Types Of Urban Green Spaces Research Articles

Exploring the Complex Association Between Urban Built Environment, Sociodemographic Characteristics and Crime: Evidence from Washington, D.C.

The urban built environment and sociodemographic characteristics have complex relationships with urban crime. However, previous studies have had limitations such as generalizing urban green space types, urban functionality, and sociodemographic characteristics. Given these, this study aimed to explore the relationship between them using more detailed indicators. The study utilized Google Street View and points of interest to depict the built environment. Building on previous work that segmented natural and artificial elements in streetscape images, this study further distinguished trees, bush, and grass. Additionally, it incorporated data from the Data Analysis and Visualization Unit of the DC Office of Planning to reflect a broader range of individual characteristics. Weighted least squares regression and Pearson correlation analysis were used to test the relationship between the built environment, sociodemographic, and crime, respectively. Some of the key findings are as follows. (1) Trees, bushes, and grass all reduce crime. (2) Urban functionality is hard to curb crime by enhancing informal public surveillance. (3) Among the sociodemographic variables, the walking commute rate is the variable most strongly positively correlated with crime. (4) Family relationships play an important role in suppressing crime. This study examined a more comprehensive range of indicators affecting urban crime in favor of safer cities.

How do urban green space attributes affect visitation and satisfaction? An empirical study based on multisource data

Urban green spaces (UGSs) are major settings of human–nature interaction and important to public well-being. Visitation and satisfaction are indicators that reflect the utilization degree of and feedback regarding UGSs. The focus of this study is to analyze the visitation and satisfaction characteristics of different types of UGSs, analyze the dominant factors affecting these indicators, and rank their importance to provide strategies for improving management. Here, 50 typical UGSs in Shanghai are selected. All-subset regression, hierarchical partitioning analysis and other methods are comprehensively used to explore the influencing factors. The results are as follows: 1) Comprehensive parks have the highest visitation rates, whereas community parks have the lowest visitation rates but the highest satisfaction rates. 2) UGS size has the greatest influence on visitation, followed by connectivity, building shape index, and edge density, with contributions of 69.35 %, 16.40 %, 8.50 %, and 5.75 %, respectively. 3) Transportation facility density and edge density have the greatest influences on satisfaction, with contributions of 51.49 % and 48.51 %, respectively. In this study, the applicability of using multisource data to analyze UGS attributes and their factors affecting visitation and satisfaction are demonstrated. Targeted strategies for constructing UGSs will help authorities plan and manage UGSs effectively.

How do species richness and colour diversity of plants affect public perception, preference and sense of restoration in urban green spaces?

Urban development has led to an overlap between natural and artificial environments, affecting individuals’ experiences with nature. To create high-quality urban natural environments, it is crucial to understand the residents’ perceptions, preferences and psychophysical health benefits concerning biodiversity. This study, employing various experimental designs, investigated the perceptions, preferences and restorative experiences of 695 participants concerning different levels of plant species richness and colour diversity in four typical urban green space types (lawn, forest, square and streetscape). The following discoveries were made: (i) The colour diversity carried by vegetation in lawns was an important basis for the public to identify plant diversity. Lawns with high richness achieved by different grass species (that have green colour) were not preferred by the public, and increased colour diversity that can be achieved by adding flowering plants (forbs) was preferred by people more than a single green lawn. The species richness of forests was positively correlated with public perception, preference and perceived restoration, with single green forests being preferred by the public. Additionally, people preferred vegetated environments over unvegetated squares or streetscapes. (ii) Participants’ perceptions, preferences and perceived restoration were positively correlated. Their preference for and perceived restoration from plant diversity depended more on their perception of it than on the actual species richness. (iii) Participants’ gender, expertise, physical condition, ecological knowledge, childhood living environment, frequency of use and accessibility of green spaces, natural orientation (connectedness), gardening, sense of security and well-being all influenced their perceptions, preferences and perceived restoration from plant diversity to varying extents. Significant distinctions were found between different forms of experimental design. Combining between-subject and within-subject designs could both control individual errors to some extent and avoid long-term effects on the participants compared to using either design alone. These findings provide a theoretical basis and practical approach for future biodiversity-oriented urban green space planning and management to better maximise the ecological and social service benefits of urban green spaces.

