Residential yard management and landscape cover affect urban bird community diversity across the continental USA

Ecological Applications, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 31(8)

Published: Sept. 15, 2021

Urbanization has a homogenizing effect on biodiversity and leads to communities with fewer native species lower conservation value. However, few studies have explored whether or how land management by urban residents can ameliorate the deleterious effects of this homogenization composition. We tested local (land management) neighborhood-scale (impervious surface tree canopy cover) features breeding bird diversity in six US metropolitan areas that differ regional pools climate. used Bayesian multiregion community model assess differences richness, functional guild turnover, population vulnerability, public interest each types: two natural area park types (separate adjacent residential areas), yard (wildlife-certified water conservation) lawn-dominated (high- low-fertilizer application), surrounding features. Species richness was higher yards compared parks; however, parks supported high scores while interest. Bird all were composed primarily species. Within types, strongly positively associated cover negatively impervious surface. At continental scale, turnover between cities lowest highest parks. cities, high-fertilizer wildlife-certified Our results demonstrate that, across regions, preserving areas, minimizing surfaces increasing are essential strategies conserve regionally important yards, especially those managed for wildlife support diverse, heterogeneous potential concern. Management approaches include preservation protected parks, encourage wildlife-friendly acknowledge birds advance successful American landscapes.

Language: Английский

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Humanity for Habitat: Residential Yards as an Opportunity for Biodiversity Conservation

BioScience, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 73(9), P. 671 - 689

Published: Sept. 1, 2023

Abstract The primary threat to biodiversity is habitat loss and degradation. Private residential land (yards) encompass large proportions of urban, suburban, rural spaces among the most rapidly expanding systems on Earth. Yards also represent a conservation opportunity provide wildlife habitat, support biodiversity, restore ecosystem function services, increase local opportunities for people connect with nature. In present article, we propose humanity stewardship practice by synthesizing evidence-based yard management actions that can advance value yards, focus benefits climate resiliency, people. magnitude extent might differ, depending region, specific practices, yard’s size, location along urban gradient. We detail opportunities, challenges, strategies encouraging stronger public participation in through facilitate biodiversity-friendly landscapes benefit

Language: Английский

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The ecological role of native‐plant landscaping in residential yards to birds during the nonbreeding period

Ecosphere, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 14(1)

Published: Jan. 1, 2023

Abstract Residential yards are a form of urban land use that cover considerable amount area in cities worldwide and provide important habitat for wildlife, especially when landscaped with native plants. Nevertheless, most native‐plant landscaping wildlife research the northern temperate regions world has been conducted during spring summer breeding period, leaving gap our understanding importance residential plants as habitats animals nonbreeding period. To fill this gap, we quantified ecological role native‐landscaped to avifauna throughout Greater Los Angeles (LA), California, winter which is time year region hosts high abundance diversity migratory resident birds. We surveyed birds features from October March 2020 2021 at 22 pairs native‐ non‐native‐landscaped plus 10 additional yards. had three objectives study. First, compared avifaunal communities, including feeding nonfeeding behaviors, between Second, relationships bird richness, abundance, behaviors—focusing on species affiliated or natural terrestrial ecosystems region. Third, documented behaviors by non‐native Native‐landscaped greater trees, shrubs, herbaceous plants, higher elements, leaf litter bare‐ground cover. Bird richness abundance—especially tree‐ shrub‐dominated ecosystems—were than Further, supported numbers birds, individuals focusing their foraging distinct trees Quercus spp. (oak), Heteromeles (toyon), Arctostaphylos (manzanita), Salvia (sage). Our results suggest period viable approach residents if improving conditions annual cycle goal.

Language: Английский

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Plant native: comparing biodiversity benefits, ecosystem services provisioning, and plant performance of native and non-native plants in urban horticulture

Urban Ecosystems, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Sept. 26, 2024

Language: Английский

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Urban plant diversity in Los Angeles, California: Species and functional type turnover in cultivated landscapes

Plants People Planet, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 2(2), P. 144 - 156

Published: Sept. 17, 2019

Societal Impact Statement People plant, remove, and manage urban vegetation in cities for varying purposes to extents. The direct manipulation of plants affects the benefits people receive from plants. In synthesizing several studies biodiversity Los Angeles, we find that cultivated differ those remnant natural areas. This highlights importance studying cities, which is crucial design planning sustainable cities. Residents have created a new biome this has consequences associated organisms, ultimately resulting responsibility society determine what type wish create. Summary Urbanization large driver globally. Within trees, gardens, residential yards contribute extensively plant biodiversity, although mechanisms cultivation are uncertain. We used California, USA as case study investigating diversity synthesized datasets quantifying yards, community gardens availability nurseries, residents’ attitudes about attributes. Cultivated was drastically different areas; compared areas, areas contained more exotic species, than double number turnover functional trait distributions. most were intentionally planted dominated by species ornamental purposes. Most tree sampled Angeles available sale local nurseries. Residents’ preferences specific traits correlated with composition community, suggesting communities at least partially reflect resident preferences. Our findings demonstrate diverse megacity driven part through commercial distribution. greatly increases regional changes pervasive presence likely many residents ecosystem services they unmanaged or

Language: Английский

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