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Aim Exploring the biotic homogenization and diversity resistance hypotheses by assessing the effect of non-native black locust canopy on understorey species turnover. Location Berlin, the Venetian metropolitan area, and Rome. Methods We modelled the zeta (ζ) expression of diversity to compare the understorey species turnover between the non-native black locust and native woodland canopies across multiple sites and through predictors of anthropogenic pressure (road and built-up density) and interior conditions (tree basal area and mean height). Results In Rome, black locust showed the lowest survivability and cover and did not produce any homogenization of the understorey. In Berlin and in the Venetian metropolitan area, black locust caused understorey homogenization, although with a lower intensity in Berlin. Under black locust canopies, distance between sites and road density was more consistently associated with species turnover, across urban areas and multiple sites. Under native canopies in Berlin, factors prominently associated with species turnover were road and built-up density and mean tree height, while in the Venetian metropolitan area it was road density. Main conclusions Evidence in support of the biotic homogenization in contrast to the diversity resistance hypothesis varied across urban areas. Species turnover was influenced by land use patterns more evidently under native tree canopies and where the non-native tree had higher survivability. Similar analyses in other urban areas may confirm these relationships with other types of landscapes.
Tommaso Sitzia; Simone Iacopino; Sabina Burrascano; Thomas Campagnaro; Laura Celesti‐Grapow; Cecilia Bacchetti; Arne Cierjacks; Ingo Kowarik; Moritz von der Lippe; Giovanni Trentanovi. Exploring the biotic homogenization and diversity resistance hypotheses: The understorey of non‐native and native woodland canopies in three urban areas of Europe. Diversity and Distributions 2021, 27, 1747 -1758.
AMA StyleTommaso Sitzia, Simone Iacopino, Sabina Burrascano, Thomas Campagnaro, Laura Celesti‐Grapow, Cecilia Bacchetti, Arne Cierjacks, Ingo Kowarik, Moritz von der Lippe, Giovanni Trentanovi. Exploring the biotic homogenization and diversity resistance hypotheses: The understorey of non‐native and native woodland canopies in three urban areas of Europe. Diversity and Distributions. 2021; 27 (9):1747-1758.
Chicago/Turabian StyleTommaso Sitzia; Simone Iacopino; Sabina Burrascano; Thomas Campagnaro; Laura Celesti‐Grapow; Cecilia Bacchetti; Arne Cierjacks; Ingo Kowarik; Moritz von der Lippe; Giovanni Trentanovi. 2021. "Exploring the biotic homogenization and diversity resistance hypotheses: The understorey of non‐native and native woodland canopies in three urban areas of Europe." Diversity and Distributions 27, no. 9: 1747-1758.
While cities are invasion hotspots, the view of urban residents on non-native species is critically understudied – an important knowledge gap since strategies on biological invasions could gain power by integrating human values, attitudes and perceptions. How citizens perceive the non-native tree Ailanthus altissima (tree of heaven) is unknown despite its abundance in many cities globally and its classification as invasive in many countries. In a quantitative survey with closed questions, we analysed (i) whether residents of Berlin, Germany knew the widespread species, (ii) how they perceived it in different urban situations, (iii) how they accepted different management strategies of it, and (iv) how the sociodemographic background of respondents predicted their preference and acceptability ratings. In total, we surveyed 196 respondents. Most respondents recognized the tree in a photograph, but few provided its correct name. Citizens’ preferences differed significantly among four urban contexts in which the species was shown, with prevailing approval for trees as a component of designed green spaces and less pronounced preferences for wild-grown trees in other urban spaces. When respondents were asked to indicate how the tree should be managed (three options), we found the most support for removal in problematic cases (‘adaptive on-site’ strategy); some support was found for the ‘leave alone’ strategy and least support for the ‘complete removal’ management strategy. Practitioners with expertise in urban landscaping were more critical of Ailanthus than laypeople. Ordinal logistic regression analyses showed that respondents with a ‘close to nature’ behaviour and attitude had a more positive view on Ailanthus and expressed more support for ‘leave alone’ management. Results demonstrate the importance of citizens’ context dependent views about a widespread invasive species, spanning from approval to disapproval in different situations. We conclude that urban management strategies concerning Ailanthus would gain support from citizens when combining multiple approaches: (i) to control the species in case of realized negative impacts; (ii) to prevent the invasion of the species in areas of conservation concern; and (iii) to develop novel approaches of integrating wild Ailanthus trees into urban green spaces. These insights could support management measures that need to be established due to the EU-Regulation on Invasive Alien Species.
Ingo Kowarik; Tanja M. Straka; Mario Lehmann; Rafael Studnitzky; Leonie K. Fischer. Between approval and disapproval: Citizens’ views on the invasive tree Ailanthus altissima and its management. NeoBiota 2021, 66, 1 -30.
AMA StyleIngo Kowarik, Tanja M. Straka, Mario Lehmann, Rafael Studnitzky, Leonie K. Fischer. Between approval and disapproval: Citizens’ views on the invasive tree Ailanthus altissima and its management. NeoBiota. 2021; 66 ():1-30.