Assessing the strategic role of urban green spaces for habitat connectivity in multi-family residential plots

Urban green spaces are key for maintaining and restoring habitat connectivity within cities. Despite substantial investigations on the contribution to connectivity of different types of urban green spaces, the specific contribution of green spaces located in multifamily residential (MFR) plots has yet to be assessed. Estimating this contribution is crucial given the multiple roles fulfilled by these green spaces in urban planning. To achieve this goal, we focused on four taxa: the European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus), the Red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris), forest passerine birds and moths. We assessed the potential habitat connectivity for each taxon across the metropolitan urban area of Lyon (France), with landscape graphs built using 1-metre resolution land cover maps. Considering the current state as a reference, we then designed five land cover change scenarios affecting habitat distribution in the MFR plots: (i) maximum and (ii) minimum theoretical connectivity (references), (iii) improve quality of existing green spaces, (iv) improve quantity of green spaces with sub-optimal quality and, (v) maximum restoration (management scenarios). The taxon- and scenario-specific impacts highlight the crucial contribution of private spaces to habitat connectivity. For all taxa, while the MFR only cover 8 % of the study area, connectivity would increase by up to 60 % if these plots were greened. In contrast, sealing these plots could reduce overall connectivity by up to 40 %. The interpolation of local connectivity metrics for each habitat patch and each MFR plot allowed us to identify the most relevant plots for urban greening. Because our approach can improve habitat connectivity at different scales, from neighbourhoods to entire urban areas, it could prove useful for landscape planning in most urban settings.

Urban greenspace types and climate factors jointly drive the microbial community structure and co-occurrence network

The benefits of urban green space are socially widely recognized as a direct link between plant–microbe interactions and the maintenance of biodiversity, community stability, and ecosystem functioning. Nevertheless, there is a lack of knowledge about the factors influencing microbial communities in urban green spaces, especially those related to phyllosphere epiphytes and stem epiphytes. In this study, we analyzed the microbial community assembly in leaf and stem bark samples collected from Square, Road, Campus, and Park. Illumina sequecing of 16S amplicons was performed to characterize microbial diversity and composition. The α-diversity was significantly higher in the bark epiphytic community, compared to the phyllosphere. Moreover, urban greenspaces'type altered the way communities gathered. The main soil and air properties factors of the urban greenhouse (e.g. soil temperature, atmospheric moisture, air temperature) were shaping the characteristics of bacterial communities on the leaf surface and bark epiphytic. In addition, in the co-occurrence network analysis, keystone taxa were not mostly observed in abundant species, which may be necessary to maintain ecosystem functions. Finally, our findings provide a deeper understanding of the ecological dynamics and microbial interactions within plant phyllosphere and stem epiphytes microbiomes.

Urban sports fields support higher levels of soil butyrate and butyrate-producing bacteria than urban nature parks.

Butyrate-producing bacteria colonise the gut of humans and non-human animals, where they produce butyrate, a short-chain fatty acid with known health benefits. Butyrate-producing bacteria also reside in soils and soil bacteria can drive the assembly of airborne bacterial communities (the aerobiome). Aerobiomes in urban greenspaces are important reservoirs of butyrate-producing bacteria as they supplement the human microbiome, but soil butyrate producer communities have rarely been examined in detail. Here, we studied soil metagenome taxonomic and functional profiles and soil physicochemical data from two urban greenspace types: sports fields (n = 11) and nature parks (n = 22). We also developed a novel method to quantify soil butyrate and characterised the insitu activity of butyrate-producing bacteria. We show that soil butyrate was higher in sports fields than nature parks and that sports fields also had significantly higher relative abundances of the terminal butyrate production genes buk and butCoAT than nature parks. Soil butyrate positively correlated with buk gene abundance (but not butCoAT). Soil moisture (r = .50), calcium (r = -.62), iron (ρ = .54), ammonium nitrogen (ρ = .58) and organic carbon (r = .45) had the strongest soil abiotic effects on soil butyrate concentrations and iron (ρ = .56) and calcium (ρ = -.57) had the strongest soil abiotic effects on buk read abundances. Overall, our findings contribute important new insights into the role of sports fields as key exposure reservoirs of butyrate producing bacteria, with important implications for the provision of microbiome-mediated human health benefits via butyrate.

