Species richness of urban forest patches and implications for urban landscape diversity

An urban landscape can be considered as a background environment that influences humans’ movements at various scales in the city. This research is oriented to the study of the interactions between urban forest patches and their degree of influence and attractions on humans’ behaviors and interactions. The objective is to evaluate the relations between individuals’ movements and the city space nearby natural landscapes, and also to question spatial practices in the city. Forest patches are modelled according to a structural approach at the city level, while Space syntax principles have been applied and compared to in situ movements as experimentally observed. A statistical analysis complements the configurational analysis by highlighting correlations between structural properties and human movements. The whole approach is applied to the Bir El Bey Forest of the Tunisian city of Hammam Chatt in order to explore the interaction between the built and natural landscapes at different levels of scale. The findings exhibit the respective effects of the urban network and natural landscape on the urban space, and how such spaces are appropriated by Hammam Chatt inhabitants and users. Finally, the results propose a generic framework analysis for the study of the relations between humans and urban structure and landscape preferences and that offers novel perspectives for urban planning.

Download Full-text

Study on Urban Landscape Green Space -- A Case Study of Longquanshan Park

E3S Web of Conferences ◽

10.1051/e3sconf/202127201002 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 272 ◽

pp. 01002

Author(s):

Huan Dai ◽

Wei Li ◽

Yan Zeng ◽

Xinyang Zhang

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Urban Landscape ◽

Diversity Index ◽

Evergreen Species ◽

Forest Park ◽

Shrub Layer ◽

Tree Layer ◽

Deciduous Shrubs ◽

Forest Parks ◽

Richness Index

Studying on Qinglongshan Forest Park in Wuhan by typical plot method, 15 typical plots in the park were investigated, and the species richness index, diversity index, evenness index, frequency and important value index were calculated. The results showed that there were 139 species of woody plants belonging to 46 families and 97 genera, including 41 species of evergreen trees, 32 species of deciduous trees, 62 species of evergreen shrubs, 25 species of deciduous shrubs, and 4 species of bamboo belonging to 1 family, 3 genera. Species richness index and Simpson diversity index were all expressed as tree layer > shrub layer, evergreen species > deciduous species. Pielou evenness was tree layer > shrub layer. This study can provide some reference for understanding the existing plant status of forest parks, carrying out science popularization, scientific research, protection and improvement of forest landscape quality.

Download Full-text

Structure, Diversity, and Carbon Stocks of the Tree Community of Kumasi, Ghana

Forests ◽

10.3390/f9090519 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 9 (9) ◽

pp. 519 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Bertrand Nero ◽

Daniel Callo-Concha ◽

Manfred Denich

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Species Richness ◽

Forest Cover ◽

Biological Diversity ◽

Urban Forest ◽

Urban Forestry ◽

Sampling Technique ◽

Total Carbon ◽

Mitigation And Adaptation ◽

Structure Diversity

Urban forestry has the potential to address many urban environmental and sustainability challenges. Yet in Africa, urban forest characterization and its potential to contribute to human wellbeing are often neglected or restrained. This paper describes the structure, diversity, and composition of an urban forest and its potential to store carbon as a means of climate change mitigation and adaptation in Kumasi. The vegetation inventory included a survey of 470,100-m2 plots based on a stratified random sampling technique and six streets ranging from 50 m to 1 km. A total of 3757 trees, comprising 176 species and 46 families, were enumerated. Tree abundance and species richness were left skewed and unimodally distributed based on diameter at breast height (DBH). Trees in the diameter classes >60 cm together had the lowest species richness (17%) and abundance (9%), yet contributed more than 50% of the total carbon stored in trees within the city. Overall, about 1.2 million tonnes of carbon is captured in aboveground components of trees in Kumasi, with a mean of 228 t C ha−1. Tree density, DBH, height, basal area, aboveground carbon storage, and species richness were significantly different among green spaces (p < 0.05). The diversity was also significantly different among urban zones (p < 0.0005). The DBH distribution of trees followed a modified reverse J-shaped model. The urban forest structure and composition is quite unique. The practice of urban forestry has the potential to conserve biological diversity and combat climate change. The introduction of policies and actions to support the expansion of urban forest cover and diversity is widely encouraged.

Download Full-text

The effect of altitude, patch size and disturbance on species richness and density of lianas in montane forest patches

Acta Oecologica ◽

10.1016/j.actao.2017.06.004 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 83 ◽

pp. 1-14 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Dharmalingam Mohandass ◽

Mason J. Campbell ◽

Alice C. Hughes ◽

Christos Mammides ◽

Priya Davidar

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Patch Size ◽

Montane Forest ◽

Forest Patches

Download Full-text

Landscape-scale drivers of mammalian species richness and functional diversity in forest patches within a mixed land-use mosaic

Ecological Indicators ◽

10.1016/j.ecolind.2020.106176 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 113 ◽

pp. 106176

Author(s):

Yvette C. Ehlers Smith ◽

David A. Ehlers Smith ◽

Tharmalingam Ramesh ◽

Colleen T. Downs

Keyword(s):

Land Use ◽

Species Richness ◽

Functional Diversity ◽

Mammalian Species ◽

Landscape Scale ◽

Forest Patches ◽

Mixed Land Use

Download Full-text

Bird assemblages in wildlife habitat strips in a Tasmanian plantation matrix

Pacific Conservation Biology ◽

10.1071/pc020082 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 8 (2) ◽

pp. 82 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Michael A. MacDonald ◽

Robert J. Taylor ◽

Steven G. Candy

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Bird Species ◽

Wildlife Habitat ◽

Native Forest ◽

Total Abundance ◽

Forest Patches ◽

Bird Species Richness ◽

Linear Forest ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Production Forests

In Tasmania, a system of 100 m wide strips of native forest, referred to as wildlife habitat strips, is retained within production forest, including plantations. Thirty-nine points in 18 wildlife habitat strips within both eucalypt and pine plantations (which were not differentiated for the purposes of the present study) were paired with points in nearby extensive native forest and surveyed for birds. At non-riparian sites (upper slopes and ridges), bird species richness and total abundance were both significantly lower in habitat strips than in controls. This difference is quantitative rather than qualitative, as ordination did not distinguish strip sites and controls, and no species were obviously absent from habitat strips. Riparian zones showed no significant difference in species richness and total abundance between habitat strips and controls. Species richness and total abundance relative to controls increased as wildlife habitat strip length increased over the measured range (0.4-2.1 km). It is thought that this may be because birds perceive strips as linear forest patches rather than corridors, so that there may be a habitat area effect. Other strip characteristics such as width and plantation age were not significant in riparian areas, but may be important on upper slopes and ridges, and the former will affect strip area. Wildlife habitat strips appear to be a valuable component of a conservation programme for birds in production forests in Tasmania.

Download Full-text