Chicago/Turabian StyleIngo Kowarik; Tanja M. Straka; Mario Lehmann; Rafael Studnitzky; Leonie K. Fischer. 2021. "Between approval and disapproval: Citizens’ views on the invasive tree Ailanthus altissima and its management." NeoBiota 66, no. : 1-30.
Northern Bald Ibis (NBI) have disappeared from Europe already in Middle Age. Since 2003 a migratory population is reintroduced in Central Europe. We conducted demographic analyses of survival and reproduction of 384 NBI over a period of 12 years (2008-2019). These data also formed the basis for a population viability analysis (PVA) simulating the possible future development of the NBI population in different scenarios. We tested life-stage specific survival rates for differences between these stages, raising types and colonies as well as the influence of stochastic events and NBI supplements on the population growth. Stage specific survival rates ranged from 0.64 to 0.78. 61% of the mature females reproduce with a mean fecundity of 2.15 fledglings per nest. The complementary PVA indicated that the release population is close to self-sustainability with a given lambda 0.95 and 24% extinction probability within 50 years. Of the 326 future scenarios tested, 94 % reached the criteria of 1. In case of positive population growth, stochastic events had a limited effect. Of 820 sub-scenarios with different stochastic event frequencies and severities 87 % show population growth despite the occurrence of stochastic events. Predictions can be made based on the results of the individual-based model as to whether and under what circumstances the reintroduced NBI population can survive. This study shows that a PVA can support reintroduction success that should work closely together with the project in the field for mutual benefit, to optimize future management decisions.
Sinah Drenske; Viktoriia Radchuk; Cédric Scherer; Corinna Esterer; Ingo Kowarik; Johannes Fritz; Stephanie Kramer-Schadt. Halfway to self-sustainability: Reintroduced migratory European Northern Bald Ibises (Geronticus eremita) still need management interventions for population viability. 2021, 1 .
AMA StyleSinah Drenske, Viktoriia Radchuk, Cédric Scherer, Corinna Esterer, Ingo Kowarik, Johannes Fritz, Stephanie Kramer-Schadt. Halfway to self-sustainability: Reintroduced migratory European Northern Bald Ibises (Geronticus eremita) still need management interventions for population viability. . 2021; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleSinah Drenske; Viktoriia Radchuk; Cédric Scherer; Corinna Esterer; Ingo Kowarik; Johannes Fritz; Stephanie Kramer-Schadt. 2021. "Halfway to self-sustainability: Reintroduced migratory European Northern Bald Ibises (Geronticus eremita) still need management interventions for population viability." , no. : 1.
Road corridors are important conduits for plant invasions, and an understanding of the underlying mechanisms is necessary for efficient management of invasive alien species in road networks. Previous studies identified road type with different traffic volumes as a key driver of seed dispersal and abundance of alien plants along roads. However, how the intensity of traffic interacts with the habitat features of roadsides in shaping invasion processes is not sufficiently understood. To elucidate these interactions, we analyzed the population dynamics of common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.), a common non-indigenous annual species in Europe and other continents, in a regional road network in Germany. Over a period of five years, we recorded plant densities at roadsides along four types of road corridors, subject to different intensities of traffic, and with a total length of about 300 km. We also classified roadsides in regard to habitat features (disturbance, shade). This allowed us to determine corridor- and habitat-specific mean population growth rates and spatial-temporal shifts in roadside plant abundances at the regional scale. Our results show that both traffic intensity and roadside habitat features significantly affect the population dynamics of ragweed. The combination of high traffic intensity and high disturbance intensity led to the highest mean population growth whereas population growth in less suitable habitats (e.g. shaded roadsides) declined with decreasing traffic intensity. We conclude that high traffic facilitates ragweed invasion along roads, likely due to continued seed dispersal, and can compensate partly for less suitable habitat features (i.e. shade) that decrease population growth along less trafficked roads. As a practical implication, management efforts to decline ragweed invasions within road networks (e.g. by repeated mowing) should be prioritized along high trafficked roads, and roadside with disturbed, open habitats should be reduced as far as possible, e.g. by establishing grassland from the regional species pool.
Andreas Lemke; Sascha Buchholz; Ingo Kowarik; Uwe Starfinger; Moritz von der Lippe. Interaction of traffic intensity and habitat features shape invasion dynamics of an invasive alien species (Ambrosia artemisiifolia) in a regional road network. NeoBiota 2021, 64, 155 -175.
AMA StyleAndreas Lemke, Sascha Buchholz, Ingo Kowarik, Uwe Starfinger, Moritz von der Lippe. Interaction of traffic intensity and habitat features shape invasion dynamics of an invasive alien species (Ambrosia artemisiifolia) in a regional road network. NeoBiota. 2021; 64 ():155-175.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAndreas Lemke; Sascha Buchholz; Ingo Kowarik; Uwe Starfinger; Moritz von der Lippe. 2021. "Interaction of traffic intensity and habitat features shape invasion dynamics of an invasive alien species (Ambrosia artemisiifolia) in a regional road network." NeoBiota 64, no. : 155-175.