Urban green space availability and change patterns (a case study of Tbilisi, Georgia)

Aim: This research aimed to determine the distribution of different types of Urban green spaces (UGS) in Tbilisi districts, the distribution of access zones, the number of people who have access to UGSs, how current active housing construction affects UGSs and where reduction hotspots are located. Methodology: A 500-m buffer was set around UGSs. UGS changes were detected based on the NDVI from the 2017 and 2023 (June-August) PlanetScope imagery. The NDVI classification thresholds were -1 to 0.19 (nonvegetation), 0.19 to 0.5 (shrubs), and 0.5 or greater (trees). Thereafter, UGS patterns and reduction hotspots were determined in the district. Results: The percentage of access zones was lowest for Didube (5.4%) and highest for Nadzaladevi (14.7%). Chughureti (8.3%), Mtatsminda (8.8%), Isani (9.3%), and Gldani (9.9%) had similar numbers. The worst situation was observed in Samgori (8.9%) whereas the best situation was in Didube (69.8%). UGS degradation was high in Saburtalo (35.3%), and only a 0.6% decrease was found in Chughureti. Interpretation: UGSs are better distributed spatially and available to more people in "old" districts (Mtatsminda, Chughureti) and territories that were developed in the 1970s. The urban green spaces were neglected by contemporary urban sprawl. Though legislation has helped to preserve urban green spaces with status, but locations without status are victims of active development. Key words: Hotspots, Image analysis, Land use and land cover, Normalized difference vegetation index, Tbilisi, Urban green spaces

Urban green space access, social cohesion, and mental health outcomes before and during Covid-19

Physical activity offers significant mental health and social wellbeing benefits but social distancing and quarantine requirements during the pandemic along with disparities in access to parks and other urban green spaces limited the ability of some to pursue outdoor activities like recreational walking, jogging, or hiking. This paper asks: (1) how access to different types of urban green space varies by race and income, (2) how green space usage changed, and (3) how greenspace usage impacted mental health during the early phase of the pandemic. Using data from a household survey as well as anonymized GPS data generated by mobile devices, we explore these question in Richmond, Virginia. At the pandemic's onset, visits to green spaces declined regionally, but increased for low-income groups as a proportion of all visits. Structural equation modeling results suggest that mental health was directly influenced by social cohesion and race, with evidence of an indirect effect of greenspace usage on mental health through its impact on social cohesion. Social cohesion's effect on mental health was positive while respondents who identified as White were less likely to report positive mental health. We also find a strong, positive effect of greenspace use and satisfaction on social cohesion.

Assessing Inequality in Urban Green Spaces with Consideration for Physical Activity Promotion: Utilizing Spatial Analysis Techniques Supported by Multisource Data

Urban green spaces (UGSs) play a significant role in promoting public health by facilitating outdoor activities, but issues of spatial and socioeconomic inequality within UGSs have drawn increasing attention. However, current methods for assessing UGS inequality still face challenges such as data acquisition difficulties and low identification accuracy. Taking Harbin as a case study, this research employs various advanced technologies, including Python data scraping, drone imagery collection, and Amap API, to gather a diverse range of data on UGSs, including photos, high-resolution images, and AOI boundaries. Firstly, elements related to physical activity within UGSs are integrated into a supply adjustment index (SAI), based on which UGSs are classified into three categories. Then, a supply–demand improved two-step floating catchment area (SD2SFCA) method is employed to more accurately measure the accessibility of these three types of UGSs. Finally, using multiple linear regression analysis and Mann–Whitney U tests, socioeconomic inequalities in UGS accessibility are explored. The results indicate that (1) significant differentiation exists in the types of UGS services available in various urban areas, with a severe lack of small-scale, low-supply UGSs; (2) accessibility of all types of UGSs is significantly positively associated with housing prices, with higher-priced areas demonstrating notably higher accessibility compared to lower-priced ones; (3) children may be at a disadvantage in accessing UGSs with medium-supply levels. Future planning efforts need to enhance attention to vulnerable groups. This study underscores the importance of considering different types of UGSs in inequality assessments and proposes a method that could serve as a valuable tool for accurately assessing UGS inequality.

