Urban Ecosystems Research Articles

Ectomycorrhizal fungal communities in natural and urban ecosystems: Quercus humboldtii as a study case in the tropical Andes

Worldwide urban landscapes are expanding because of the growing human population. Urban ecosystems serve as habitats to highly diverse communities. However, studies focusing on the diversity and structure of ectomycorrhizal communities are uncommon in this habitat. In Colombia, Quercus humboldtii Bonpl. is an ectomycorrhizal tree thriving in tropical montane forests hosting a high diversity of ectomycorrhizal fungi. Q. humboldtii is planted as an urban tree in Bogotá (Colombia). We studied how root-associated fungal communities of this tree change between natural and urban areas. Using Illumina sequencing, we amplified the ITS1 region and analyzed the resulting data using both OTUs and Amplicon Sequence Variants (ASVs) bioinformatics pipelines. The results obtained using both pipelines showed no substantial differences between OTUs and ASVs for the community patterns of root-associated fungi, and only differences in species richness were observed. We found no significant differences in the species richness between urban and rural sites based on Fisher’s alpha or species-accumulation curves. However, we found significant differences in the community composition of fungi present in the roots of rural and urban trees with rural communities being dominated by Russula and Lactarius and urban communities by Scleroderma, Hydnangium, and Trechispora, suggesting a high impact of urban disturbances on ectomycorrhizal fungal communities. Our results highlight the importance of urban trees as reservoirs of fungal diversity and the potential impact of urban conditions on favoring fungal species adapted to more disturbed ecosystems.

Promoting urban ecological resilience through the lens of avian biodiversity

The significance of urban landscapes in safeguarding biodiversity is often disregarded, even though a considerable amount of conservation focus is directed toward biodiversity hotspots where urban land conversion is happening at the fastest pace. Maintaining biodiversity in urban areas not only benefits the environment, but along with social, economic, and technological factors can increase the stability of urban systems to disturbance, a concept known as “urban resilience”. In this synthesis paper, we explore the ecological dimension of urban resilience and specifically focus on avian biodiversity because birds are easy to observe, relatively abundant, and can serve as an indicator of the overall health of urban environments. We first examine the concept of ecological resilience and discuss the role of environmental stressors associated with urbanization in the ongoing avian biodiversity crisis. We then provide an overview of characteristics of the urban environment that may promote ecological resilience in birds, and associations between social and economic factors and urban ecological resilience. Finally, we provide recommendations on future research regarding strategies to improve urban ecological resilience and thus, urban resilience as a whole, at the intersections of urban ecology, ecosystem ecology, environmental justice, and urban planning. Since 68% of the world’s population is projected to live in urban areas by 2050, it is imperative that scientists, urban planners, civil engineers, architects, and others consider urban ecological resilience as a dimension of both environmental health and the resilience of cities to future natural and anthropogenic stressors.

Species diversity of Odonata in the urban ecosystem of Iligan City, Philippines

Abstract. Banaybanay DP, Amparado OA, Morilla LJG, Estaño LA. 2024. Species diversity of Odonata in the urban ecosystem of Iligan City, Philippines. Biodiversitas 25: 890-899. Urbanization impacts ecosystem function and services, resulting in changes in ecological processes, increasing human population, and biodiversity loss. This threat may influence Odonata species' abundance, diversity, and distribution in freshwater habitats. The survey of Odonata in the urban ecosystem in Iligan City was carried out from December 2022 to March 2023 to determine the species diversity, abundance, endemism, distribution, and their correlation to various environmental parameters in freshwater habitat in this area. Field sampling was conducted in six identified barangays: Barangay Tubod, Bagong Silang, Del Carmen, Villa Verde, Poblacion, and Ubaldo Laya. The study recorded 569 individuals consisting of two major Odonate families, the Family Libellulidae, comprising nine species: Acisoma panorpoides, Brachydiplax chalybea, Crocothemis servilia, Diplacodes trivialis, Neurothemis terminata, Neurothemis ramburii, Orthetrum sabina, Rhodothemis rufa and Trithemis aurora; and Family Coenagrionidae with four species: Agriocnemis femina, Ceriagrion lieftincki, Ischnura senegalensis and Pseudagrion pilidorsum. Among the recorded species, I. senegalensis (34.80%) was found to be the most abundant species, followed by A. femina (32.51%) and O. sabina (10.54%), which are encountered in all sampling sites. Meanwhile, the low diversity and low endemism (7.69%) were recorded in all sampling areas, with C. lieftincki as the only Philippine endemic recorded in Iligan City Wet Park and Barangay Bagong Silang. Canonical correspondence analysis reveals that environmental factors such as air temperature, water temperature, water pH, water turbidity, and relative humidity are crucial parameters in determining the assemblage of Odonata. Overall, urban ecosystems in Iligan City are dominated by oriental species, signifying that the areas are heavily disturbed. Therefore, urgent management of urban ecosystems is required to enhance the city's ecological health, sustainability, and insect biodiversity.