The increase in artificial light at night (ALAN) is widely considered as a major driver for the worldwide decline of nocturnal pollinators such as moths. However, the relationship between light and trees as ‘islands of shade’ within urban areas has not yet been fully understood. Here, we studied (1) the effects of three landscape variables, i.e. sources of ALAN (mercury vapour/LED street lamps; overall light pollution), impervious surfaces (e.g. roads, parking lots and buildings), and tree cover on species richness and abundance of two major macro-moth families (Noctuidae and Geometridae) and (2) the potential mitigating effect of trees on macro-moths attracted to ALAN. We undertook a landscape-scale study on 22 open green areas along an urban-rural gradient within Berlin, Germany, using light traps to collect moths. Macro-moths were identified to species level and GLMMs applied with the three landscape variables at different scales (100 m, 500 m and 1000 m). We found a significant negative effect of mercury vapour street lamps on macro-moth species richness, while impervious surfaces showed significant negative effects on abundance (total and Geometridae). We further found significant positive effects of tree cover density on species richness and abundance (total and Geometridae). Effects of tree cover, however, were mostly driven by one site. LED lamps showed no predictive effects. A negative effect of ALAN (MV lamps and overall light) on macro-moths was most prominent in areas with low tree coverage, indicating a mitigating effect of trees on ALAN. We conclude that mercury vapour street lamps should be replaced by ecologically more neutral ALAN, and that in lit and open areas trees could be planted to mitigate the negative effect of ALAN on nocturnal pollinators. In addition, sources of ALAN should be carefully managed, using movement detection technology and other means to ensure that light is only produced when necessary.
Tanja M. Straka; Moritz von der Lippe; Christian C. Voigt; Matthew Gandy; Ingo Kowarik; Sascha Buchholz. Light pollution impairs urban nocturnal pollinators but less so in areas with high tree cover. Science of The Total Environment 2021, 778, 146244 .
AMA StyleTanja M. Straka, Moritz von der Lippe, Christian C. Voigt, Matthew Gandy, Ingo Kowarik, Sascha Buchholz. Light pollution impairs urban nocturnal pollinators but less so in areas with high tree cover. Science of The Total Environment. 2021; 778 ():146244.
Chicago/Turabian StyleTanja M. Straka; Moritz von der Lippe; Christian C. Voigt; Matthew Gandy; Ingo Kowarik; Sascha Buchholz. 2021. "Light pollution impairs urban nocturnal pollinators but less so in areas with high tree cover." Science of The Total Environment 778, no. : 146244.
Wilderness is a cultural construct that is deeply rooted in many societies. For landscape architects and their predecessors, wilderness has long been important as a contrast to artificial garden elements, as an inspiration for naturalistic plant designs, or today as a timely contribution to reconciling cities and their inhabitants with the natural world. Since cities and wilderness have traditionally been seen as opposites, new approaches are necessary to better address the opportunities and challenges associated with wilderness in urban regions. From an ecological perspective, urban wilderness can be defined as an area characterized by a high degree of self-regulation in ecosystem processes where direct human impact is negligible. This allows two main types of wilderness to be distinguished: “ancient wilderness” represented by natural remnants in many cities, and “novel wilderness,” which arises in artificial urban-industrial sites. The two types require different approaches in designing and managing green spaces. Ancient wilderness is a traditional object of conservation and restoration, and offers inspiration for naturalistic plantings. In contrast, the emergence of novel wilderness has long been associated with neglect and socio-economic decline. Since the 1980s, however, early pioneer projects in Germany have started to integrate novel urban wilderness into the green infrastructure. The results are unprecedented green spaces that combine novel wilderness with design interventions. These places are attractive to visitors, contribute to biodiversity conservation, and support many ecosystem services. This article aims to illustrate the opportunities and challenges of integrating wilderness components and processes into the urban green infrastructure—a timely way to reconnect cities with nature.
Ingo Kowarik. Working With Wilderness: A Promising Direction for Urban Green Spaces. Landscape Architecture Frontiers 2021, 9, 92 -103.
AMA StyleIngo Kowarik. Working With Wilderness: A Promising Direction for Urban Green Spaces. Landscape Architecture Frontiers. 2021; 9 (1):92-103.
Chicago/Turabian StyleIngo Kowarik. 2021. "Working With Wilderness: A Promising Direction for Urban Green Spaces." Landscape Architecture Frontiers 9, no. 1: 92-103.
Urban forests have manifold social, economic, cultural and ecological benefits and are major components of the urban green infrastructure. Among them, spontaneous urban woodlands develop unintentionally on abandoned lands in both growing and shrinking cities and deserve additional attention. We aimed to describe the planning and social processes linked to failures and successes in recognising spontaneous woodlands in Italy. We collected data on the woodland area characteristics, urban settings, and former land use as well as on the planning and property evolution (e.g. land use zone designations) and citizens involvement for 19 sites in 13 representative Italian cities. Our results highlighted that spontaneous woodlands are heterogeneous in size and age, and grow on a variety of previous land uses, with residential and industrial being the most dominant. More than half of the urban plans designated land uses that require new soil sealing and tree plantations instead of maintaining the existing woodlands. Only in four case studies, urban plans recognised the spontaneous woodland, at least partially, as an element of the city’s green infrastructure. We pinpoint an overall deficiency of the planning process in considering spontaneous urban woodlands, although with some exceptions that can represent models for future planning. The role of citizens seemed pivotal, even if not necessarily decisive, in the promotion and maintenance of these woodlands as a real social and ecological asset. A complex and modern array of approaches should capitalise on the potential benefits of spontaneous urban woodlands with the participation of citizens as a strong element of governance.
