scholarly journals Nonnative plants reduce population growth of an insectivorous bird

2018 ◽  
Vol 115 (45) ◽  
pp. 11549-11554 ◽  
Author(s):  
Desirée L. Narango ◽  
Douglas W. Tallamy ◽  
Peter P. Marra
Keyword(s):  
Population Growth ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Plant Biomass ◽  
Native Plant ◽  
Sustainable Food ◽  
Native Plant Species ◽  
Nonnative Plants ◽  
Poecile Carolinensis ◽  
Logical Connection ◽  
The Impact

Human-dominated landscapes represent one of the most rapidly expanding and least-understood ecosystems on earth. Yet, we know little about which features in these landscapes promote sustainable wildlife populations. Historically, in urban areas, landowners have converted native plant communities into habitats dominated by nonnative species that are not susceptible to pest damage and require little maintenance. However, nonnative plants are also poor at supporting insects that are critical food resources for higher order consumers. Despite the logical connection, no study has examined the impact of nonnative plants on subsequent population responses of vertebrate consumers. Here, we demonstrate that residential yards dominated by nonnative plants have lower arthropod abundance, forcing resident Carolina chickadees (Poecile carolinensis) to switch diets to less preferred prey and produce fewer young, or forgo reproduction in nonnative sites altogether. This leads to lower reproductive success and unsustainable population growth in these yards compared with those with >70% native plant biomass. Our results reveal that properties landscaped with nonnative plants function as population sinks for insectivorous birds. To promote sustainable food webs, urban planners and private landowners should prioritize native plant species.

scholarly journals Do Cultivars of Native Plants Support Insect Herbivores?

2018 ◽  
Vol 28 (5) ◽  
pp. 596-606 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily C. Baisden ◽  
Douglas W. Tallamy ◽  
Desiree L. Narango ◽  
Eileen Boyle
Keyword(s):  
Disease Resistance ◽  
Food Webs ◽  
Native Plants ◽  
Fruit Size ◽  
Common Garden ◽  
Insect Herbivores ◽  
Native Plant ◽  
Genetic Changes ◽  
Native Plant Species ◽  
The Impact

Native plants are becoming widely used in built landscapes to help mitigate the loss of biodiversity caused by urbanization. The primary advantage of native plant species over introduced ornamentals is their ability to support the development of the insects that fuel vertebrate food webs as well as specialist pollinators. The horticultural industry has introduced many cultivars of native plants to improve their aesthetic value and disease resistance, but there has been little work that measures the impact of these genetic changes on insect herbivores and pollinators. Here we measure how six desirable traits in native woody plant cultivars (leaf color, variegation, fall color, habit, disease resistance, and fruit size) compare with their wild types in terms of their ability to support insect herbivore development, abundance, and species richness. Using a common garden experiment, we quantified the abundance and diversity of insect herbivores using each species and its cultivars for growth and development over a 2-year period, as well as cumulative feed damage over the entire season. We also conducted feeding tests with evergreen bagworm (Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformis) to measure the preference of hatchling caterpillars for cultivars vs. straight species. We found that cultivars that had leaves altered from green to red, blue, or purple deterred insect feeding in all three experiments, a preference for variegated cultivars in one of our three experiments, but no consistent pattern of use among the species and cultivars chosen for other traits. These results suggest that the usefulness of native cultivars in restoring insect-driven food webs depends on the cultivar trait that has been selected.

Quantifying trends and predictors of decline in eastern grey kangaroo (Macropus giganteus) populations in a rapidly urbanising landscape

2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 63 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth A. Brunton ◽  
Sanjeev K. Srivastava ◽  
David S. Schoeman ◽  
Scott Burnett
Keyword(s):  
Population Growth ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Human Population ◽  
Urban Expansion ◽  
Natural Habitat ◽  
Urban Landscapes ◽  
Human Population Growth ◽  
Terrestrial Mammals ◽  
Grey Kangaroo ◽  
The Impact

