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

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.

scholarly journals Assessing the Coverage of Urban Green Space in Butwal Sub-Metropolitan City, Nepal: A GIS based Approach

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
pp. 77-86
Author(s):  
Mahendra Singh Thapa ◽  
Gokul Poudel
Keyword(s):  
Green Space ◽  
Urban Environments ◽  
Green Spaces ◽  
Landsat 8 ◽  
Urban Green ◽  
Urban Green Spaces ◽  
Metropolitan City ◽  
Object Oriented Approach ◽  
Materialistic Values ◽  
Urban Places

Urban green spaces are integral part of urban infrastructure. Green spaces can offer a number of benefits ranging from inner spiritual to outer materialistic values. Available green spaces in particular area especially in urban places need to be identified and located properly with scientific way and means so that we can use those places in emergency caused by natural or human induced hazards. This study has tried to measure the green space available for people dwelling in Butwal Sub-Metropolitan City of Nepal. An attempt was made to quantify green spaces in urban environments from Landsat 8 OLI imageries using object-oriented approach and field verification. The study concluded that the total green space available in Butwal Sub-Metropolitan City is 86.37 km2 i.e., around 86% of total municipal area and per capita green space is around 623 m2.

scholarly journals “I Would Never Come Here Because I’ve Got My Own Garden”: Older Adults’ Perceptions of Small Urban Green Spaces

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (11) ◽  
pp. 1994 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vanessa G. Macintyre ◽  
Sarah Cotterill ◽  
Jamie Anderson ◽  
Chris Phillipson ◽  
Jack S. Benton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Urban Environments ◽  
Green Spaces ◽  
Photo Elicitation ◽  
Urban Green ◽  
Urban Green Spaces ◽  
Health And Wellbeing ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Improve Health

Green spaces are known to improve health and wellbeing via several mechanisms, such as by reducing stress and facilitating physical activity. However, little is known about the impact of the smaller green spaces typically found in urban environments on wellbeing, especially for older adults. This study investigated experiences in adults (5 males and 10 females) aged 60 years and over of small urban green spaces in a large UK city. Fifteen older adults were interviewed using semi-structured walk-along interviews and photo elicitation methods in Old Moat, Greater Manchester. Twelve of the participants lived in Old Moat at the time of the study, and the remaining three participants previously lived in Old Moat and were frequent visitors. Transcribed interviews were analyzed using Thematic Analysis. Smaller urban green spaces were perceived differently to large green spaces, and participants were more likely to use larger green spaces such as parks. The smaller green spaces were perceived as belonging to other people, which discouraged the older adults from using them. The older adults also emphasized the importance of taking care of small urban green spaces and preventing them from becoming overgrown. Urban planners should consider these factors, since they indicate that the size and type of urban green spaces may influence whether they improve health and wellbeing. Further research should investigate in more detail which types of urban green space are most conducive to facilitating physical activity and improving wellbeing.

scholarly journals Assessment of tree species distribution and diversity in the major urban green spaces of Nairobi city, Kenya

2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 12-23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Onguso Nyambane David ◽  
Bosco Njoroge John ◽  
Onyango Watako Arnold
Keyword(s):  
Species Distribution ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Green Spaces ◽  
Urban Green ◽  
Urban Green Spaces

Leaf litter decomposition of dominant tree species of Namdapha National Park, Arunachal Pradesh, northeast India

2008 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-34 ◽  
Author(s):  
Atiqur Rahman Barbhuiya ◽  
Ayyanadar Arunachalam ◽  
Prabhat Chandra Nath ◽  
Mohammed Latif Khan ◽  
Kusum Arunachalam
Keyword(s):  
Leaf Litter ◽  
Litter Decomposition ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
National Park ◽  
Northeast India ◽  
Leaf Litter Decomposition ◽  
Arunachal Pradesh ◽  
Namdapha National Park

scholarly journals Estimation of the Allergenic Potential of Urban Trees and Urban Parks: Towards the Healthy Design of Urban Green Spaces of the Future

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (8) ◽  
pp. 1357 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cariñanos ◽  
Grilo ◽  
Pinho ◽  
Casares-Porcel ◽  
Branquinho ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Urban Areas ◽  
Urban Environments ◽  
Urban Trees ◽  
Green Spaces ◽  
Urban Green ◽  
Urban Green Spaces ◽  
Allergenic Potential ◽  
Causative Agents ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Ornamental Species

The impact of allergens emitted by urban green spaces on health is one of the main disservices of ecosystems. The objective of this work is to establish the potential allergenic value of some tree species in urban environments, so that the allergenicity of green spaces can be estimated through application of the Index of Urban Green Zones Allergenicity (IUGZA). Multiple types of green spaces in Mediterranean cities were selected for the estimation of IUGZ. The results show that some of the ornamental species native to the Mediterranean are among the main causative agents of allergy in the population; in particular, Oleaceae, Cupressaceae, Fagaceae, and Platanus hispanica. Variables of the strongest impact on IUGZA were the bioclimatic characteristics of the territory and design aspects, such as the density of trees and the number of species. We concluded that the methodology to assess the allergenicity associated with urban trees and urban areas presented in this work opens new perspectives in the design and planning of urban green spaces, pointing out the need to consider the potential allergenicity of a species when selecting plant material to be used in cities. Only then can urban green areas be inclusive spaces, in terms of public health.

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