Giovanni Trentanovi; Thomas Campagnaro; Ingo Kowarik; Michele Munafò; Paolo Semenzato; Tommaso Sitzia. Integrating spontaneous urban woodlands into the green infrastructure: Unexploited opportunities for urban regeneration. Land Use Policy 2020, 102, 105221 .
AMA StyleGiovanni Trentanovi, Thomas Campagnaro, Ingo Kowarik, Michele Munafò, Paolo Semenzato, Tommaso Sitzia. Integrating spontaneous urban woodlands into the green infrastructure: Unexploited opportunities for urban regeneration. Land Use Policy. 2020; 102 ():105221.
Chicago/Turabian StyleGiovanni Trentanovi; Thomas Campagnaro; Ingo Kowarik; Michele Munafò; Paolo Semenzato; Tommaso Sitzia. 2020. "Integrating spontaneous urban woodlands into the green infrastructure: Unexploited opportunities for urban regeneration." Land Use Policy 102, no. : 105221.
With insect population declines, cities are important habitats for wild pollinators. Urban beekeeping is an increasingly popular activity, yet honeybees present important risks to wild insect pollinators in cities. We argue for new, scientifically evidenced urban pollinator strategies to simultaneously enhance the benefits of urban beekeeping while protecting wild pollinators.
Monika Egerer; Ingo Kowarik. Confronting the Modern Gordian Knot of Urban Beekeeping. Trends in Ecology & Evolution 2020, 35, 956 -959.
AMA StyleMonika Egerer, Ingo Kowarik. Confronting the Modern Gordian Knot of Urban Beekeeping. Trends in Ecology & Evolution. 2020; 35 (11):956-959.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMonika Egerer; Ingo Kowarik. 2020. "Confronting the Modern Gordian Knot of Urban Beekeeping." Trends in Ecology & Evolution 35, no. 11: 956-959.
Urbanization is a major driver of environmental change and is closely linked to the future of biodiversity. Cities can host a high richness of plants and animals, and this urban biodiversity supports multiple regulating, provisioning and cultural ecosystem services. Developing biodiversity-friendly cities is thus inextricably linked to sustainable urban development and human wellbeing. The contributions to this Special Issue on “Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Urban Development” in the journal Sustainability illustrate the role of urban environments as pressures on biodiversity, and envision pathways towards developing more biodiverse urban environments that are accepted and supported by people. Contributions reveal promising opportunities for conserving biodiversity within many urban landscapes. The insights from this Special Issue can support urban conservation policies and their implementation in the development of sustainable cities.
Ingo Kowarik; Leonie K. Fischer; Dave Kendal. Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Urban Development. Sustainability 2020, 12, 4964 .
AMA StyleIngo Kowarik, Leonie K. Fischer, Dave Kendal. Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Urban Development. Sustainability. 2020; 12 (12):4964.
Chicago/Turabian StyleIngo Kowarik; Leonie K. Fischer; Dave Kendal. 2020. "Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Urban Development." Sustainability 12, no. 12: 4964.
Increasing urbanization worldwide calls for more sustainable urban development. Simultaneously, the global biodiversity crisis accentuates the need of fostering biodiversity within cities. Policies supporting urban nature conservation need to understand people's acceptance of biodiversity‐friendly greenspace management. We surveyed more than 2,000 people in 19 European cities about their attitudes toward near‐natural urban grassland management in public greenspaces, and related their responses to nine sociocultural parameters. Results reveal that people across Europe can support urban biodiversity, yet within the frames of a generally tidy appearance of public greenery. Younger people and those using greenspaces for a greater variety of activities were more likely to favor biodiversity‐friendly greenspace management. Additionally, people who were aware of the meaning of biodiversity and those stating responsibility for biodiversity conservation particularly supported biodiversity‐friendly greenspace management. Our results point at explicit measures like environmental education to increase public acceptance of policies that facilitate nature conservation within cities.
Leonie K. Fischer; Lena Neuenkamp; Jussi Lampinen; Maria Tuomi; Josu G. Alday; Anna Bucharova; Laura Cancellieri; Izaskun Casado‐Arzuaga; Natálie Čeplová; Lluïsa Cerveró; Balázs Deák; Ove Eriksson; Mark D. E. Fellowes; Beatriz Fernandez DE Manuel; Goffredo Filibeck; Adrián González‐Guzmán; M. Belen Hinojosa; Ingo Kowarik; Belén Lumbierres; Ana Miguel; Rosa Pardo; Xavier Pons; Encarna Rodríguez‐García; Roland Schröder; Marta Gaia Sperandii; Philipp Unterweger; Orsolya Valkó; Víctor Vázquez; Valentin H. Klaus. Public attitudes toward biodiversity‐friendly greenspace management in Europe. Conservation Letters 2020, 13, 1 .