Human population growth and the resultant expansion of urban landscapes are drivers of biodiversity loss globally. Impacts of urbanisation on wildlife are not well understood, although the importance of preserving biodiversity in urban areas is widely recognised. The eastern grey kangaroo (Macropus giganteus), a common species of large macropod, can be found in high densities in many urban landscapes across Australia. South East Queensland is a subtropical region of Australia that has experienced high rates of urban expansion. Human population growth in the region has resulted in widespread changes to the landscape and much of the eastern grey kangaroo’s natural habitat has been modified. Declines in kangaroo populations have been anecdotally reported; however, the impact of urbanisation on kangaroo populations has not been quantified. This study used a modelling approach, collecting data from the community, and private and government organisations to: (1) map the current distribution of eastern grey kangaroos; (2) quantify trends in kangaroo abundance; and (3) identify anthropogenic drivers of changes in kangaroo abundance in the region. Of the kangaroo populations identified, 42% were reported to have undergone an overall decline in abundance since 2000. Higher human population growth rate and smaller area remaining under natural land use were predictors of kangaroo population declines. Further kangaroo declines can be anticipated in the region, particularly in areas with projected human population growth rates over 80% for the next decade. This study emphasises the importance of integrated urban development over large spatial extents to mitigate impacts of urbanisation on terrestrial mammals.

DAMPAK PEMUKIMAN KUMUH TERHADAP KELESTARIAN LINGKUNGAN KOTA MALANG (Studi Penelitian di Jalan Muharto Kel Jodipan Kec Blimbing, Kota Malang

2015 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 40-57
Author(s):  
Vifin Rofiana
Keyword(s):  
Population Growth ◽  
Rural Area ◽  
Environmental Quality ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
High Flow ◽  
Job Opportunities ◽  
Economy Condition ◽  
The Impact ◽  
General Community ◽  
Slum Areas

Pertumbuhan penduduk saat ini telah meningkat dan tidak sejalan dengan semakin meningkatnya kebutuhan hidup. Kondisi ekonomi yang mendesak dan kurangnya kesempatan kerja di pedesaan sehingga menyebabkan migrasi yang tinggi. Jumlah penduduk dan peningkatan migrasi dari daerah pedesaan tidak diimbangi dengan lahan yang tersedia di daerah perkotaan akhirnya memunculkan beberapa isu seperti munculnya kawasan kumuh. Selanjutnya, dampak dari kawasan kumuh terhadap kualitas lingkungan perlu intensif prihatin dengan pemerintah daerah, sektor swasta, LSM, dan masyarakat umum. Kata Kunci: Analisis Dampak Lingkungan, Area Kumuh, PendudukToday population growth has escalated and not balanced also with the increase of the necessities of life. The economy condition is urgent and lacking of job opportunities in rural area so that causes high flow migration. The number of inhabitants and the increase of migration from rural area not balance with the available land in urban areas then finally rise to varying issues such as the emergence of slum areas. Further, the impact of slum areas towards environmental quality needs to be intensively concerned by local government, private sectors, NGO, and general community. Keywords:  Impact Analysi, Environment, Slum Areas, Population

scholarly journals Native and non-native plants attract diverse bees to urban gardens in California

2019 ◽  
Vol 25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gordon Frankie ◽  
Ingrid Feng ◽  
Robbin Thorp ◽  
Jaime Pawelek ◽  
Marissa Helene Chase ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Urban Areas ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Host Plants ◽  
Native Plants ◽  
Ornamental Plants ◽  
Geographic Origin ◽  
Native Plant ◽  
Native Plant Species ◽  
Native Bee ◽  
The University

Bees visit native and non-native plant species for pollen and nectar resources in urban, agricultural, and wildland environments. Results of an extensive survey of bee-flower collection records from 10 California cities from 2005-2011 were used to examine host-plant records of native and non-native ornamental plants to diverse native and non-native bee species; five cities were from northern California and five were from southern California. A total of 7,659 bees and their floral host plants were examined. Of these, 179 were Apis mellifera and 7,390 were non-Apis. Only four other non-native species (all in Megachilidae) were recorded in the survey, and together they accounted for 402 individuals. These bees have been databased in preparation for deposition in the University of California-Berkeley Essig Museum of Entomology. We identified 229 bee species and 42 genera visiting native and non-native plant types in urban areas. Of the 229 species, 71 bee species were collected from only native plants; 52 were collected from only non-native host plants; and 106 were collected from both types of plants. Native bee species were common on native plants and non-native plants, but there were substantially more non-native bee species visiting non-native plants compared to native plants. Flowering periods in months were similar for both types of plants, but non-natives tended to flower later in the year. We propose that using native and non-native plants improves habitat gardening by increasing opportunities for attracting a richer diversity of bee species and for longer periods. Knowing basic bee-flower relationships in an area is key to planning a bee habitat garden with a variety of plant types, regardless of their geographic origin. 

