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Silvert CJ, Gusto C, Warner LA, Diaz JM, Mallinger RE. How can residents protect and promote pollinators? The diffusion of residential pollinator-friendly gardening. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2023; 345:118877. [PMID: 37708642 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.118877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2023] [Revised: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/26/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023]
Abstract
Urbanization and land use change are leading causes of declines in pollinator abundance and diversity. However, researchers in different regions of the world have found that some pollinators can thrive in urban landscapes, depending on land use practices, environmental conditions, and species traits. Residential landscapes constitute a significant portion of urban green space and thus, residents' adoption of landscape practices to promote pollinators can play a central role in addressing the global pollinator challenge. Yet, although residents' willingness and intention appear strong, adoption of pollinator-friendly gardening remains low. The present study - guided by the Diffusion of Innovations theory - aimed to build empirical understanding by surveying 1598 [State] residents on their experiences and perceptions related to pollinator-friendly gardening to determine the most salient barriers and opportunities to engagement. Key findings suggest making the practice more widely observable and reducing perceived complexity in learning to do the practice are critical to promoting adoption. This demonstrates, in practical terms, that: (1) targeted efforts to build residents' actionable knowledge about pollinator-friendly gardening may significantly reduce uncertainty and boost the likelihood of adoption; and (2) examples of active pollinator gardens need to be more widely showcased and popularized (e.g., through experiential or virtual demonstrations). We also found most residents living in homeowner associations (HOAs) believed HOA policies on pollinator-friendly gardening were restrictive or the residents were unsure whether they are allowed to practice pollinator-friendly gardening. Given these perceptions strongly associated with residents' low intent to engage in pollinator-friendly gardening, a major opportunity exists to diffuse the practice and increase adoption by working with HOAs and community leaders to become promoters of - rather than barriers to - pollinator-friendly gardening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colby J Silvert
- University of Maryland, Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture, College Park, MD, United States.
| | - Cody Gusto
- University of Florida, Department of Agricultural Education and Communication, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Laura A Warner
- University of Florida, Department of Agricultural Education and Communication, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - John M Diaz
- University of Florida, Department of Agricultural Education and Communication, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Rachel E Mallinger
- University of Florida, Entomology and Nematology Department, Gainesville, FL, United States
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Groffman PM, Suchy AK, Locke DH, Johnston RJ, Newburn DA, Gold AJ, Band LE, Duncan J, Grove JM, Kao-Kniffin J, Meltzer H, Ndebele T, O’Neil-Dunne J, Polsky C, Thompson GL, Wang H, Zawojska E. Hydro-bio-geo-socio-chemical interactions and the sustainability of residential landscapes. PNAS NEXUS 2023; 2:pgad316. [PMID: 37854707 PMCID: PMC10581338 DOI: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgad316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023]
Abstract
Residential landscapes are essential to the sustainability of large areas of the United States. However, spatial and temporal variation across multiple domains complicates developing policies to balance these systems' environmental, economic, and equity dimensions. We conducted multidisciplinary studies in the Baltimore, MD, USA, metropolitan area to identify locations (hotspots) or times (hot moments) with a disproportionate influence on nitrogen export, a widespread environmental concern. Results showed high variation in the inherent vulnerability/sensitivity of individual parcels to cause environmental damage and in the knowledge and practices of individual managers. To the extent that hotspots are the result of management choices by homeowners, there are straightforward approaches to improve outcomes, e.g. fertilizer restrictions and incentives to reduce fertilizer use. If, however, hotspots arise from the configuration and inherent characteristics of parcels and neighborhoods, efforts to improve outcomes may involve more intensive and complex interventions, such as conversion to alternative ecosystem types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter M Groffman
- Advanced Science Research Center at the Graduate Center, City University of NewYork, New York, NY 10031, USA
| | - Amanda K Suchy
- Institute for Great Lakes Research and Biology Department, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI 48858, USA
| | - Dexter H Locke
- USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station, Baltimore Field Station, Baltimore, MD 21228, USA
| | - Robert J Johnston
- George Perkins Marsh Institute, Clark University, Worcester, MA 01610, USA
| | - David A Newburn
- Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Arthur J Gold
- Department of Natural Resources Science, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881, USA
| | - Lawrence E Band
