Restoration Ecology in an Urbanizing World

Handel, Steven N.; Saito, Osamu; Takeuchi, Kazuhiko

doi:10.1007/978-94-007-7088-1_31

Cited by 10 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 46 publications

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“…While many plant species naturally occur in heterogeneous landscapes, the intervening matrix in urban areas may make urban populations more isolated than they would be in the wild (Frankham et al, 2002;Johnson et al, 2015;Hejkal et al, 2017). For plant species in particular, seed and pollen dispersal may be inhibited or limited in ways that can suppress important life history events (i.e., reproduction, mating dynamics, recruitment) and thus long-term population persistence (Given, 1994;Handel et al, 2013;Dubois and Cheptou, 2017). Ecological circumstances, such as a variation in pollination services, can influence reproductive assurance (i.e., increase selfing rates; Kalisz et al, 2004).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pollinator-Mediated Gene Flow Connects Green Roof Populations Across the Urban Matrix: A Paternity Analysis of the Self-Compatible Forb Penstemon hirsutus

Ksiazek-Mikenas

Fant²,

Skogen³

2019

Front. Ecol. Evol.

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Gene flow between populations can help maintain genetic diversity and prevent inbreeding, which is especially important for small, fragmented habitats. Many plant species rely on pollinators to move pollen between populations. In urban areas, insufficient pollinator services may result in limited gene flow, which can have negative consequences such as genetic drift and inbreeding depression. Furthermore, restored populations that are established with few founders of low genetic diversity may have limited long-term population persistence. Here, we tested the hypotheses that populations of a self-compatible forb established on urban green roofs from nursery stock are genetically depauperate and that limited gene (pollen) flow between populations will result in increased inbreeding. We compared the neutral genetic diversity of Penstemon hirsutus, using nine microsatellite loci, between three green roof populations established from nursery stock and three natural populations. We also established ten experimental populations on green roofs and measured rates of outcrossing and inbreeding and identified the movement of pollen within and between roofs using a paternity analysis. We found that neutral genetic diversity of populations established from nursery stock was lower than that of natural populations, although the level of inbreeding was also lower on the green roofs. In our experimental populations, we found that the rates of outcrossing and inbreeding varied between the roof populations. Our results suggest that inbreeding may be correlated with cover of co-flowering species but not with any of the other measured site properties. The location of likely pollen donors suggested that on average, 75% of pollen was derived from plants within the population (including self) and 25% came from plants on different roofs. Our results document realized pollen movement within and between green roofs, demonstrating that these habitats provide important connectivity in a fragmented environment.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pollinator-Mediated Gene Flow Connects Green Roof Populations Across the Urban Matrix: A Paternity Analysis of the Self-Compatible Forb Penstemon hirsutus

Ksiazek-Mikenas

Fant²,

Skogen³

2019

Front. Ecol. Evol.

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“…Furthermore, these nearly two decades since initiation did not include any landscape management activities (i.e., watering, fertilization, staking, pruning, or removal of invasive species stems) that are administrative and financial burdens for many public authorities that control our urban habitats (Handel et al. ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Though the mechanism for recovery is not entirely clear, it is notable that the rapid colonization took place, even though <3% of the site was planted with trees, at a fraction of the cost than site-wide planting treatments that are sometimes undertaken (Lamb et al 2005 ). Furthermore, these nearly two decades since initiation did not include any landscape management activities (i.e., watering, fertilization, staking, pruning, or removal of invasive species stems) that are administrative and fi nancial burdens for many public authorities that control our urban habitats (Handel et al 2013 ).…”

Section: Implications For Managementmentioning

confidence: 99%

A long‐term evaluation of applied nucleation as a strategy to facilitate forest restoration

Corbin

Robinson

Hafkemeyer

et al. 2016

Ecological Applications

Self Cite

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Applied nucleation is a restoration technique that seeks to facilitate woody-plant establishment by attracting birds or other animals that may introduce seeds of dispersal-limited species. In 1991, an experimental test of applied nucleation was initiated in an abandoned landfill in New Jersey, USA. Trees and shrubs were planted into 16 10 x 10 m plots, covering < 3% of the 6-ha site. In 2010-2011, we sampled the plant community to test the impact of the treatments on forest cover and plant biodiversity. Site-wide forest cover increased substantially in the 19 years since planting from none to 59%. The original planted plots had significantly higher stem density, particularly of bird-dispersed species, than unplanted areas. Species composition outside the planted plots was dominated by the wind-dispersed Fraxinus americana and several small-seeded bird-dispersed species, but there were few species indicative of later successional stages. The expected model of successional development via the nucleation model that rates of colonization would be highest near plantings and that forest cover would spread outward from established clusters was not supported after this time span. Given the site's isolation from potential sources of woody propagules, the experimental treatments may not have been enough to overcome many species' dispersal limitation. Regardless of the mechanism, however, the treatments transformed the once essentially treeless site into a densely wooded habitat, and did so at a rate faster than other descriptions of reforestation following disturbances or land-use changes in the region. Despite the relatively low species richness of the community, this experiment demonstrated that reforestation of even severely degraded habitat can be achieved with minimal management after site preparation and cluster plantings.

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“…Many UGSs, such as private gardens, primarily support non-native vegetation which can then spread outwards [97]. The nursery industry is a major source of non-native species [85,92], but could become a more biodiversity-friendly setting.…”

Section: Improving the Biodiversity And Other Contributions Of Citiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Opportunities for Biodiversity Conservation via Urban Ecosystem Regeneration

Perry,

Cox

2024

Diversity

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Conservation traditionally focuses on at-risk species and relatively intact ecosystems. As the human population and our global impact have risen, many more species and ecosystems are at risk and fewer intact ecosystems remain, with urbanization being a major contributing factor. Cities and their inhabitants are here to stay, and the prevalence of urbanization, often in the vicinity of areas of high conservation value, requires reconsideration of the conservation value of urban ecosystems and urban green spaces. Our aim is to explore the practical aspects of such actions. Urban ecosystem regeneration will require the incorporation of strategies for urban ecosystem regeneration into an overall conservation policy. The novel paradigm of urban ecosystem regeneration, advocated here, maximizes the capacity of urban spaces to support biodiversity while reducing undesirable outcomes and enhancing human wellbeing. The potential for cities to exacerbate biological invasion, climate change, and other ecosystem-degrading factors requires particular attention in devising a strategy for conservation in urban spaces, made essential by the predicted further spread of cities across the globe.

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Restoration Ecology in an Urbanizing World

Cited by 10 publications

References 46 publications

Pollinator-Mediated Gene Flow Connects Green Roof Populations Across the Urban Matrix: A Paternity Analysis of the Self-Compatible Forb Penstemon hirsutus

Pollinator-Mediated Gene Flow Connects Green Roof Populations Across the Urban Matrix: A Paternity Analysis of the Self-Compatible Forb Penstemon hirsutus

A long‐term evaluation of applied nucleation as a strategy to facilitate forest restoration

Opportunities for Biodiversity Conservation via Urban Ecosystem Regeneration

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