Nutrient removal and plant biomass in a subsurface flow constructed wetland in Brisbane, Australia

2003 ◽  
Vol 48 (5) ◽  
pp. 183-189 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Browning ◽  
M. Greenway
Keyword(s):  
Removal Efficiency ◽  
Nutrient Removal ◽  
Plant Biomass ◽  
Subsurface Flow ◽  
Pilot Scale ◽  
Native Plant ◽  
Nutrient Storage ◽  
Removal Rates ◽  
Native Plant Species ◽  
Gravel Size

Four native plant species (Baumea articulata, Carex fascicularis, Philydrum lanuginosum and Schoenoplectus mucronatus) are being investigated for their suitability in subsurface flow wetlands. The pilot scale Oxley Wetland, Brisbane, consists of 4 cells with different sized gravel (5 mm and 20 mm). The project aims to investigate nutrient removal rates and removal efficiency; nutrient storage in plant biomass; effect of cropping on plant regrowth, and the effect of gravel size on both water treatment and plant growth. Average daily mass removal rates ranged from 7.3 Kgha-1d-1 NH4-N in Cell D to 4.6 Kgha-1d-1 in Cell C i.e. 37%-22% removal efficiency respectively; 5.2 Kgha-1d-1 NOx-N in Cell C to 1.3 Kgha-1d-1 in Cell A (i.e. 75%-22% removal efficiency) and 0.8 Kgha-1d-1 PO4-P in Cell A to 0.1 Kgha-1d-1 in Cell C (i.e. 10%-1% removal efficiency). Cell A was the youngest wetland with new 5 mm gravel. Plant biomass was highest for Baumea and Carex. Gravel size does not appear to have affected biomass and recovery following cropping. Carex consistently had the highest harvested above ground biomass with high re-growth following cropping. Cropping appears to have retarded growth of the other three species with Schoenoplectus consistently having slowest regrowth. Plant biomass and nutrient storage was highest in Cell A and accounted for 11% of nitrogen removal and 3% of phosphorus removal.

scholarly journals No universal scale-dependent impacts of invasive species on native plant species richness

2014 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 20130939 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas J. Stohlgren ◽  
Marcel Rejmánek
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Plant Invasions ◽  
Plant Species Richness ◽  
Native Plant ◽  
Desert Ecosystems ◽  
Alien Plant ◽  
Native Plant Species ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Impact

A growing number of studies seeking generalizations about the impact of plant invasions compare heavily invaded sites to uninvaded sites. But does this approach warrant any generalizations? Using two large datasets from forests, grasslands and desert ecosystems across the conterminous United States, we show that (i) a continuum of invasion impacts exists in many biomes and (ii) many possible species–area relationships may emerge reflecting a wide range of patterns of co-occurrence of native and alien plant species. Our results contradict a smaller recent study by Powell et al. 2013 ( Science 339 , 316–318. ( doi:10.1126/science.1226817 )), who compared heavily invaded and uninvaded sites in three biomes and concluded that plant communities invaded by non-native plant species generally have lower local richness (intercepts of log species richness–log area regression lines) but steeper species accumulation with increasing area (slopes of the regression lines) than do uninvaded communities. We conclude that the impacts of plant invasions on plant species richness are not universal.

scholarly journals Parental Food Choices and Engagement in Raising Children’s Awareness of Sustainable Behaviors in Urban Poland

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (6) ◽  
pp. 3225
Author(s):  
Ewa Halicka ◽  
Joanna Kaczorowska ◽  
Krystyna Rejman ◽  
Agata Szczebyło
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Food Consumption ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Food Systems ◽  
Environmentally Friendly ◽  
Food Choices ◽  
Sustainable Food ◽  
Nutrition Policies ◽  
Consumption Practices ◽  
The Impact