Comparison of avian diversity, breeding communities, and nesting habitats between urban and peri-urban ecosystems of Fez (Central Morocco)

Comparison of avian diversity, breeding communities, and nesting habitats between urban and peri-urban ecosystems of Fez (Central Morocco)

New insights from an eight-year study on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in an urban terrestrial ecosystem

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) were analysed in a high number of terrestrial samples of soil, earthworm, bird eggs and liver from red fox and brown rat in an urban area in Norway from 2013 to 2020. PFOS and the long chain PFCAs were the most dominating compounds in all samples, proving their ubiquitous distribution. Other less studied compounds such as 6:2 FTS were first and foremost detected in earthworm. 8:2 FTS was found in many samples of fieldfare egg, sparrowhawk egg and earthworm, where the eggs had highest concentrations. Highest concentrations for both 6:2 FTS and 8:2 FTS were detected at present and former industry areas. FOSA was detected in many samples of the species with highest concentrations in red fox liver and brown rat liver of 3.3 and 5.5 ng/g ww.PFAS concentrations from the urban area were significantly higher than from background areas indicating that some of the species can be suitable as markers for PFAS emissions in an urban environment. Fieldfare eggs had surprisingly high concentrations of PFOS and PFCA concentrations from areas known to be or have been influenced by industry. Biota-soil-accumulation factor and magnification calculations indicate accumulation and magnification potential for several PFAS.Earthworm and fieldfare egg had average concentrations above the Canadian and European thresholds in diet for avian wildlife and predators. For earthworms, 18 % of the samples exceeded the European threshold (33 ng/g ww) of PFOS in prey for predators, and for fieldfare eggs, 35 % of the samples were above the same threshold. None of the soil samples exceeded a proposed PNEC of PFOS for soil living organisms of 373 ng/g dw.

Comparison of the CASA and InVEST models’ effects for estimating spatiotemporal differences in carbon storage of green spaces in megacities

Urban green space is a direct way to improve the carbon sink capacity of urban ecosystems. The carbon storage assessment of megacity green spaces is of great significance to the service function of urban ecosystems and the management of urban carbon zoning in the future. Based on multi-period remote sensing image data, this paper used the CASA model and the InVEST model to analyze the spatio-temporal variation and driving mechanism of carbon storage in Shenzhen green space and discussed the applicability of the two models to the estimation of carbon storage in urban green space. The research results showed that, from 2008 to 2022, in addition to the rapid expansion of construction land, the area of green space and other land types in Shenzhen showed a significant decrease trend. The estimation results of the carbon storage model showed that the carbon storage of green space shows a significant trend of reduction from 2008 to 2022, and the reduction amounts are 0.8 × 106 t (CASA model) and 0.64 × 106 t (InVEST model), respectively. The evaluation results of the model show that, in megacities, the spatial applicability of InVEST model is lower than that of CASA model, and the CASA model is more accurate in estimating the carbon storage of urban green space. The research results can provide a scientific basis for the assessment of the carbon sink capacity of megacity ecosystems with the goal of "dual carbon".