AMA StyleLeonie K. Fischer, Lena Neuenkamp, Jussi Lampinen, Maria Tuomi, Josu G. Alday, Anna Bucharova, Laura Cancellieri, Izaskun Casado‐Arzuaga, Natálie Čeplová, Lluïsa Cerveró, Balázs Deák, Ove Eriksson, Mark D. E. Fellowes, Beatriz Fernandez DE Manuel, Goffredo Filibeck, Adrián González‐Guzmán, M. Belen Hinojosa, Ingo Kowarik, Belén Lumbierres, Ana Miguel, Rosa Pardo, Xavier Pons, Encarna Rodríguez‐García, Roland Schröder, Marta Gaia Sperandii, Philipp Unterweger, Orsolya Valkó, Víctor Vázquez, Valentin H. Klaus. Public attitudes toward biodiversity‐friendly greenspace management in Europe. Conservation Letters. 2020; 13 (4):1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLeonie K. Fischer; Lena Neuenkamp; Jussi Lampinen; Maria Tuomi; Josu G. Alday; Anna Bucharova; Laura Cancellieri; Izaskun Casado‐Arzuaga; Natálie Čeplová; Lluïsa Cerveró; Balázs Deák; Ove Eriksson; Mark D. E. Fellowes; Beatriz Fernandez DE Manuel; Goffredo Filibeck; Adrián González‐Guzmán; M. Belen Hinojosa; Ingo Kowarik; Belén Lumbierres; Ana Miguel; Rosa Pardo; Xavier Pons; Encarna Rodríguez‐García; Roland Schröder; Marta Gaia Sperandii; Philipp Unterweger; Orsolya Valkó; Víctor Vázquez; Valentin H. Klaus. 2020. "Public attitudes toward biodiversity‐friendly greenspace management in Europe." Conservation Letters 13, no. 4: 1.
With accelerating urbanization, the urban contribution to biodiversity conservation becomes increasingly important. Previous research shows that cities can host many endangered plant species. However, fundamental questions for urban nature conservation remain open: to what extent and where can endangered plant species persist in the long term and which mechanisms underlie population survival? We evaluate the survival of 858 precisely monitored populations of 179 endangered plant species in Berlin, Germany, by assessing population survival throughout different urban ecosystems over a period of 7.6 years on average. By linking population survival to various landscape variables and plant traits, we unravel the underlying drivers. More than one third of populations went extinct during the observation period. Population survival was inversely correlated to the increase of impervious surfaces in the vicinity following the first 11 years after the fall of the Berlin wall. Additionally, populations in semi‐natural habitats like forests and bogs were surprisingly more prone to local extinction than populations in anthropogenic habitats. Survival was highest for competitive species with a preference for drier soils (Ellenberg indicator for soil humidity). Synthesis and applications. Considerable levels of local population extinction demonstrate that the presence of endangered plants cannot be directly linked with their long‐term survival in cities. However the survival of remaining populations indicates opportunities for urban biodiversity conservation both within and outside conservation areas. The elucidated links between population survival, urbanization dynamics, biotope class, and species traits support urban conservation strategies that reduce the proportion of impervious surface, prioritize conservation management in forests and grasslands and explore the opportunities of green spaces and built up areas.
Greg Planchuelo; Ingo Kowarik; Moritz Von Der Lippe. Plant traits, biotopes and urbanization dynamics explain the survival of endangered urban plant populations. Journal of Applied Ecology 2020, 57, 1581 -1592.
AMA StyleGreg Planchuelo, Ingo Kowarik, Moritz Von Der Lippe. Plant traits, biotopes and urbanization dynamics explain the survival of endangered urban plant populations. Journal of Applied Ecology. 2020; 57 (8):1581-1592.
Chicago/Turabian StyleGreg Planchuelo; Ingo Kowarik; Moritz Von Der Lippe. 2020. "Plant traits, biotopes and urbanization dynamics explain the survival of endangered urban plant populations." Journal of Applied Ecology 57, no. 8: 1581-1592.
Anthropogenic changes in climate, land use and disturbance regimes, as well as introductions of non‐native species can lead to the transformation of many ecosystems. The resulting novel ecosystems are usually characterized by species assemblages that have not occurred previously in a given area. Quantifying the ecological novelty of communities (i.e., biotic novelty) would enhance the understanding of environmental change. However, quantification remains challenging since current novelty metrics, such as the number and/or proportion of non‐native species in a community, fall short of considering both functional and evolutionary aspects of biotic novelty. Here, we propose the Biotic Novelty Index (BNI), an intuitive and flexible multidimensional measure that combines (1) functional differences between native and non‐native introduced species with (2) temporal dynamics of species introductions. We show that the BNI is an additive partition of Rao’s quadratic entropy, capturing the novel interaction component of the community’s functional diversity. Simulations show that the index varies predictably with the relative amount of functional novelty added by recently arrived species, and they illustrate the need to provide an additional standardized version of the index. We present a detailed R code and two applications of the BNI by (1) measuring changes of biotic novelty of dry grassland plant communities along an urbanization gradient in a metropolitan region and (2) determining the biotic novelty of plant species assemblages at a national scale. The results illustrate the applicability of the index across scales and its flexibility in the use of data of different quality. Both case studies revealed strong connections between biotic novelty and increasing urbanization, a measure of abiotic novelty. We conclude that the BNI framework may help building a basis for better understanding the ecological and evolutionary consequences of global change.