Attraction and Retention Green Place Images of Taipei City

This study investigates levels of green place image and their association with different types of greenspace by examining residents’ perceptions of urban greenspaces. Place image refers to an individual’s comprehensive perception of a location, formed through various interactions, and it encompasses two distinct aspects: attraction and retention. The former can be established without extensive interaction, while the latter requires deeper physical and psychological connections, such as a sense of place (SOP) and place identity (PI). Although much research on urban greenspaces has concentrated on the retention aspect, focusing on residents’ psychological, physical, social, and environmental engagements, the attraction dimension, including place brand (PB), visual image (VI), and place reputation (PR), has been less explored. This study collected data from 536 on-site surveys across four types of urban greenspaces in Taipei city: small-size greenspaces, neighborhood parks, multipurpose parks, and green corridors, and they were analyzed through factor analysis (FA) and multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) using R software (R-4.3.3). The FA identifies two factors and their significant sub-attributes aligning with theoretical findings, i.e., attraction and retention. Further analysis using MANOVA determines that the multipurpose park is the most influential type of greenspace, significantly affecting urban residents’ development of positive green place images. These findings highlight the importance of perceiving urban greenspaces as critical areas for multi-dimensional stakeholders, suggesting a balanced approach to development and management that emphasizes both attraction and retention strategies as well as nature and built facilities.

Carbon Sequestration in the Green Open Spaces along Primary Road of Pontianak City, West Kalimantan, Indonesia`

Global climate change caused by greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is currently a focus for various countries worldwide, including Indonesia. Carbon dioxide (CO2) is the main source of emissions, with a significant portion originating in urban areas. This is due to the high levels of air pollution from motor vehicles and rapid industrial growth. Urban green spaces are areas within cities that consist of non-built-up spaces filled with naturally grown or cultivated vegetation. These green spaces exist directly alongside the transportation infrastructure, which helps reduce air pollution, especially CO2, through the vegetation that makes up these areas. One type of urban green space is a green corridor, which forms elongated paths or areas. This study assessed the carbon sequestration of 17 primary road networks in Pontianak City using three allometric models. Plot positions for data collection were determined using purposive sampling, with each side accounting for 5% of the total zigzag plots. This research focused on vegetation at different growth stages, such as saplings, poles, and trees. The results were estimated at 256.86 tons ha-1 (Hardiansyah and Ridwan formula), 269.96 tons ha-1 (Chave formula), and 193 tons ha-1 (Brown formula).

Flourishing or Frightening? Feelings about Natural and Built Green Spaces in Singapore.

The current study's aim was to better understand people's feelings towards different types of natural and built green space environments in the highly urbanized "garden city" of Singapore. We examined which types of green spaces elicited positive (eudemonic) or negative (apprehensive) affective responses. A total of 288 adult residents of Singapore completed a survey that asked them to report their affective states in response to images of 10 locally different environment types and to complete measures of childhood location, frequency of visiting natural/built environments, nature connectedness, and dispositional anxiety, as well as demographic items on age and gender. The 10 green space environment types were mapped onto an experiential state space representing feelings of apprehension and eudemonia in response to specific types of urban green spaces. In terms of a biophilic response, feelings of eudemonia were no different in natural green spaces compared to built green spaces. A higher frequency of experience in specific environments is associated with enhanced feelings of eudemonia in these environments. The findings indicate that people in Singapore can be apprehensive as much in natural green spaces as in built green spaces, and they can also find eudemonic experiences in built green spaces such as roof-top gardens or town parks.

