Thirty years unmanaged green roofs: Ecological research and
design implications

J 2016

Thirty years unmanaged green roofs: Ecological research and design implications

CATALANO, Chiara, Corrado MARCENÓ, Vito Armando LAUDICINA and Riccardo GUARINO

Basic information

Original name

Thirty years unmanaged green roofs: Ecological research and design implications

Authors

CATALANO, Chiara (380 Italy), Corrado MARCENÓ (380 Italy, guarantor, belonging to the institution), Vito Armando LAUDICINA (380 Italy) and Riccardo GUARINO (380 Italy)

Edition

Landscape and Urban Planning, Elsevier, 2016, 0169-2046

Other information

Language

English

Type of outcome

Článek v odborném periodiku

Field of Study

10600 1.6 Biological sciences

Country of publisher

Netherlands

Confidentiality degree

není předmětem státního či obchodního tajemství

Impact factor

Impact factor: 4.563

RIV identification code

RIV/00216224:14310/16:00089351

Organization unit

Faculty of Science

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2016.01.003

UT WoS

000389866700002

Keywords in English

Simple-intensive green roofs; Temperate ecosystems; Long term dynamics; Functional traits; Urban biodiversity; Descriptors

Abstract

V originále

The variations in species composition and assemblage of unmanaged simple-intensive green roofs in Hannover, Germany, were investigated over a thirty year period, in order to assess the persistence of the initial seed mixture and to evaluate floristic changes. The roofs were greened in 1985 with soilbased turf rolls sown with a mixture of five grasses (Festuca rubra, Festuca ovina, Agrostis capillaris, Lolium perenne and Poa pratensis). Three sets of 120 phytosociological relevés, sampled in 1987, 1999 and 2014, have been compared to assess: (1) nestedness vs spatial turnover, (2) functional diversity and (3) the importance of vegetation dynamics on green roof performance and design. Results demonstrated that from 1987 to 1999 the species diversity increased and the species turnover prevailed over nestedness, due to the progressive niche occupation by new species. In contrast, from 1999 to 2014 species diversity remained steady, suggesting that nestedness prevailed over species turnover. The main driver of the observed functional changes was a shift towards relatively more thermoxeric conditions. In terms of plant life strategies, the competitive species sown on the roof gradually gave way to stress-tolerant and ruderal species, along with a progressive increase in species with shortdistance seed dispersal strategies. It is concluded that: (a) to create resilient green roofs, spontaneous colonisation should be accepted and considered as a design factor; and (b) regional plant communities could serve as a model for seed recruitment and installations.

Citovat

CATALANO, Chiara, Corrado MARCENÓ, Vito Armando LAUDICINA and Riccardo GUARINO. Thirty years unmanaged green roofs: Ecological research and design implications. Landscape and Urban Planning. Elsevier, 2016, vol. 149, May, p. 11-19. ISSN 0169-2046. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2016.01.003.

@article{1334247,
   author = {Catalano, Chiara and Marcenó, Corrado and Laudicina, Vito Armando and Guarino, Riccardo},
   article_number = {May},
   doi = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2016.01.003},
   keywords = {Simple-intensive green roofs; Temperate ecosystems; Long term dynamics; Functional traits; Urban biodiversity; Descriptors},
   language = {eng},
   issn = {0169-2046},
   journal = {Landscape and Urban Planning},
   title = {Thirty years unmanaged green roofs: Ecological research and design implications},
   volume = {149},
   year = {2016}
}

TY  - JOUR
ID  - 1334247
AU  - Catalano, Chiara - Marcenó, Corrado - Laudicina, Vito Armando - Guarino, Riccardo
PY  - 2016
TI  - Thirty years unmanaged green roofs: Ecological research and design implications
JF  - Landscape and Urban Planning
VL  - 149
IS  - May
SP  - 11-19
EP  - 11-19
PB  - Elsevier
SN  - 01692046
KW  - Simple-intensive green roofs
KW  - Temperate ecosystems
KW  - Long term dynamics
KW  - Functional traits
KW  - Urban biodiversity
KW  - Descriptors
N2  - The variations in species composition and assemblage of unmanaged simple-intensive green roofs in Hannover, Germany, were investigated over a thirty year period, in order to assess the persistence of the initial seed mixture and to evaluate floristic changes. The roofs were greened in 1985 with soilbased turf rolls sown with a mixture of five grasses (Festuca rubra, Festuca ovina, Agrostis capillaris, Lolium perenne and Poa pratensis). Three sets of 120 phytosociological relevés, sampled in 1987, 1999 and 2014, have been compared to assess: (1) nestedness vs spatial turnover, (2) functional diversity and (3) the importance of vegetation dynamics on green roof performance and design. Results demonstrated that from 1987 to 1999 the species diversity increased and the species turnover prevailed over nestedness, due to the progressive niche occupation by new species. In contrast, from 1999 to 2014 species diversity remained steady, suggesting that nestedness prevailed over species turnover. The main driver of the observed functional changes was a shift towards relatively more thermoxeric conditions. In terms of plant life strategies, the competitive species sown on the roof gradually gave way to stress-tolerant and ruderal species, along with a progressive increase in species with shortdistance seed dispersal strategies. It is concluded that: (a) to create resilient green roofs, spontaneous colonisation should be accepted and considered as a design factor; and (b) regional plant communities could serve as a model for seed recruitment and installations.
ER  -

CATALANO, Chiara, Corrado MARCENÓ, Vito Armando LAUDICINA and Riccardo GUARINO. Thirty years unmanaged green roofs: Ecological research and design implications. \textit{Landscape and Urban Planning}. Elsevier, 2016, vol.~149, May, p.~11-19. ISSN~0169-2046. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2016.01.003.

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