- Department of Environmental Science, and Engineering Systems and Environment, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22904, USA
| | - Jonathan Duncan
- Department of Ecosystem Science and Management, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - J Morgan Grove
- USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station, Baltimore Field Station, Baltimore, MD 21228, USA
| | - Jenny Kao-Kniffin
- School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
| | - Hallee Meltzer
- NOAA National Sea Grant Office, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA
| | - Tom Ndebele
- George Perkins Marsh Institute, Clark University, Worcester, MA 01610, USA
| | | | - Colin Polsky
- Center for Environmental Studies, Florida Atlantic University, Davie, FL 33314, USA
| | - Grant L Thompson
- Department of Horticulture, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
| | - Haoluan Wang
- Department of Geography and Sustainable Development, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33146, USA
| | - Ewa Zawojska
- Faculty of Economic Sciences, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, 00-241, Poland
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Thompson GL, Bray N, Groffman PM, Kao-Kniffin J. Soil microbiomes in lawns reveal land-use legacy impacts on urban landscapes. Oecologia 2023:10.1007/s00442-023-05389-8. [PMID: 37286887 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-023-05389-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Land-use change is highly dynamic globally and there is great uncertainty about the effects of land-use legacies on contemporary environmental performance. We used a chronosequence of urban grasslands (lawns) that were converted from agricultural and forested lands from 10 to over 130 years prior to determine if land-use legacy influences components of soil biodiversity and composition over time. We used historical aerial imagery to identify sites in Baltimore County, MD (USA) with agricultural versus forest land-use history. Soil samples were taken from these sites as well as from existing well-studied agricultural and forest sites used as historical references by the National Science Foundation Long-Term Ecological Research Baltimore Ecosystem Study program. We found that the microbiomes in lawns of agricultural origin were similar to those in agricultural reference sites, which suggests that the ecological parameters on lawns and reference agricultural systems are similar in how they influence soil microbial community dynamics. In contrast, lawns that were previously forest showed distinct shifts in soil bacterial composition upon recent conversion but reverted back in composition similar to forest soils as the lawns aged over decades. Soil fungal communities shifted after forested land was converted to lawns, but unlike bacterial communities, did not revert in composition over time. Our results show that components of bacterial biodiversity and composition are resistant to change in previously forested lawns despite urbanization processes. Therefore land-use legacy, depending on the prior use, is an important factor to consider when examining urban ecological homogenization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grant L Thompson
- School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Natalie Bray
- School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Peter M Groffman
- Advanced Science Research Center at the Graduate Center, Environmental Sciences Initiative, City University of New York, New York, NY, 10031, USA
- Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Millbrook, NY, 12545, USA
| | - Jenny Kao-Kniffin
- School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA.
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4
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Zhan Y, Yao Z, Groffman PM, Xie J, Wang Y, Li G, Zheng X, Butterbach-Bahl K. Urbanization can accelerate climate change by increasing soil N 2 O emission while reducing CH 4 uptake. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2023; 29:3489-3502. [PMID: 36825371 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Urban land-use change has the potential to affect local to global biogeochemical carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) cycles and associated greenhouse gas (GHG) fluxes. We conducted a meta-analysis to (1) assess the effects of urbanization-induced land-use conversion on soil nitrous oxide (N2 O) and methane (CH4 ) fluxes, (2) quantify direct N2 O emission factors (EFd ) of fertilized urban soils used, for example, as lawns or forests, and (3) identify the key drivers leading to flux changes associated with urbanization. On average, urbanization increases soil N2 O emissions by 153%, to 3.0 kg N ha-1 year-1 , while rates of soil CH4 uptake are reduced by 50%, to 2.0 kg C ha-1 year-1 . The global mean annual N2 O EFd of fertilized lawns and urban forests is 1.4%, suggesting that urban soils can be regional hotspots of N2 O emissions. On a global basis, conversion of land to urban greenspaces has increased soil N2 O emission by 0.46 Tg N2 O-N year-1 and decreased soil CH4 uptake by 0.58 Tg CH4 -C year-1 . Urbanization driven changes in soil N2 O emission and CH4 uptake are associated with changes in soil properties (bulk density, pH, total N content, and C/N ratio), increased temperature, and management practices, especially fertilizer use. Overall, our meta-analysis shows that urbanization increases soil N2 O emissions and reduces the role of soils as a sink for atmospheric CH4 . These effects can be mitigated by avoiding soil compaction, reducing fertilization of lawns, and by restoring native ecosystems in urban landscapes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Zhan
