Homogenization of tree species diversity in urban green spaces along a temperature gradient in eastern China

Nagpur is rapidly urbanizing, and in the process witnessing decline in its green status which is one of the identities of the city. The study aims to understand the current species diversity, composition and structure in different classes of greens prevalent in the city. As urban green spaces (UGS) are also reservoirs of carbon stock, the study estimates their biomass. Through rigorous field work, data were collected from 246 sample plots across various UGS classes as pre-stratification. Then the biomass was estimated using non-destructive method with species-specific equation. The diversity of tree species recorded in UGS varies, with high diversity recorded in avenue plantation and institutional compounds. The overall variation in species composition among UGS classes was 36.8%. While in managed greens the species composition was similar, in institutional greens and forest it was different. Particularly, in forest the evenness was high with low diversity and low species richness. The structural distribution indicate lack of old trees in the city, with high number of tree species between diameter classes of 10–40 cm. Biomass was recorded high in road-side plantations (335 t ha−1) and playgrounds (324 t ha−1), and trees with bigger girth size where the main contributors. The dominant species indicates that high growth rate, tolerance to drought and pollution are the key attributes considered for species selection by local authorities. Though the city holds green image, vegetation along the avenues and institutions are stressed, exposed, and threatened by felling activities for grey infrastructure expansions. In such scenario, protection and preservation of older trees is crucial to maintain the carbon stock of the city. In addition, local authorities need to focus on effective afforestation programs through public participation to achieve high survival rate and reduce the maintenance cost. For species selection in addition to phenology and growth rate, tree biomass and life span needs to be considered to significantly enhance the urban environment and increase the benefits derived from UGS.

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Thrips species diversity in urban green spaces of Hangzhou (Zhejiang Province), China

Journal of Entomological and Acarological Research ◽

10.4081/jear.2014.1828 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 46 (3) ◽

pp. 85 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

M. Mirab-balou ◽

X.L. Tong ◽

X.X. Chen

Keyword(s):

Species Diversity ◽

Plant Communities ◽

Zhejiang Province ◽

Green Spaces ◽

Urban Green ◽

Urban Green Spaces ◽

Thrips Species ◽

Green Areas ◽

The City ◽

New Distribution

Research was conducted on the fauna of Thysanoptera in the urban green spaces of Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China, during 2008- 2012. The thrips were collected in different plant communities (mainly in parks) in the city. A total of 26 species from 19 genera in three different families were collected, among them Scolothrips latipennis Priesner, which is newly recorded for the fauna of China. New distribution records of seven species in China are reported. Results of the research indicate that the fauna of thrips of green areas of Hangzhou was quite abundant and diversified, and the occurrence of Selenothrips, Scirtothrips, Thrips, Frankliniella and Haplothrips species seems diverse and should be investigated further.

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Noise and tree species richness modulate the bird community inhabiting small public urban green spaces of a Neotropical city

Urban Ecosystems ◽

10.1007/s11252-020-01021-2 ◽

2020 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Beatriz Ferreira da Silva ◽

João Carlos Pena ◽

Arleu Barbosa Viana-Junior ◽

Matheus Vergne ◽

Marco Aurélio Pizo

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Tree Species ◽

Bird Community ◽

Green Spaces ◽

Urban Green ◽

Urban Green Spaces ◽

Tree Species Richness

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Effects of Seasonality, Tree Species and Urban Green Space on Deciduous Leaf Litter Decomposition in Lithuania

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su12062210 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (6) ◽

pp. 2210

Author(s):

Tadas Vaidelys ◽

Lina Straigytė ◽

Michael Manton

Keyword(s):

Leaf Litter ◽

Litter Decomposition ◽

Tree Species ◽

Urban Environments ◽

Green Spaces ◽

Leaf Litter Decomposition ◽

Ecological Processes ◽

Organic C ◽

Urban Green ◽

Urban Green Spaces

Understanding ecological processes and environmental change in different urban green spaces is an important challenge to secure human well-being. The variety of urban green spaces provides a platform to generate knowledge on how urban environments affect tree leaf decomposition and quality. We measured the leaf litter decomposition of four dominant native deciduous tree species from five different urban green spaces over three time periods in Kaunas, Lithuania. Using the modified litter bag technique, we calculated the decomposition of 60 leaf litter samples for 4, 8, and 12 months respectively. For each leaf litter sample, we determined total N, total P, and organic C. Results indicated that the decomposition of leaf litter amongst tree species, urban green spaces and seasonality (time) were significantly different. The leaf litter of Betula pendula and Acer platanoides from street green spaces decomposed fastest during the spring-summer period. Quercus robur showed small but significant leaf litter loss differences between the green spaces, with the leaf litter from peri-urban forest decomposing the fastest. A decreased C:N ratio for Q. robur leaf litter showed accelerated leaf litter decay. In conclusion, our results show that the ecological processes of leaf litter decomposition, differs between tree species, type of urban green spaces and seasonality and thus must be considered in urban town planning to help maintain urban environments.

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A step towards understanding the relationship between species diversity and psychological restoration of visitors in urban green spaces using landscape heterogeneity

Landscape and Urban Planning ◽

10.1016/j.landurbplan.2019.103728 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 195 ◽

pp. 103728 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Alice Meyer-Grandbastien ◽

Françoise Burel ◽

Emmanuelle Hellier ◽

Benjamin Bergerot

Keyword(s):

Species Diversity ◽

Landscape Heterogeneity ◽

Green Spaces ◽

Urban Green ◽

Urban Green Spaces ◽

The Relationship

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Assessment of Carbon Sequestration Potential of Tree Species in Amity University Campus Noida

Environmental Sciences Proceedings ◽

10.3390/iecf2020-08075 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 3 (1) ◽

pp. 52

Author(s):

Richa Sharma ◽

Lolita Pradhan ◽

Maya Kumari ◽

Prodyut Bhattacharya

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Carbon Sequestration ◽

Carbon Storage ◽

Tree Species ◽

Green Spaces ◽

Urban Green ◽

Urban Green Spaces ◽

Carbon Sequestration Potential ◽

Sequestration Potential ◽

Impacts Of Climate Change

Urban green spaces, particularly trees, have great potential to sequester carbon from the atmosphere and mitigate the impacts of climate change in cities. Large university campuses offer prominent space where such green spaces can be developed in order to offset the increasing greenhouse gas emissions, as well as other benefits. Amity University, Noida, is spread over 60 acres with dense tree plantations in and around the campus. The present study is a sustainability initiative to inventory the tree species on the campus and assess their total carbon sequestration potential (CSP). The above- and below-ground biomasses were estimated using the non-destructive sampling method. Individual trees on the campus were measured for their height and diameter at breast height (DBH), and estimates of carbon storage were performed using allometric equations. There is a total of 45 different tree species on the campus with the total CSP equivalent to approximately 139.86 tons. The results also reveal that Ficus benjamina was the predominant species on the campus with CSP equivalent to 30.53 tons, followed by Alstonia scholaris with carbon storage of 16.38 tons. The study reports that the ratio of native to exotic species is 22:23 or almost 1:1. The present work highlights the role of urban forests or urban green spaces, not only as ornamental and aesthetic plantations but also in mitigating the impacts of climate change at a local level. Higher education institutes have an important role in expanding their green cover so as to act as local carbon sinks.

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