Promoting sustainable food consumption patterns and understanding factors driving environmentally-friendly food choices is one of the challenges of public health nutrition policies in the 2020s and crucial for the future wellbeing of humans, food systems and the planet as a whole. To assess the impact of sustainability issues on the behaviors of parents living with young school-aged children in Poland a CAWI survey of 1035 adults in urban areas was conducted. A clustering procedure revealed that two of the identified clusters (73% of the sample) rated sustainability factors as important when purchasing food for children but only one of these clusters (29% of the sample) was actively engaged in raising their child’s awareness about sustainable behaviors. The third cluster (27% of the sample) had no intentions to teach their children about food sustainability because of lack of time or distrust in these topics. More than 80% of the sample agreed that parents share a responsibility in teaching children about the links between food, health and environment. Principles of healthy and sustainable diets should be incorporated into public health programmes to empower family members to engage in raising their children’s awareness and adopt more healthy and environmentally-friendly food consumption practices.

Retail store influence on sustainable consumption behaviour

2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 404-423 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthias Lehner
Keyword(s):  
Urban Areas ◽  
Sustainable Consumption ◽  
Retail Store ◽  
Choice Situation ◽  
Grocery Shopping ◽  
Sustainable Food ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Consumption Behaviour ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
The Impact

Purpose – This paper aims to contribute to the discussion about how retailers can more effectively promote sustainable food consumption in the retail store. Design/methodology/approach – Thirteen self-proclaimed sustainable consumers were observed and interviewed during their grocery shopping. Separate observations were conducted of the stores. Finally, consumers were asked to provide three weeks worth of grocery shopping receipts. Findings – Results show that the meaning of sustainable consumption varies among consumers. Observed consumer behaviour was mostly routinized, with little willingness to engage consciously with the choice situation. Mixed messages in the store cause confusion, uncertainty and frustration. Only for a minority of decisions, consumers showed a high level of decision-making involvement. Then, consumers were willing to engage with the retailer and accept trade-offs. The retail store should better account for consumption routines in sustainable consumption behaviour and open up to interaction with sustainably minded consumers where necessary. Research limitations/implications – The results are specific for urban areas with high concern for sustainability. Further research should focus on areas of low concern for sustainability and the impact of the store environment on such consumers. Practical implications – Retailers do not sufficiently take into account the contextual nature of sustainable consumption. Retailers would be well-advised to account for the habitual nature of grocery shopping and for contextually defined understanding of sustainable consumption in their efforts to promote sustainable consumption. Originality/value – This study gives new insights into the much debated “attitude-behaviour gap” in sustainable consumption and how retailers can more effectively encourage sustainable consumption behaviour in the retail store.

Forced urbanisation: A cross-national assessment of the effects of intranational political violence on a nation’s largest cities

Urban Studies ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 55 (13) ◽  
pp. 2923-2945
Author(s):  
Robert M Anthony ◽  
Kristopher K Robison
Keyword(s):  
Population Growth ◽  
Political Violence ◽  
Civil Wars ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Forced Migration ◽  
Internal Displacement ◽  
National Assessment ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Spatial Logics ◽  
Cross National

This article offers a ‘first step’ toward understanding the consequences of intranational political violence on the growth of a nation’s largest cities. Theory and research from studies on forced migration and internal displacement are used to construct several hypotheses that assess the impact that various forms of intranational political violence have on the growth of major urban areas within the developing world. Hypotheses are tested using a cross-national time-series sample of 85 developing nations from 1974 to 2005. The results provide strong empirical evidence that various forms of intranational political violence are significantly related to population growth amongst a nation’s largest cities. Specifically, attacks on government personnel are associated with an increase in population growth among a nation’s largest cities. Violence targeting civilians are associated with decelerated growth in a nation’s largest city but increased growth in major secondary cities. Finally, increases in the intensity and duration of civil wars are associated with decreases in population among secondary cities but exhibit a curvilinear growth pattern in a nation’s largest city (i.e. an increase then decrease). It is argued that the findings are at least partially explained by the ‘spatial logics’ that arise from a given form of political violence. It is concluded that more attention should be given to studying the consequences of political violence on the urbanisation process for rapidly urbanising nations.

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