Plant invasion as an emerging challenge for the conservation of heritage sites: the spread of ornamental trees on ancient monuments in Rome, Italy

Celesti‐Grapow, Laura; Ricotta, Carlo

doi:10.1007/s10530-020-02429-9

Cited by 44 publications

(34 citation statements)

References 99 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Knüsel et al 2019;Lapin et al 2019;Wagner et al 2020), but these are usually less abundant in central Europe than urban populations. While there is little evidence of negative effects of Ailanthus on urban biodiversity, wild urban populations can be challenging due to the vigorous clonal growth and regeneration of the tree, necessitating increased efforts for maintaining green spaces, transportation corridors and built structures (Kowarik and Säumel 2007;Sladonia et al 2017), including ancient monuments in southern Europe (Celesti Grapow and Ricotta 2020;Trotta et al 2020).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Between approval and disapproval: Citizens’ views on the invasive tree Ailanthus altissima and its management

Kowarik¹,

Straka²,

Lehmann³

et al. 2021

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Between approval and disapproval: Citizens’ views on the invasive tree Ailanthus altissima and its management

Kowarik¹,

Straka²,

Lehmann³

et al. 2021

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The areas of ancient archaeology, more in general protected monumental sites, play an important role in the conservation of natural biodiversity, especially if they are located in anthropogenic environments strongly modified by man. Hence, these areas become an important component of the urban green infrastructure [14], constituting fundamental patches of spontaneous vegetation in the urban mosaic and concurring in the improvement of the connectivity of the ecological network [15]. As Lucchese and Pignatti state [16]:…”

Section: Porosity For Nature Conservation and Biodiversitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Living Amidst the Ruins in Rome: Archaeological Sites as Hubs for Sustainable Development

Capuano

2022

Sustainability

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In Rome, the intertwining of natural and built environments is structural, and has consolidated over the centuries. In the contemporary fabric, the overabundant presence of archaeology, always in symbiosis with vegetation, plays an important role for the image of the city and has helped maintain the alternation of voids and solids. Porosity can be seen therefore as a permanent morphological urban character of the city, particularly significant nowadays for environmental considerations. Ruins, which only a few years ago were perceived more as a brake to urban transformation, in recent years are emerging as an interesting potential in terms of biodiversity spots and social catalysts to implement more sustainable development. Out of the concept of sustainability, we can in fact recognize new and more cutting-edge ways of planning and designing heritage territory. This article describes a different approach to the enhancement of archaeological areas, through three case studies—The Appian Way Park, Rome’s City Walls and ArchaeoGRAB—that consider heritage as a sustainable integrated system. These projects present, through a holistic and multidisciplinary perspective, possible ways in which landscape design can contribute to the preservation of natural and heritage environments, as well as the development of healthier lifestyles and strengthening of local culture for the communities that dwell therein.

show abstract

“…Biological invasions are one of the most serious threats to biodiversity and cultural heritage in the world [22,23].Studies on the impact of habitat conditions on the production and dispersal of seeds in invasive alien plants allow a better understanding of their geographical distribution [24] and adaptability to new habitats [9], as well as enable the identification of habitats particularly sensitive to invasion [25]. Plant height, seed weight, and seed morphology are some of the most important traits influencing abiotic seed dispersal [26].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Relationships of Habitat Conditions, Height Level, and Geographical Position with Fruit and Seed Traits in Populations of Invasive Vine Echinocystis lobata (Cucurbitaceae) in Central and Eastern Europe

Kostrakiewicz-Gierałt¹,

Pliszko

Barabasz‐Krasny

et al. 2022

Forests

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In climbing plants, fruits can be formed at different heights, depending on the height of external support. However, the effect of height on fruit and seed traits in invasive vines of Cucurbitaceae has not been intensively studied so far. In Europe, Echinocystis lobata, a North American member of Cucurbitaceae, is considered one of the most abundant invasive alien plants spreading in natural riparian forests, thickets, and tall herbs, whereas it is a rare species in urban woodlands. In this study, we tested the variability of selected fruit and seed traits of E. lobata in connection with habitat origin (natural, semi-natural, and anthropogenic), habitat type (using the EUNIS habitat classification), height (the distance between the fruit and the ground), and geographical position. The study was conducted in 2018 in 65 sites located in Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Slovakia. In each study site, a random sample of 10 fresh mature fruits of E. lobata was collected from subsequent 0.50 m intervals of height. The length, the width, and the weight of the fresh fruits, as well as the total number of seeds and number of undeveloped seeds per fruit, were examined. Moreover, the well-developed seeds from selected study sites were weighed. The statistical analysis showed the significant effect of habitat origin, habitat type, and height on most of the studied fruit and seed traits. The largest range of height (from 0.00 to 4.00 m) was observed in two types of habitats (F—heathland, scrub, and tundra; and G—woodland, forest, and other wooded land). The total number of seeds per fruit was positively correlated with the length, width, and weight of the fresh fruits. The fruits were a little heavier and bigger in natural habitats located in the northeast of the study area. The distribution of fruits at different heights may contribute to better dispersal of seeds by animals and wind, and may also better protect the seeds from being eaten by granivorous animals. The defence against seed-eating animals is expected to be stronger in semi-natural habitats, as well as on banks and shores of inland surface waters, where the seed production is the highest. The influence of seed traits on seed germination and seedling survival in various habitats and their importance in the invasiveness of E. lobata require further study.

show abstract

Plant invasion as an emerging challenge for the conservation of heritage sites: the spread of ornamental trees on ancient monuments in Rome, Italy

Cited by 44 publications

References 99 publications

Between approval and disapproval: Citizens’ views on the invasive tree Ailanthus altissima and its management

Between approval and disapproval: Citizens’ views on the invasive tree Ailanthus altissima and its management

Living Amidst the Ruins in Rome: Archaeological Sites as Hubs for Sustainable Development

The Relationships of Habitat Conditions, Height Level, and Geographical Position with Fruit and Seed Traits in Populations of Invasive Vine Echinocystis lobata (Cucurbitaceae) in Central and Eastern Europe

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About