- State Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Boundary Layer Physics and Atmospheric Chemistry, Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China
- College of Earth Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Zhisheng Yao
- State Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Boundary Layer Physics and Atmospheric Chemistry, Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Peter M Groffman
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Brooklyn College, Advanced Science Research Center at The Graduate Center, City University of New York, New York, New York, USA
| | - Junfei Xie
- Beijing Institute of Landscape Architecture, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Yan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Boundary Layer Physics and Atmospheric Chemistry, Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China
- College of Earth Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Guangtao Li
- Ministry of Transport, Tianjin Research Institute for Water Transport Engineering, Tianjin, P.R. China
| | - Xunhua Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Boundary Layer Physics and Atmospheric Chemistry, Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China
- College of Earth Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Klaus Butterbach-Bahl
- State Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Boundary Layer Physics and Atmospheric Chemistry, Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China
- Institute for Meteorology and Climate Research, Atmospheric Environmental Research, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany
- Department of Agroecology, Pioneer Center Land-CRAFT, Aarhus University, Aarhus C, Denmark
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5
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Dvorsky C, Riddle K, Boone M. Assessing the Impact of Chemical Algae Management Strategies on Anurans and Aquatic Communities. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2023; 42:213-224. [PMID: 36342350 PMCID: PMC10107480 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2022] [Revised: 05/22/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Pond management with chemical and biological agents that reduce overgrowth of algae is an important means of maintaining water quality in residential ponds, yet the effects on nontarget species are not fully understood. We assessed the impact of Aquashade (a common nontoxic pond dye) and copper sulfate (a toxic algaecide) on American toad (Anaxyrus americanus), northern leopard frog (Lithobates pipiens), and Cope's gray treefrog (Hyla chrysoscelis) metamorphosis in outdoor mesocosm experiments. We also evaluated the relative impact of tadpole grazing versus chemical treatment on phytoplankton and periphyton abundance. We found no significant effects of pond management treatment on anuran metamorphosis, suggesting that addition of Aquashade and copper sulfate at tested concentrations does not significantly impact anurans under these experimental conditions. Interestingly, we found that the presence of tadpoles more strongly reduced algal abundance than Aquashade or copper sulfate by significantly decreasing phytoplankton and periphyton abundance over time. The present study suggests that anuran tadpoles may be effective at maintaining water quality, and that Aquashade and copper sulfate may have minimal effects on amphibian metamorphosis. Environ Toxicol Chem 2023;42:213-224. © 2022 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.
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Ryan CD, Groffman PM, Grove JM, Hall SJ, Heffernan JB, Hobbie SE, Locke DH, Morse JL, Neill C, Nelson KC, O'Neil‐Dunne J, Roy Chowdhury R, Steele MK, Trammell TLE. Ecological homogenization of soil properties in the American residential macrosystem. Ecosphere 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.4208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Christopher D. Ryan
- The Graduate Center, Earth and Environmental Sciences Program City University of New York New York USA
- Environmental Sciences Initiative CUNY Advanced Science Research Center New York USA
| | - Peter M. Groffman
- The Graduate Center, Earth and Environmental Sciences Program City University of New York New York USA
- Environmental Sciences Initiative CUNY Advanced Science Research Center New York USA
- Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies Millbrook New York USA
| | - J. Morgan Grove
- USDA Forest Service, Baltimore Field Station Baltimore Maryland USA
| | - Sharon J. Hall
- School of Life Sciences Arizona State University Tempe Arizona USA
| | - James B. Heffernan
- Nicholas School of Environment Duke University Durham North Carolina USA
| | - Sarah E. Hobbie
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior University of Minnesota Twin Cities Minneapolis Minnesota USA
| | - Dexter H. Locke
- USDA Forest Service, Baltimore Field Station Baltimore Maryland USA
| | - Jennifer L. Morse
- Department of Environmental Science and Management Portland State University Portland Oregon USA
| | | | - Kristen C. Nelson
- Department of Forest Resources University of Minnesota Twin Cities St. Paul Minnesota USA
- Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology University of Minnesota Twin Cities St. Paul Minnesota USA
| | - Jarlath O'Neil‐Dunne
- Spatial Analysis Lab, Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources University of Vermont Burlington Vermont USA
| | | | - Meredith K. Steele
- Department of Crop and Soil Environmental Science Virginia Tech Blacksburg Virginia USA
| | - Tara L. E. Trammell
- Department of Plant and Soil Sciences University of Delaware Newark Delaware USA
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7
