environment, Department of Resource Management and Geography, The University of Melbourne, , 500 Yarra Boulevard, Richmond, Victoria 3070, Australia, Australian Research Centre for Urban Ecology, Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne, c/o School of Botany, The University of Melbourne, , Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia, Unit of Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University, , Private Bag X6001, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa, Environmental Research Institute, University of Waikato, , Private Bag 3105, Hamilton 3240, New Zealand, School of Botany and School of Land and Environment, The University of Melbourne, , Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia, Friesner Herbarium, Butler University, , 4600 Sunset Avenue, Indianapolis, IN 46208, USA, Department of Forest Resource Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, , Umeå 901 83, Sweden, Department Community Ecology, Helmholtz Centre of Environmental Research-UFZ, , Theodor-Lieser-Strasse 4, Halle 06120, Germany, Vogelbescherming Nederland, , Boulevard 12, B3707 BM, Zeist, The Netherlands, Red de Ambiente y Sustentabilidad, Instituto de Ecología, , A.C. Antigua carretera a Coatepec 351, El Haya, Xalapa 91070, México, Environmental Management and Assessment Research Group, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, , Stockholm 100 44, Sw
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
13
|
|
14
|
Goddard MA, Dougill AJ, Benton TG. Scaling up from gardens: biodiversity conservation in urban environments. Trends Ecol Evol 2010; 25:90-8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2009.07.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 719] [Impact Index Per Article: 51.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2009] [Revised: 07/10/2009] [Accepted: 07/15/2009] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
|
15
|
Young WW, Bracken AC, Goddard MA, Matheson S. Sexual assault: review of a national model protocol for forensic and medical evaluation. New Hampshire Sexual Assault Medical Examination Protocol Project Committee. Obstet Gynecol 1992; 80:878-83. [PMID: 1407933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
A national hospital/community model protocol was developed for the forensic and medical examination of victims of sexual assault. This review is designed to assist states in the development of sexual assault protocols. Controversial issues were addressed, including the collection of hair evidence, the importance of semen, mandatory reporting, pregnancy testing and prophylaxis, and sexually transmitted diseases including human immunodeficiency virus. The current role of DNA profiling is reviewed. These issues at the interface of medicine, forensic science, victim advocacy, and the law are analyzed. Representatives of the medical, legal, law enforcement, victim advocacy, and forensic science communities contributed to the development of the protocols at the national and state levels. The importance of a collaborative effort is emphasized. The broad protocol goals are to minimize the physical and psychological trauma to the victim while maximizing the probability of collecting and preserving physical evidence for potential use in the legal system.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- W W Young
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, New Hampshire
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|