Ecosystem Processes Along an Urban-to-Rural Gradient

Abstract

In order to understand the effect of urban development on the functioning of forest ecosystems, during the past decade we have been studying red oak stands located on similar soil along an urban-rural gradient running from New York City ro rural Litchfield County, Connecticut. This paper summarizes the results of this work. Field measurements, controlled laboratory experiments, and reciprocal transplants documented soil pollution, soil hydrophobicity, litter decomposition rates, total soil carbon, potential nitrogen mineralization, nitrification, fungal biomass, and earthworm populations in forests along the 140 × 20 km study transect. The results revealed a complex urban-rural environmental gradient. The urban forests exhibit unique ecosystem structure and function in relation to the suburban and rural forest stands; these are likely linked to stresses of the urban environment such as air pollution, which has also resulted in elevated levels of heavy metals in the soil, the positive effects of the heat island phenomenon, and the presence of earthworms. The data suggest a working model to guide mechanistic work on the ecology of forests along urban-to-rural gradients, and for comparison of different metropolitan areas.

Agricultural Land Fragmentation at Urban Fringes: An Application of Urban-To-Rural Gradient Analysis in Adelaide

“…Landscape metrics have been used extensively in conservation biology, but their application in land-use research to measure, characterize, analyze, and visualize landscape structure is far less common, particularly in urban areas [41,[56][57][58]. Four landscape metrics were calculated from the attributes for each cell in the three transects ( Table 2).…”

Exploratory Landscape Metrics for Agricultural Sustainability

“…While the future expansion of urban regions and continued sprawl is adversely affecting our environment and natural rural landscapes (Gar-On Yeh and Li 1999), the sectors of activity that determine the form of the city are undermining the most sustainable options, given the demands of these sectors. This has led to a greater occurrence of leapfrogging, (Heim 2001), loss of agricultural land (Fazal 2000) and an increase in commercial, industrial, and complex patterns in urban-rural environments (McDonnell et al 1997). Decision making is, however, influenced by the need to make a choice that articulates the consequences not only for economic growth but also for the planning and infrastructures of the city.…”

Classification and Characterization of Landscapes in the Territory of Adilabad District, Telangana, Deccan Region, India

“…For instance, urban soils are characterized by modified soil organism activity and modified soil temperature regimes, elevated soil reaction (pH), greater nutrient amounts and availability to plants, higher calcium levels, more rocks, greater decomposition rates, less accumulated organic matter, and compacted mixtures of anthropogenic materials compared with local remnants of the natural ecosystems [47].…”