Mosses for minimalist green roofs: A preliminary study of the effects of rooftop exposure, species selection, and lab-grown vs. wild-harvested propagule sources

Mosses are rarely explicitly included in urban green infrastructure projects in much of North America. Nevertheless, their opportunistic colonization of impervious surfaces in the absence of intervention, combined with successful tests of their suitability in other parts of the world, suggests that they may be suited to expanded use in applications such as green roofs, and beneficial to urban ecosystem services. Such inclusion requires more detailed knowledge of both general methods for incorporating mosses into green infrastructure, and species-specific knowledge on propagation methods and maximizing growth. In this report, we present a 3-year green roof trial with five types of moss replicated across both wild and lab grown inocula, on both sheltered and exposed asphalt roof surfaces in Atlantic Canada. The exposed roof surface was not conducive to bryophyte survival; repeated wind damage, combined with rapid onset of chlorosis from drought stress, resulted in a complete mortality of all species in that condition. In the sheltered habitat, all species were still present by the third year, but with much lower cover than was present post-installation. In general, wild-harvested shoots survived better than lab-cultivated ones, and those mosses transplanted from shady habitats fared better than those from sunny habitats. We conclude that surface attachment and degree of exposure are the most important factors for establishing moss growth on asphalt roofs, whereas selecting among species may be important only in the context of maximizing long-term growth under highly localized conditions, such as high litter deposition or partial vs. full shade from overhead trees.

Relationship between plant diversity and community stability and invasibility in the heterogeneous landscape of urban habitats undergoing Solidago canadensis invasion

ABSTRACT Background Solidago canadensis has become an invasive species in Chinese cities. Little progress has been made in understanding the relationship between the plant taxonomic diversity and community stability and invasibility of local plant communities during S. canadensis invasion, especially in heterogeneous landscapes. Progress in understanding the relationship between the key functional traits of S. canadensis and its invasion intensity and competitive advantage, especially in heterogeneous landscapes, is also currently limited. Aims We evaluated the relationship between the key functional traits of Solidago canadensis and its invasion intensity in urban ecosystems in eastern China, while taking into consideration the competitive advantages that these traits may confer. Additionally, we quantified the relationship between plant taxonomic diversity and community stability and invasibility by S. canadensis. Methods This study was conducted using cross-site comparisons between vegetation with S. canadensis invasion and those without S. canadensis invasion in nine types of urban ecosystems (cultural and educational research site, farmland wasteland, scenic garden area, industrial district, municipal land, residential area, roadside, urban green space, and wetland waterfront) in eastern China. Results The stem diameter at ground level, leaf shape index, and leaf chlorophyll concentration of S. canadensis were most highly correlated with its invasion intensity and competitive advantage. Community stability was positively correlated with plant diversity and evenness. Both the community invasibility and invasion intensity of S. canadensis were negatively correlated with the number of plant species of the local flora. Community invasibility was mainly influenced by the number of plant species of the local flora. Conclusions The invasion intensity and competitive advantage of S. canadensis may be largely determined by its stem diameter at ground level, leaf shape index, and leaf chlorophyll concentration. Community stability may be largely determined by the plant diversity and evenness (especially evenness) of the local flora. Community invasibility may be largely determined by the number of plant species of the local flora.

A preliminary study of carrion insects in Greece and their attraction to three animal baits: a forensic entomology perspective.

The current study provides data on the composition of the dipteran and coleopteran fauna attracted to three different animal baits (chicken stomach, beef liver, fish) in the urban ecosystem of Athens, Greece. An additional objective was to examine the effect of bait choice by the collected taxa. Three trap locations were established within the Agricultural University of Athens. At each location two different types of baited traps were used to capture and record the local dipteran and coleopteran biodiversity. During the sampling period, a total of 2416 dipteran and coleopteran specimens representing 43 species were collected and identified. The three most abundant dipteran taxa were Sarcophaga sp. (Diptera: Sarcophagidae), Calliphora vicina Robineau-Desvoidy, Lucilia sericata (Meigen) (Diptera: Calliphoridae). The results showed that the structure of the local insect community associated with the decomposition of animal baits depends on the bait used for sampling. This study reinforced the feasibility of using animal tissues as attractants to a wide diversity of medical, parasitological and forensically important taxa. Overall, beef liver attracted the most insects with Diptera preferring beef liver and Coleoptera preferring chicken stomach. Furthermore, this study revealed that baits of one animal tissue did not attract all species but in combination a much better understanding of this biodiversity was achieved. Finally, from a forensic entomology perspective this study highlights the lack of understanding of the value of entomological data related to case work in Greece.