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Sonti NF, Groffman PM, Nowak DJ, Henning JG, Avolio ML, Rosi EJ. Urban net primary production: Concepts, field methods, and Baltimore, Maryland, USA case study. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2022; 32:e2562. [PMID: 35138007 DOI: 10.1002/eap.2562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2021] [Accepted: 12/01/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Given the large and increasing amount of urban, suburban, and exurban land use on Earth, there is a need to accurately assess net primary productivity (NPP) of urban ecosystems. However, the heterogeneous and dynamic urban mosaic presents challenges to the measurement of NPP, creating landscapes that may appear more similar to a savanna than to the native landscape replaced. Studies of urban biomass have tended to focus on one type of vegetation (e.g., lawns or trees). Yet a focus on the ecology of the city should include the entire urban ecosystem rather than the separate investigation of its parts. Furthermore, few studies have attempted to measure urban aboveground NPP (ANPP) using field-based methods. Most studies project growth rates from measurements of tree diameter to estimate annual ANPP or use remote sensing approaches. In addition, field-based methods for measuring NPP do not address any special considerations for adapting such field methods to urban landscapes. Frequent planting and partial or complete removal of herbaceous and woody plants can make it difficult to accurately quantify increments and losses of plant biomass throughout an urban landscape. In this study, we review how ANPP of urban landscapes can be estimated based on field measurements, highlighting the challenges specific to urban areas. We then estimated ANPP of woody and herbaceous vegetation over a 15-year period for Baltimore, MD, USA using a combination of plot-based field data and published values from the literature. Baltimore's citywide ANPP was estimated to be 355.8 g m-2 , a result that we then put into context through comparison with other North American Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) sites and mean annual precipitation. We found our estimate of Baltimore citywide ANPP to be only approximately half as much (or less) than ANPP at forested LTER sites of the eastern United States, and more comparable to grassland, oldfield, desert, or boreal forest ANPP. We also found that Baltimore had low productivity for its level of precipitation. We conclude with a discussion of the significance of accurate assessment of primary productivity of urban ecosystems and critical future research needs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nancy F Sonti
- USDA Forest Service Northern Research Station, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Peter M Groffman
- Advanced Science Research Center at the Graduate Center, City University of New York, New York, New York, USA
- Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Millbrook, New York, USA
| | - David J Nowak
- USDA Forest Service Northern Research Station, Syracuse, New York, USA
| | - Jason G Henning
- The Davey Institute and USDA Forest Service, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Meghan L Avolio
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Emma J Rosi
- Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Millbrook, New York, USA
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8
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Lerman SB, Narango DL, Avolio ML, Bratt AR, Engebretson JM, Groffman PM, Hall SJ, Heffernan JB, Hobbie SE, Larson KL, Locke DH, Neill C, Nelson KC, Padullés Cubino J, Trammell TLE. Residential yard management and landscape cover affect urban bird community diversity across the continental USA. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2021; 31:e02455. [PMID: 34523195 DOI: 10.1002/eap.2455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2021] [Accepted: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Urbanization has a homogenizing effect on biodiversity and leads to communities with fewer native species and lower conservation value. However, few studies have explored whether or how land management by urban residents can ameliorate the deleterious effects of this homogenization on species composition. We tested the effects of local (land management) and neighborhood-scale (impervious surface and tree canopy cover) features on breeding bird diversity in six US metropolitan areas that differ in regional species pools and climate. We used a Bayesian multiregion community model to assess differences in species richness, functional guild richness, community turnover, population vulnerability, and public interest in each bird community in six land management types: two natural area park types (separate and adjacent to residential areas), two yard types with conservation features (wildlife-certified and water conservation) and two lawn-dominated yard types (high- and low-fertilizer application), and surrounding neighborhood-scale features. Species richness was higher in yards compared with parks; however, parks supported communities with high conservation scores while yards supported species of high public interest. Bird communities in all land management types were composed of primarily native species. Within yard types, species richness was strongly and positively associated with neighborhood-scale tree canopy cover and negatively associated with impervious surface. At a continental scale, community turnover between cities was lowest in yards and highest in parks. Within cities, however, turnover was lowest in high-fertilizer yards and highest in wildlife-certified yards and parks. Our results demonstrate that, across regions, preserving natural areas, minimizing impervious surfaces and increasing tree canopy are essential strategies to conserve regionally important species. However, yards, especially those managed for wildlife support diverse, heterogeneous bird communities with high public interest and potential to support species of conservation concern. Management approaches that include the preservation of protected parks, encourage wildlife-friendly yards and acknowledge how public interest in local birds can advance successful conservation in American residential landscapes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susannah B Lerman
- USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station, Amherst, Massachusetts, 01003, USA
| | - Desirée L Narango
- Advanced Science Research Center at the Graduate Center, City University of New York, New York, New York, 10031, USA
- Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, 01003, USA
| | - Meghan L Avolio
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, 21218, USA
| | - Anika R Bratt
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, 27708, USA
- Department of Environmental Studies, Davidson College, Davidson, North Carolina, 28035, USA
| | - Jesse M Engebretson
- Department of Forest Resources, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota, 55108, USA
- Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota, 55108, USA
| | - Peter M Groffman
- Advanced Science Research Center at the Graduate Center, City University of New York, New York, New York, 10031, USA
- Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Millbrook, New York, 12545, USA
| | - Sharon J Hall
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, 85287, USA
| | - James B Heffernan
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, 27708, USA
| | - Sarah E Hobbie
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota, 55108, USA
| | - Kelli L Larson
- School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning, School of Sustainability, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, 85287, USA
| | - Dexter H Locke
- USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station, Baltimore, Maryland, 21228, USA
| | - Christopher Neill
- Woodwell Climate Research Center, Falmouth, Massachusetts, 02540, USA
| | - Kristen C Nelson
- Department of Forest Resources, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota, 55108, USA
- Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota, 55108, USA
| | - Josep Padullés Cubino
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota, 55108, USA
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Masaryk University, Brno, 62500, Czech Republic
| | - Tara L E Trammell
- Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, 19716, USA
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Locke DH, Ossola A, Minor E, Lin BB. Spatial contagion structures urban vegetation from parcel to landscape. PEOPLE AND NATURE 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/pan3.10254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Dexter Henry Locke
- Northern Research Station Baltimore Field Station USDA Forest Service Baltimore MD USA
| | - Alessandro Ossola
- Department of Plant Sciences University of California Davis CA USA
- Department of Biological Sciences Macquarie University Sydney NSW Australia
| | - Emily Minor
- Department of Biological Sciences University of Illinois Chicago Chicago IL USA
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10
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Fuentes TL. Homeowner preferences drive lawn care practices and species diversity patterns in new lawn floras. JOURNAL OF URBAN ECOLOGY 2021. [DOI: 10.1093/jue/juab015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Households intensively manage lawns to create uniformly green, low diversity plant communities. Because lawns occupy a large proportion of urban green space, they are a crucial case for understanding how people manipulate urban vegetation. In this study, I focused on 58 homeowners who purchased a newly constructed home and yard in the Seattle Metropolitan Statistical Area, USA, to see how preferences, lawn care regimes and new lawn floras develop within a multi-scalar urban environment. A typical homeowner watered 3 times in spring, watered 24 times in summer, applied fertilizer twice, mowed 21 times and edged 15 times. Most new lawn turfgrasses were Lolium perenne, Poa pratensis and/or Festuca spp. Mean species richness was 6.5 ± 5.3 species. The most frequent species were non-native and cosmopolitan (turfgrasses, Hypochaeris radicata, Taraxacum officinale and Trifolium repens). Five variables increased the probability of homeowners managing their lawns as turfgrass monocultures: living in a neighborhood with larger yards, summer watering frequency, fertilizer frequency, valuing space for children and valuing wildlife habitat. Valuing an easy to manage yard decreased the turfgrass monoculture probability. In polyculture yards, having a larger lawn was positively correlated with non-turfgrass species richness, but elevation was negatively correlated. Homeowners who valued space for children appeared to have more intensive lawn care regimes than those who valued wildlife habitat or easy to manage yards. Although lawn floras result from complex interactions of the environment and households, urban characteristics appeared to be weaker drivers of diversity than homeowner preferences and lawn care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tracy L Fuentes
- Urban Design and Planning, University of Washington, Box 355740, 410 Gould Hall, Seattle, WA, 98195-5740, USA
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