Conrad Schittko; Maud Bernard‐Verdier; Tina Heger; Sascha Buchholz; Ingo Kowarik; Moritz Von Der Lippe; Birgit Seitz; Jasmin Joshi; Jonathan M. Jeschke. A multidimensional framework for measuring biotic novelty: How novel is a community? Global Change Biology 2020, 26, 4401 -4417.
AMA StyleConrad Schittko, Maud Bernard‐Verdier, Tina Heger, Sascha Buchholz, Ingo Kowarik, Moritz Von Der Lippe, Birgit Seitz, Jasmin Joshi, Jonathan M. Jeschke. A multidimensional framework for measuring biotic novelty: How novel is a community? Global Change Biology. 2020; 26 (8):4401-4417.
Chicago/Turabian StyleConrad Schittko; Maud Bernard‐Verdier; Tina Heger; Sascha Buchholz; Ingo Kowarik; Moritz Von Der Lippe; Birgit Seitz; Jasmin Joshi; Jonathan M. Jeschke. 2020. "A multidimensional framework for measuring biotic novelty: How novel is a community?" Global Change Biology 26, no. 8: 4401-4417.
Contact with nature makes people feel better, live healthier and act more environmentally-friendly. We hypothesized that dog walking, an omnipresent people–nature interaction in cities, translates to a more positive view of urban nature and, subsequently, to more support for conservation initiatives. Insights into such positive side-effects of dog walking are relevant for dog-related urban policies that often focus on negative impacts of dogs (e.g., health risks, disturbance of wildlife). Based on a field survey in five European cities (N = 3717), we analyzed if people who walked dogs regularly valued four urban ecosystem types (park meadows, wastelands, streetscapes, forests), and the plant species diversity within, differently from other people. Opposite to our hypothesis, participants from both groups valued urban ecosystems and their biodiversity very similarly across the cities. Thus, our study does not confirm that regular dog walkers value natural elements more than other people. It thus remains an important challenge for urban planners to balance services and disservices of dog walking in urban greenspaces.
Leonie K. Fischer; Ingo Kowarik. Dog Walkers’ Views of Urban Biodiversity across Five European Cities. Sustainability 2020, 12, 3507 .
AMA StyleLeonie K. Fischer, Ingo Kowarik. Dog Walkers’ Views of Urban Biodiversity across Five European Cities. Sustainability. 2020; 12 (9):3507.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLeonie K. Fischer; Ingo Kowarik. 2020. "Dog Walkers’ Views of Urban Biodiversity across Five European Cities." Sustainability 12, no. 9: 3507.
Urban biodiversity conservation requires an understanding of how urbanization modulates biodiversity patterns and the associated ecosystem services. While important advances have been made in the conceptual development of urban biodiversity research over the last decades, challenges remain in understanding the interactions between different groups of taxa and the spatiotemporal complexity of urbanization processes. The CityScapeLab Berlin is a novel experimental research platform that allows the testing of theories on how urbanization affects biodiversity patterns and biotic interactions in general and the responses of species of conservation interest in particular. We chose dry grassland patches as the backbone of the research platform because dry grasslands are common in many urban regions, extend over a wide urbanization gradient, and usually harbor diverse and self-assembled communities. Focusing on a standardized type of model ecosystem allowed the urbanization effects on biodiversity to be unraveled from effects that would otherwise be masked by habitat- and land-use effects. The CityScapeLab combines different types of spatiotemporal data on (i) various groups of taxa from different trophic levels, (ii) environmental parameters on different spatial scales, and (iii) on land-use history. This allows for the unraveling of the effects of current and historical urban conditions on urban biodiversity patterns and the related ecological functions.
Moritz Von Der Lippe; Sascha Buchholz; Anne Hiller; Birgit Seitz; Ingo Kowarik. CityScapeLab Berlin: A Research Platform for Untangling Urbanization Effects on Biodiversity. Sustainability 2020, 12, 2565 .
AMA StyleMoritz Von Der Lippe, Sascha Buchholz, Anne Hiller, Birgit Seitz, Ingo Kowarik. CityScapeLab Berlin: A Research Platform for Untangling Urbanization Effects on Biodiversity. Sustainability. 2020; 12 (6):2565.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMoritz Von Der Lippe; Sascha Buchholz; Anne Hiller; Birgit Seitz; Ingo Kowarik. 2020. "CityScapeLab Berlin: A Research Platform for Untangling Urbanization Effects on Biodiversity." Sustainability 12, no. 6: 2565.
Urban ecology is a well-established integrative discipline with many historical roots. One of the eminent pioneers of urban ecology is the German ecologist Herbert Sukopp, who works in Berlin since the late 1950s and is often referred to as the founder of the "Berlin School of Urban Ecology". On the occasion of his 90th anniversary in 2020, this paper aims to recognize and commemorate the major contributions of Sukopp to the field of urban ecology, based on his scientific work and on results of an online survey on his perception in the international scientific community. Sukopp’s contributions were groundbreaking for the establishment of urban ecology. Specifically, his work furthered: (1) the performance of comprehensive biodiversity studies across all land-use types within the city, in relation to the specifics of urban environments; (2) the establishment of modern approaches of nature conservation in cities and their integration into all land-use types, and the city as a whole; (3) the formation of a multidisciplinary conceptual basis of urban ecology as a modern science, with combined scientific and applied perspectives, ultimately aiming at the preservation and further development of nature within cities for the benefit of urban residents. Herbert Sukopp is thus an important and inspiring pioneer in the field of urban ecology.