Estimating aboveground volume of diverse urban tree species: Developing allometric equations for higher taxonomic levels

Allometric equations are essential for quantifying carbon storage in trees; however, owing to the high species diversity in urban green spaces, the development of allometric equations for all urban tree species is not feasible. In this study, we estimated the aboveground volume of urban trees and determined the fitness of several allometric equations. We compared the equations for different taxonomic levels, i.e., division, family, and species. A field survey was conducted across three types of urban green spaces (street trees, parks, and residential gardens) in three cities (Seoul, Goyang, and Wonju) in South Korea. We estimated the aboveground volumes of 1080 trees from their diameter measurements using a laser dendrometer, carried out at successive points from the ground to the top of the trees. Various tree size metrics, such as the diameter at breast height (DBH), height, and/or crown diameter, were applied as independent variable(s) in the equations. For gymnosperm trees, the allometric equations for higher taxonomic levels (RMSE: 0.011 m3) yielded goodness-of-fits similar to those at the species level (RMSE: 0.009 m3). For angiosperm trees, the family-level allometric equations satisfactorily covered the inter-species heterogeneity of tree shape, whereas the division-level allometric equations did not. The scaling exponent coefficients of allometric equations for each family (b = 1.65−2.69) linearly increased with an increasing mean height-to-DBH ratio. Although the allometric equations based on crown diameter were more unstable than those based on the DBH, integrating the height variable into the equations could ensure the feasibility of the allometric equations based on crown diameter. Our study facilitates the development of nationally specific emission factors for settlement areas and suggests the applicability of generalized or crown-based allometric equations for urban trees.

Global disparities in urban green space use during the COVID-19 pandemic from a systematic review

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted urban resilience and challenged the use of urban green space (UGS). Previous studies lack consensus on whether UGS use increased or decreased during and after lockdowns and how this related to policy, economic conditions and UGS types. In a systematic review, we screened >3,000 articles in 5 languages, identifying 177 articles on UGS use changes in 60 countries. The cities studied show diverging changes in UGS use. Generally, decreases occurred where COVID-19 policies were stricter and the gross domestic product per capita was lower, including in most of the few studied areas of the Global South. All studies on private gardens and 60% on forests and other natural areas showed increases, while 77% of studies conducted on public parks indicated decreased use. The global disparity in UGS use was exacerbated during the COVID-19 pandemic, demonstrating the need to enhance green infrastructure for healthy cities and to extend it beyond public parks.

Effective Recreational Activities in Urban Green Spaces for Mental Health of Scientific Researchers

Scientific researchers are known for their demanding intellectual efforts and are particularly susceptible to mental health disorders. Urban green spaces (UGSs) are beneficial for people’s mental health, yet there is limited research on what types of UGSs and activities are effective for improving researchers’ mental health. Here, we investigate if researchers’ mental health can be enhanced by visiting affiliated green spaces, pocket parks, comprehensive parks, and coastal beaches. The research hypothesis was that the natural and social pathways of recreational ecosystem services jointly reduce researchers’ mental stress and attentional fatigue. The results suggest that nature contact, nature connectedness, and social interaction directly or indirectly have positive impacts on scientific researchers’ mental health. Both nature connectedness and social interaction serve as crucial mediating variables between nature contact and mental health. In terms of direct impact, high-frequency recreational activities in small UGSs with high accessibility, markedly relieve stress, whereas visit frequency in large UGSs with low accessibility has a limited effect on long-term mental stress relief. In terms of indirect impact, small UGSs alleviate attentional fatigue through the mediation of nature connectedness, while large UGSs mainly mitigate mental stress and attentional fatigue through the mediation of social interaction. This study provides a natural-social integrated perspective on recreational ecosystem services to enhance the well-being of scientific researchers. We provide recommendations for researchers to mitigate work-related stress and fatigue and to offer information useful for decision-making support to create a healthy environment for scientific researchers.

