J 2024

Measuring plant functional specialization in urban environments with Grime's CSR strategies

DI GIULIO, Mara, Zdeňka LOSOSOVÁ, Marta CARBONI and Carlo RICOTTA

Basic information

Original name

Measuring plant functional specialization in urban environments with Grime's CSR strategies

Authors

DI GIULIO, Mara, Zdeňka LOSOSOVÁ (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution), Marta CARBONI and Carlo RICOTTA (guarantor)

Edition

Applied Vegetation Science, HOBOKEN, Wiley-Blackwell, 2024, 1402-2001

Other information

Language

English

Type of outcome

Článek v odborném periodiku

Field of Study

10611 Plant sciences, botany

Country of publisher

United States of America

Confidentiality degree

není předmětem státního či obchodního tajemství

References:

Impact factor

Impact factor: 2.800 in 2022

Organization unit

Faculty of Science

DOI

UT WoS

001299757000001

Keywords in English

concentration measures; CSR ternary diagram; disturbance regimes; extent of trait variation; human impact; species-level specialization; urban habitats

Tags

Tags

International impact, Reviewed
Změněno: 23/9/2024 12:42, Mgr. Lucie Jarošová, DiS.

Abstract

V originále

Question: Specialization refers to the degree of niche breadth of a species. Generalist species are able to persist in a broad range of habitats, whereas specialist species are adapted to a restricted range of environmental conditions. Cities host a great heterogeneity of habitats with variable degrees of human impact. This is generally reflected in the functional composition of the urban floras. The aim of our study is thus to explore whether the degree of functional specialization of urban plant assemblages varies among habitats subject to different degrees of human impact and disturbance regimes. Location: Thirty-two cities in Central Europe with more than 100,000 inhabitants. Methods: We used a data set containing plots of urban floras sampled in seven habitat types within each city: historical city square, boulevard, residential area with a compact building pattern, residential area with an open building pattern, city park, early successional site, and mid-successional site. These habitats differ in the level of human impact, ranging from moderately urbanized suburban habitats to the most urbanized habitats in the city center. For each plot, we calculated a recently introduced specialization index, which is based on the application of concentration measures to Grime's community-level mean CSR strategies. Results: Along the urbanization gradient, from peripheral to central habitats, we observed a marked intensification in the degree of functional specialization of urban habitats, which is primarily attributable to an increase in the selection of ruderal species. Conclusions: Urban ecosystems are characterized by a wide variety of human impacts that affect the functioning of the resident species. Considering cities as heterogeneous systems is thus of paramount importance for understanding the mechanisms that drive the assembly of urban floras.