Ingo Kowarik. Herbert Sukopp – an inspiring pioneer in the field of urban ecology. Urban Ecosystems 2020, 23, 445 -455.
AMA StyleIngo Kowarik. Herbert Sukopp – an inspiring pioneer in the field of urban ecology. Urban Ecosystems. 2020; 23 (3):445-455.
Chicago/Turabian StyleIngo Kowarik. 2020. "Herbert Sukopp – an inspiring pioneer in the field of urban ecology." Urban Ecosystems 23, no. 3: 445-455.
The phosphorus nutrition status of European forests has decreased significantly in recent decades. For a deeper understanding of complementarity and competition in terms of P acquisition in temperate forests, we have analyzed α-diversity, organic layer and mineral soil P, P nutrition status, and different concepts of P use efficiency (PUE) in Fagus sylvatica L. (European beech) and Picea abies (L.) H. Karst. (Norway spruce). Using a subset of the Second National Soil Survey in Germany, we correlated available data on P in the organic layer and soil with α-diversity indices for beech and spruce forests overall and for individual vegetation layers (tree, shrub, herb, and moss layers). Moreover, we investigated α-diversity feedbacks on P nutrition status and PUE of both tree species. The overall diversity of both forest ecosystems was largely positively related to P content in the organic layer and soil, but there were differences among the vegetation layers. Diversity in the tree layer of both forest ecosystems was negatively related to the organic layer and soil P. By contrast, shrub diversity showed no correlation to P, while herb layer diversity was negatively related to P in the organic layer but positively to P in soil. A higher tree layer diversity was slightly related to increased P recycling efficiency (PPlant/Porganic layer) in European beech and P uptake efficiency (PPlant/Psoil) in Norway spruce. The diversity in the herb layer was negatively related to P recycling and uptake efficiency in European beech and slightly related to P uptake efficiency in Norway spruce. In spruce forests, overall and herb species richness led to significantly improved tree nutrition status. Our results confirm significant, non-universal relationships between P and diversity in temperate forests with variations among forest ecosystems, vegetation layers, and P in the organic layer or soil. In particular, tree species diversity may enhance complementarity and hence also P nutrition of dominant forest trees through higher PUE, whereas moss and herb layers seemed to show competitive relationships among each other in nutrient cycling.
Isaak Rieger; Ingo Kowarik; Daniel Ziche; Nicole Wellbrock; Arne Cierjacks. Linkages between Phosphorus and Plant Diversity in Central European Forest Ecosystems—Complementarity or Competition? Forests 2019, 10, 1156 .
AMA StyleIsaak Rieger, Ingo Kowarik, Daniel Ziche, Nicole Wellbrock, Arne Cierjacks. Linkages between Phosphorus and Plant Diversity in Central European Forest Ecosystems—Complementarity or Competition? Forests. 2019; 10 (12):1156.
Chicago/Turabian StyleIsaak Rieger; Ingo Kowarik; Daniel Ziche; Nicole Wellbrock; Arne Cierjacks. 2019. "Linkages between Phosphorus and Plant Diversity in Central European Forest Ecosystems—Complementarity or Competition?" Forests 10, no. 12: 1156.
Many cities aim to increase urban forest cover to benefit residents through the provision of ecosystem services and to promote biodiversity. As a complement to traditional forest plantings, we address opportunities associated with “emerging urban forests” (i.e., spontaneously developing forests in cities) for urban biodiversity conservation. We quantified the area of successional forests and analyzed the species richness of native and alien plants and of invertebrates (carabid beetles, spiders) in emerging forests dominated by alien or native trees, including Robinia pseudoacacia, Acer platanoides, and Betula pendula. Emerging urban forests were revealed as shared habitats of native and alien species. Native species richness was not profoundly affected by the alien (co-)dominance of the canopy. Instead, native and alien plant species richnesses were positively related. Numbers of endangered plants and invertebrates did not differ between native- and alien-dominated forest patches. Patterns of tree regeneration indicate different successional trajectories for novel forest types. We conclude that these forests (i) provide habitats for native and alien species, including some endangered species, (ii) allow city dwellers to experience wild urban nature, and (iii) support arguments for adapting forests to dynamic urban environments. Integrating emerging urban forests into the urban green infrastructure is a promising pathway to sustainable cities and can complement traditional restoration or greening approaches.
Ingo Kowarik; Anne Hiller; Greg Planchuelo; Birgit Seitz; Moritz Von Der Lippe; Sascha Buchholz. Emerging Urban Forests: Opportunities for Promoting the Wild Side of the Urban Green Infrastructure. Sustainability 2019, 11, 6318 .
AMA StyleIngo Kowarik, Anne Hiller, Greg Planchuelo, Birgit Seitz, Moritz Von Der Lippe, Sascha Buchholz. Emerging Urban Forests: Opportunities for Promoting the Wild Side of the Urban Green Infrastructure. Sustainability. 2019; 11 (22):6318.