ТИПІЗАЦІЯ ЗЕЛЕНИХ ЗОН МІСТА В ОЦІНЦІ КУЛЬТУРНИХ ЕКОСИСТЕМНИХ ПОСЛУГ (НА ПРИКЛАДІ МІСТА КИЄВА)

Cultural ecosystem services (CES) are the benefits that urban populations receive from urban green spaces (UGS), supporting their health through interaction with the environment. Due to the dissimilarity of conditions in different UGSs, which can only be determined during a direct survey, the assessment of CES is quite complex. Analysis of the factors affecting the volume of CES allows for the typing and grouping of UGSs with similar characteristics. This makes it possible to extrapolate the survey data from key areas to all green spaces of a particular kind. The purpose of the study is to develop a typification of urban green spaces for the assessment of CES. The assessment should be based not only on perception indicators, but also take into account the current state of green spaces. The objectives of the study are as follows: to take into account the natural and anthropogenic characteristics that determine the potential of green spaces to provide CES; to typify green spaces based on these characteristics; to substantiate a set of key areas whose research data would objectively reflect the potential of UGS to provide CES on the example of Kyiv. The basis for the allocation of three classes of UGS was the general classification of green spaces by functional feature. Such a division was used because it takes into account, on the one hand, the accessibility of the green space, and, on the other hand, the presence of characteristics that are used as calculation parameters in the CES assessment. Ecological zoning of territory became the basis for the allocation of 8 types of UGS in the CES assessment. After all, green areas of the same class can provide different amounts of CES, given the different perception of their natural features. The perception of different types of forests necessitated the division of such a type as "forest and forest park areas" into kinds. This, as well as the need to take into account the "age" of the green space and/or the building area in which it is located, led to the identification of 13 kinds of UGS. Based on this typification, a set of 63 key areas was identified, the data of which objectively reflect the potential of different kinds of UGS to provide CES. The data obtained within these sites are representative of other UGSs within the same kind.

Interpreting regenerated post-industrial lands as green spaces: Comparing public perceptions of post-industrial landscapes using human factor design framework

Urban green spaces shaped by the post-industrial landscape possess distinctive characteristics and aesthetic features due to the exceptional properties of industrial remains. Previous studies have indicated that various types of urban green spaces without industrial remains, such as urban parks, waterfronts, and streets, have a positive impact on the public's physiological and psychological well-being. However, the extent and mechanisms of the public's response to post-industrial landscapes remain unclear. To investigate mechanisms of public perceptions of and preferences for post-industrial landscape types and elements, we conducted quantitative analysis by coupling multimodal data and comparative or difference analyses among urban green spaces. We conducted a randomized controlled experiment with 48 participants who viewed images of different combinations of post-industrial landscapes in a distraction-free environment. After a pause, Positive-Negative perception and Preference questionnaires were completed. Eye tracking data were recorded during the experiment. Changes in electrodermal activity and heart rate variability were used to measure physiological stress. This study employed Pearson's correlation model to examine the relationships between objective data and subjective data. The ANOVA test was utilized to investigate the variability of objective and subjective data across different groups. Additionally, a multiple-stepwise regression model was employed to analyze the specific influencing factors and their respective degrees of influence. We found that (1) artificial landscape elements in post-industrial landscapes were more appealing to participants and heightened their sense of stress; natural landscape elements can alleviate stress and promote restoration. (2) The percentage of flowering shrub and tree elements was significantly positively correlated with preference, while the percentage of ground-covering plant elements was significantly negatively correlated with preference. (3) Industrial construction was significantly positively correlated with the sense of historical value while industrial construction and pavement elements negatively correlated with preference. However, pavement elements significantly mitigated the sense of insecurity, poor accessibility, and pollution risk. (4) Industrial construction and pavement distinguished the post-industrial landscape from other green spaces without industrial remains while maximizing historical value and curiosity helped increase positive effects. Although impact mechanisms of natural elements in other green spaces without industrial remains showed homogeneous similarities, the scene composed of industrial mixed with natural elements may lead to different perceptions. Our findings indicate that multimodal data coupled with comparative analysis of multiple green space types can help to fully identify mechanisms by which landscape types and elements influence public perceptions and preferences. This understanding can help increase public satisfaction with post-industrial landscapes and enable researchers to determine the sustainability of post-industrial sites using interrogative design.

