Small-scale land use effects on plant communities in Mediterranean urban ecosystems
The spatial configuration of urban landscapes, characterized by complex mosaics of fragmented patches subjected to different land uses, shapes biodiversity and, therefore, affects ecosystem stability and functioning. The present study focuses on evaluating the small scale variations of vegetation st...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2025-01-01
|
| Series: | Ecological Indicators |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X24015085 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1832576564025360384 |
|---|---|
| author | Vincenzo Baldi Alessandro Bellino Daniela Baldantoni |
| author_facet | Vincenzo Baldi Alessandro Bellino Daniela Baldantoni |
| author_sort | Vincenzo Baldi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The spatial configuration of urban landscapes, characterized by complex mosaics of fragmented patches subjected to different land uses, shapes biodiversity and, therefore, affects ecosystem stability and functioning. The present study focuses on evaluating the small scale variations of vegetation structural and functional biodiversity in Mediterranean urban ecosystems, in relation to land use and fragmentation. For the structural biodiversity, taxa were identified at the species level, estimating their abundance through several measures (number, dry mass, Braun-Blanquet cover), whereas functional traits (biological form, chorological type, Ellenberg indices) were adopted in evaluating vegetation functional diversity. Data analysis relied on the derivation of synthetic structural and functional diversity indices, employed together with community composition and species abundances in ascertaining how land use (pathways, lawns, tree rows) and margin effect (distance from interfaces) drive the diversity of plant communities. Overall, results indicate a remarkable heterogeneity of plant communities, even at scales in the order of few meters, with land use and margin effect differentially affecting their structural and functional biodiversity. The main drivers of biodiversity appear to be a combination of anthropogenic pressures (e.g. trampling/soil sealing) and the presence/absence of canopy shading, determining higher abundances of therophytes (especially Asteraceae and Poaceae) in open and trampled spaces and a proportional increase in hemichryptophytes under canopies. Findings suggest a large leeway in enhancing biodiversity and environmental heterogeneity in urban ecosystems through sustainable land planning, focusing on the type and spatial arrangement of green areas. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a0f75cb017934f58a9d81499471950e6 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1470-160X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecological Indicators |
| spelling | doaj-art-a0f75cb017934f58a9d81499471950e62025-01-31T05:10:41ZengElsevierEcological Indicators1470-160X2025-01-01170113051Small-scale land use effects on plant communities in Mediterranean urban ecosystemsVincenzo Baldi0Alessandro Bellino1Daniela Baldantoni2Department of Chemistry and Biology “Adolfo Zambelli”, University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II, 132, 84084, Fisciano (SA), Italy; National Biodiversity Future Center (NBFC), Piazza Marina, 61, 90133, Palermo, ItalyDepartment of Chemistry and Biology “Adolfo Zambelli”, University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II, 132, 84084, Fisciano (SA), Italy; Corresponding author.Department of Chemistry and Biology “Adolfo Zambelli”, University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II, 132, 84084, Fisciano (SA), Italy; National Biodiversity Future Center (NBFC), Piazza Marina, 61, 90133, Palermo, ItalyThe spatial configuration of urban landscapes, characterized by complex mosaics of fragmented patches subjected to different land uses, shapes biodiversity and, therefore, affects ecosystem stability and functioning. The present study focuses on evaluating the small scale variations of vegetation structural and functional biodiversity in Mediterranean urban ecosystems, in relation to land use and fragmentation. For the structural biodiversity, taxa were identified at the species level, estimating their abundance through several measures (number, dry mass, Braun-Blanquet cover), whereas functional traits (biological form, chorological type, Ellenberg indices) were adopted in evaluating vegetation functional diversity. Data analysis relied on the derivation of synthetic structural and functional diversity indices, employed together with community composition and species abundances in ascertaining how land use (pathways, lawns, tree rows) and margin effect (distance from interfaces) drive the diversity of plant communities. Overall, results indicate a remarkable heterogeneity of plant communities, even at scales in the order of few meters, with land use and margin effect differentially affecting their structural and functional biodiversity. The main drivers of biodiversity appear to be a combination of anthropogenic pressures (e.g. trampling/soil sealing) and the presence/absence of canopy shading, determining higher abundances of therophytes (especially Asteraceae and Poaceae) in open and trampled spaces and a proportional increase in hemichryptophytes under canopies. Findings suggest a large leeway in enhancing biodiversity and environmental heterogeneity in urban ecosystems through sustainable land planning, focusing on the type and spatial arrangement of green areas.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X24015085Urban grasslandSustainabilityMargin effectLand useBiodiversityMediterranean area |
| spellingShingle | Vincenzo Baldi Alessandro Bellino Daniela Baldantoni Small-scale land use effects on plant communities in Mediterranean urban ecosystems Ecological Indicators Urban grassland Sustainability Margin effect Land use Biodiversity Mediterranean area |
| title | Small-scale land use effects on plant communities in Mediterranean urban ecosystems |
| title_full | Small-scale land use effects on plant communities in Mediterranean urban ecosystems |
| title_fullStr | Small-scale land use effects on plant communities in Mediterranean urban ecosystems |
| title_full_unstemmed | Small-scale land use effects on plant communities in Mediterranean urban ecosystems |
| title_short | Small-scale land use effects on plant communities in Mediterranean urban ecosystems |
| title_sort | small scale land use effects on plant communities in mediterranean urban ecosystems |
| topic | Urban grassland Sustainability Margin effect Land use Biodiversity Mediterranean area |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X24015085 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT vincenzobaldi smallscalelanduseeffectsonplantcommunitiesinmediterraneanurbanecosystems AT alessandrobellino smallscalelanduseeffectsonplantcommunitiesinmediterraneanurbanecosystems AT danielabaldantoni smallscalelanduseeffectsonplantcommunitiesinmediterraneanurbanecosystems |