High-resolution remotely sensed data characterizes indices of avifaunal habitat on private residential lands in a global metropolis

Urban ecosystems are dominated by private lands which poses a significant hurdle to performing field-based assessment of wildlife. An alternative approach is to characterize indices of animal habitat in difficult-to-access areas using data from airborne remote sensing platforms. Characterizing indices of wildlife habitat using remotely sensed data is common in natural systems but has received less attention within urban ecosystems. We tested the utility of using remotely sensed data from high-resolution airborne sensors, including LiDAR, a measure of vertical habitat structure, NDVI, a measure of greenness, image texture, a measure of horizontal habitat structure, and parcel level land-cover data, along with field-based street-tree measurements to predict bird abundance and richness across Greater Los Angeles, California, USA. We surveyed birds and gathered street-tree data on public lands of residential neighborhoods and processed the remote sensing data in 50-m and 300-m circular buffers of bird survey locations to capture data primarily on private, residential land across three winter field seasons (2016–18, 2019/20) at 23 locations along a tree-canopy cover gradient. Data from LiDAR processed as an index for the density of trees summarized in the 50-m and 300-m extents were the strongest univariate predictors of avifaunal abundance and richness explaining 75 % and 74 % of the likelihood in fitted models. NDVI, image texture, land cover, and street-tree density measures were weaker univariate predictors than models fitted with LiDAR data. Models including LiDAR and ground-based street-tree measurements accounted for upwards of 80 % of the variability in avifaunal abundance and richness, particularly for bird species associated with trees and shrubs. We recommend the prioritization of high-resolution remote sensing data, particularly LiDAR, in combination with field-based habitat measures e.g., street trees, to characterize indices of avifaunal habitat on public and private lands of cities, which could help to improve our understanding of the distribution of birds across urban areas.

Investigating the nexus between energy, socio-economic factors and environmental pollution: A geo-spatial multi regression approach

The Yellow River Basin (YRB) and Yangtze River Basin (YZRB) stand as pivotal regions in China, holding paramount importance in both economic development and environmental security. However, the rapid pace of climate change and extensive human activities have dramatically reshaped these areas, leading to substantial alterations in natural landscapes and urban ecosystems. To ensure sustainable socio-economic growth, a profound understanding of the intricate interplay between socioeconomic factors and the emission of fine particulate matter (FPM) is imperative, along with an exploration of the underlying mechanisms governing these relationships. n this comprehensive study, we conducted spatial autocorrelation and spatial panel regression analyses, leveraging panel data encompassing the years from 2002 to 2021, derived from provincial-level administrative units within the YZRB and YRB. By adopting a holistic approach that considers comprehensive features and spatial effects, our research contributes substantively to the existing literature concerning the YZRB and YRB areas. Our analysis unveiled a notable decline in pollutant emissions over the course of the study period, yet it became evident that socioeconomic and energy-related factors continued to exert significant influence on FPM levels. Furthermore, we identified pronounced positive spatial autocorrelations in FPM emissions, suggesting a need for regionally tailored environmental management strategies. Employing various statistical tests, we rigorously examined the spatial autocorrelation patterns among the regions. Results from our random effect regression model and Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR) approach underscored the significant impact of socioeconomic and natural factors on FPM concentrations. Importantly, the magnitudes of these impacts exhibited variations contingent upon the specific river basin type. Within the YZRB, our findings emphasize the relevance of urbanization metrics, such as urban population, urban green space, Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and economic spending, which displayed positive and statistically significant relationships with FPM concentrations. Conversely, in the YRB, the utilization of energy resources and natural assets emerged as pivotal determinants.

The content of heavy metals in the soils of the urban ecosystem Balti (Republic of Moldova)

Along with the development of human activity, the content of heavy metals in the soil also increases. In this paper, the content of heavy metals in the soils of the Balti urban ecosystem was evaluated. Samples were taken from 30 research sites, soil type and content of total forms of heavy metals (Zn, Cu, Ni, Pb and Cr) were determined. The sites with exceedances of the alert and intervention thresholds on the content of these metals have been determined. Thus, for Zn, exceedances of the alert threshold were found in a single site, and for Pb in 8 sites. It was noted that in the researched sites, due to the low alkaline pH of the soil, the increased concentrations of heavy metals do not represent a threat for the biotic components.