Developing a Qualitative Urban Green Spaces Index Applied to a Mediterranean City

As a primary goal, urban green spaces (UGSs) have been linked to several aspects of inhabitants’ wellbeing. Quality could be a way to intervene in the UGS–human health interaction. For that purpose, we developed an urban green space quality index (UGS QIndex) applied to a Mediterranean region, Sousse City. This index was based on a set of criteria, indicators, and elements chosen after bibliographical research related to UGS quality assessment tools and their contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals. Then, we evaluated the quality of the Sousse Ramparts Gardens using the UGS QIndex. In fact, this index includes 41 elements grouped into 23 indicators covering seven thematic criteria: environmental regulating capacity, functional amenities, aesthetic amenities, landscape features, integration in its surroundings, development policy objectives, and space issues. According to the UGS QIndex, Bab El Gharbi garden exceeds Bab El Finga garden in terms of its scenery, aesthetics, and functionality. This index could be used by city planners to improve their UGS’s capacity to satisfy the inhabitants’ requirements. Otherwise, it needs to be enhanced and tailored to various types of UGSs and then applied to other Mediterranean cities, as well as cities suffering from UGS degradation.

Urban greenspaces shape soil protist communities in a location-specific manner

The impacts of urbanization on aboveground biodiversity are well studied, and its impact on soil microorganisms are also receiving increased attention. However, the impact of urbanization on the soil protists are hardly investigated. Here, we studied how urbanization and distinct urban greenspaces affect protist communities. We used amplicon sequencing of the18 S rRNA gene of samples from five types of urban greenspaces (parks, greenbelts, industrial areas, residential areas and hospital lawns), neighboring natural forests and agricultural ecosystems in Ningbo, China. We found that urban greenspaces harbored higher protist α-diversity than forests, while protist β-diversity increased from agricultural systems to urban greenspaces to forests. Among the studied driving factors, soil bacterial α- and β-diversity best predicted phagotrophic protist α- and β-diversity in urban greenspaces, while differences in α- and β-diversity of phototrophic protists were best explained by soil carbon-to-nitrogen ratio and fungal β-diversity, respectively. Abiotic factors i.e., total phosphorus and carbon-to-nitrogen ratio, best predicted the α- and β-diversity of protist parasites in urban greenspaces, respectively. The results revealed that the composition and drivers of protist communities vary between functional groups and urban ecosystems. Overall, our findings contribute to a better understanding of drivers of soil protist communities and indicate that soil protist communities and associated soil functions could be managed in predictable ways in urban greenspaces.

Inclusive green environment for all? An investigation of spatial access equity of urban green space and associated socioeconomic drivers in China

The inequitable distribution of urban green spaces (UGS) has attracted increasing attention given the important role of green environments for sustainable development. However, many recent studies have yielded different results between cities in different geographic regions and development stages and even within the same city. Hence, this study addresses two research gaps in the green justice literature: (1) What are the spatial equity levels of different types of UGS, and what are their differences as well as spatial distribution characteristics? (2) What differences exist in the spatial equity levels of UGS in cities at various socioeconomic stages? On the basis of these gaps, we explain why contradictory findings have been found in the existing literature. This study focuses on three types of UGS in China, namely, community green spaces, street greenery, and public parks, and explores the driving effects of socioeconomic factors on the spatial equity of UGS in 263 Chinese cities. The results show that GDP and the population growth rate increase the spatial equity of community green spaces and street greenery. By contrast, economic development and increased in-migration can worsen the equity level of public green space accessibility. Our study provides evidence and insights for Chinese central and local governments to implement highly effective and sustainable greening programs to promote inclusive urban greening in Chinese cities.