The Importance of Temporal and Spatial Vegetation Structure Information in Biotope Mapping Schemes: A Case Study in Helsingborg, Sweden

Abstract

Temporal and spatial vegetation structure has impact on biodiversity qualities. Yet, current schemes of biotope mapping do only to a limited extend incorporate these factors in the mapping. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the application of a modified biotope mapping scheme that includes temporal and spatial vegetation structure. A refined scheme was developed based on a biotope classification, and applied to a green structure system in Helsingborg city in southern Sweden. It includes four parameters of vegetation structure: continuity of forest cover, age of dominant trees, horizontal structure, and vertical structure. The major green structure sites were determined by interpretation of panchromatic aerial photographs assisted with a field survey. A set of biotope maps was constructed on the basis of each level of modified classification. An evaluation of the scheme included two aspects in particular: comparison of species richness between long-continuity and short-continuity forests based on identification of woodland continuity using ancient woodland indicators (AWI) species and related historical documents, and spatial distribution of animals in the green space in relation to vegetation structure. The results indicate that (1) the relationship between forest continuity: according to verification of historical documents, the richness of AWI species was higher in long-continuity forests; Simpson's diversity was significantly different between long- and short-continuity forests; the total species richness and Shannon's diversity were much higher in long-continuity forests shown a very significant difference. (2) The spatial vegetation structure and age of stands influence the richness and abundance of the avian fauna and rabbits, and distance to the nearest tree and shrub was a strong determinant of presence for these animal groups. It is concluded that continuity of forest cover, age of dominant trees, horizontal and vertical structures of vegetation should now be included in urban biotope classifications.

Are Perceived Sensory Dimensions a Reliable Tool for Urban Green Space Assessment and Planning?

“…short-cut open lawns as in G6, resulted in limited experience of nature and species richness among the respondents. This demonstrates that the respondents' perceptions of the eight sensory dimensions corresponded rather well with the actual vegetation structure and species richness of the study sites (Gao et al, 2012).…”

“…The study area comprised a west-east transect running from the centre of the city to its outskirts and bordering a number of major roads, which act as barriers to people using green spaces in adjacent areas ( Figure 1). Based on previous results of biotope mapping of green spaces in the transect (Gao, Qiu, Hammer, & Gunnarsson, 2012), six pre-coded green spaces with distinctive differences in terms of landscape attributes, character, size and shape were selected, with a distribution throughout the transect of Helsingborg, thereby representing the diversity of green space types and locations along the gradient from inner city to the urban periphery ( Figure 1 and Table 1). The overlapping study area allowed analysis of the relationship between the diversity and type of biotopes identified by Gao et al (2012) and visitors' perceptions of the eight sensory dimensions.…”

“…Based on previous results of biotope mapping of green spaces in the transect (Gao, Qiu, Hammer, & Gunnarsson, 2012), six pre-coded green spaces with distinctive differences in terms of landscape attributes, character, size and shape were selected, with a distribution throughout the transect of Helsingborg, thereby representing the diversity of green space types and locations along the gradient from inner city to the urban periphery ( Figure 1 and Table 1). The overlapping study area allowed analysis of the relationship between the diversity and type of biotopes identified by Gao et al (2012) and visitors' perceptions of the eight sensory dimensions. G1, G2 and G6 are located in the inner city and surrounded by residential areas, while G3-G5 are located in the periphery of the city, where commercial and industrial areas dominate the surrounding land use.…”

“…Comparison of the results from the biotope mapping in the six study sites (Table 1, see also Gao et al, 2012) and the respondents' experience of the eight perceived sensory dimensions showed that the more diverse biotopes an urban green space encompasses, the greater the number of sensory dimensions that were highly experienced. This is consistent with findings by Plieninger, Dijks, Oteros-Rozas, and Bieling (2013), who concluded that assignment of perceived landscape values is closely related to biophysical landscape features and spatial properties.…”

The Reducing Effect of Green Spaces with Different Vegetation Structure on Atmospheric Particulate Matter Concentration in BaoJi City, China

“…In this study, combined with the local characteristics, the green space classification of Baoji was established based on the National Natural Science Fund Project of China "Construction of urban biodiversity conservation system based on biotope mapping". The classification was modified and classified into three levels according to the vegetation structure [30] (Table 1): the first level was based on the horizontal structure of vegetation according to the canopy cover ratio of trees and shrubs. However, semi-open green space with a 10-30% canopy of trees and shrubs was excluded due to the limited sample; the second level was based on vegetation type including broad-leaved, coniferous and mixed woodland.…”