Chicago/Turabian StyleIngo Kowarik; Anne Hiller; Greg Planchuelo; Birgit Seitz; Moritz Von Der Lippe; Sascha Buchholz. 2019. "Emerging Urban Forests: Opportunities for Promoting the Wild Side of the Urban Green Infrastructure." Sustainability 11, no. 22: 6318.
As urbanization accelerates globally, a better understanding of how cities contribute to biodiversity conservation is increasingly pressing. Previous studies reveal that cities can harbor a considerable biological richness, including endangered plant species. Yet, a key question on the urban contribution to plant conservation remains critically open, as little information is available on how populations of endangered plant species occur across different biotope types within cities and to what extent anthropogenically shaped vs. natural ecosystems provide habitats for endangered plants. We analyzed a unique dataset on the exact geographical position of 1742 populations of 213 endangered plant species in the city of Berlin. We first assessed the relative importance of Berlin’s nine major biotope classes as habitats of these species. Second, we applied the novel ecosystem concept to quantify endangered plant populations for natural remnants vs. hybrid vs. novel ecosystems within Berlin. Populations of endangered plant species were generally, although unevenly, associated with specific biotope classes, with forest, grassland, and ruderal biotopes as the most important habitats. Surprisingly, novel ecosystems harbored the highest numbers of total populations, of total species, and of species that were exclusively confined to one type of ecosystem novelty. Quantifying the relative importance of biotope classes and novel vs. (near-)natural ecosystems as habitats of endangered species demonstrates that the urban contribution to biodiversity conservation is best ensured by providing a range of ecosystems. Rather than prioritizing only natural remnants, we thus argue for broad approaches to urban biodiversity conservation that include novel ecosystems.
Greg Planchuelo; Moritz von Der Lippe; Ingo Kowarik. Untangling the role of urban ecosystems as habitats for endangered plant species. Landscape and Urban Planning 2019, 189, 320 -334.
AMA StyleGreg Planchuelo, Moritz von Der Lippe, Ingo Kowarik. Untangling the role of urban ecosystems as habitats for endangered plant species. Landscape and Urban Planning. 2019; 189 ():320-334.
Chicago/Turabian StyleGreg Planchuelo; Moritz von Der Lippe; Ingo Kowarik. 2019. "Untangling the role of urban ecosystems as habitats for endangered plant species." Landscape and Urban Planning 189, no. : 320-334.
Pollination is a key ecological process, and invasive alien plant species have been shown to significantly affect plant-pollinator interactions. Yet, the role of the environmental context in modulating such processes is understudied. As urbanisation is a major component of global change, being associated with a range of stressors (e.g. heat, pollution, habitat isolation), we tested whether the attractiveness of a common invasive alien plant (Robinia pseudoacacia, black locust) vs. a common native plant (Cytisus scoparius, common broom) for pollinators changes with increasing urbanisation. We exposed blossoms of both species along an urbanisation gradient and quantified different types of pollinator interaction with the flowers. Both species attracted a broad range of pollinators, with significantly more visits for R. pseudoacacia, but without significant differences in numbers of insects that immediately accessed the flowers. However, compared to native Cytisus, more pollinators only hovered in front of flowers of invasive Robinia without visiting those subsequently. The decision rate to enter flowers of the invasive species decreased with increasing urbanisation. This suggests that while invasive Robinia still attracts many pollinators in urban settings attractiveness may decrease with increasing urban stressors. Results indicated future directions to deconstruct the role of different stressors in modulating plant-pollinator interactions, and they have implications for urban development since Robinia can be still considered as a “pollinator-friendly” tree for certain urban settings.
Sascha Buchholz; Ingo Kowarik. Urbanisation modulates plant-pollinator interactions in invasive vs. native plant species. Scientific Reports 2019, 9, 1 -9.
AMA StyleSascha Buchholz, Ingo Kowarik. Urbanisation modulates plant-pollinator interactions in invasive vs. native plant species. Scientific Reports. 2019; 9 (1):1-9.
Chicago/Turabian StyleSascha Buchholz; Ingo Kowarik. 2019. "Urbanisation modulates plant-pollinator interactions in invasive vs. native plant species." Scientific Reports 9, no. 1: 1-9.
Stephan Pauleit; Erik Andersson; Barbara Anton; Arjen Buijs; Dagmar Haase; Rieke Hansen; Ingo Kowarik; Anton Stahl Olafsson; Sander Van der Jagt. Urban green infrastructure – connecting people and nature for sustainable cities. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening 2019, 40, 1 -3.
AMA StyleStephan Pauleit, Erik Andersson, Barbara Anton, Arjen Buijs, Dagmar Haase, Rieke Hansen, Ingo Kowarik, Anton Stahl Olafsson, Sander Van der Jagt. Urban green infrastructure – connecting people and nature for sustainable cities. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening. 2019; 40 ():1-3.
Chicago/Turabian StyleStephan Pauleit; Erik Andersson; Barbara Anton; Arjen Buijs; Dagmar Haase; Rieke Hansen; Ingo Kowarik; Anton Stahl Olafsson; Sander Van der Jagt. 2019. "Urban green infrastructure – connecting people and nature for sustainable cities." Urban Forestry & Urban Greening 40, no. : 1-3.