Enhancing urban climate resilience: A holistic evaluation of urban forest disservices in the aftermath of typhoons

Ecosystem services associated with urban forests have gained increasing attention, but there has been a relative lack of focus on the corresponding ecosystem disservices, including financial burdens, air pollution, allergens, pests, diseases, and safety concerns. Situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, Taiwan faces the highest global number of tropical cyclones. Typhoons significantly damage the urban forest ecosystem, especially impacting peripheral residents. Consequently, comprehensive evaluation of urban forest-related policies should also consider disservices induced by natural disasters. Understanding public perspectives on urban forests is crucial for affirming public support, and outcomes of this study can guide government agencies in crafting urban forest planning policies, minimizing risks and casualties during natural disasters. Survey results from Taichung City residents (the second-largest city in Taiwan), highlight key urban forest benefits: shade, picturesque scenery, and stress relief. Disruptions perceived include increased maintenance costs, hazards from broken branches, trunks, and road damage from tree roots. Three prominent ecosystem disservices from natural disasters are identified: power failures, casualties, and property losses from falling branches, and increased cleaning costs. To mitigate disservices and enhance urban forest resilience, recommendations include augmenting the budget for removing unhealthy urban forests, planting structurally stable ones, reinforcing underground cables, and increasing pruning budgets.

Potential Economic and Ecosystem Performances of Some Mediterranean Fruit Plants in an Urban Context

This study focuses on the possibility of using fruit tree species, from an urban area in central Italy, to evaluate their possible productive, ecosystem, and economic contribution. The realization of the food forest was conducted through the use of a web app that can evaluate the climatic and ecosystem performance of trees in the city. This simulation can provide the city’s government with useful information on the ecosystem and the socioeconomic benefits of planting fruit trees in an urban park. Among the four chosen species, both Ficus carica and Morus nigra showed good potential fruit production of 1300 kg and 865 kg and a CO2 storage of 2.5 and 1.5 tons. The production and economic potentials from selling the fruits of the selected species were evaluated, and the Morus nigra species showed the highest economic value over a 50-year period of about 6000 USD, with an average price of 7 USD/kg. Another positive aspect of edible food forest landscapes is their ability to give rise to an ecosystem and habitat that can attract animals, birds, and wildlife, consequently improving urban ecosystem biodiversity.

Assessment of vegetation change using NDVI, LST, and carbon analyses in Çankırı Karatekin University, Turkey.

Due to a rising population and urbanization, the green areas have been decreasing in cities, with a negative impact on air pollution, human health, and ecosystem. As part of the urban environment, university campuses contribute to urban ecosystem with their vegetation. This study aims to (1) assess the change of vegetative land cover of the Çankırı Karatekin University in Turkey and (2) evaluate its benefits to the ecosystem in terms of carbon sequestration, storage, and improvement of air quality by means of a simulation. In the study, the density and vegetation change were assessed with NDVI and LST analyses in ArcGIS; carbon emissions and air pollution benefits were estimated in i-Tree Canopy tool. The study showed that the healthy vegetation consisting of trees/shrubs and grass/herbaceous, which was 32.2% (28ha) in 2000, increased to 85% (74ha) in 2020 NDVI maps, and the surface temperature also increased between 2000 and 2020 in LST maps.The rise in vegetation as grass/herbaceous areas instead of trees/shrubs and the use of impervious buildings/roads on the land surface increased the land surface temperature. As a result of the analyses in the i-Tree-Canopy tool, it was estimated that the trees/shrubs and grass/herbaceous vegetation canopy covering 31.42% of the study area removed a total of 512,845.65g of pollutant gas and particles from the air, 20.79 tonnes of carbon sequestered annually, and 522.01 tonnes of carbon stored by vegetative land cover. In the simulation, where 32.62% soil/bare ground areas were converted to trees/shrubs in order to improve vegetation cover in the area, it was determined that it contributed 5 times more to the ecosystem service value for removing pollutants from the air, carbon storage, and improving the ecosystem. It was revealed that the vegetative land cover formed by tree/shrub species should be increased in the campus in the future. The study method model serves as a tool for planning and designing eco-friendly urban environment.

Current status of the distribution of European mistletoe (Viscum album L.) in Zhytomyr Polissia

Background. European mistletoe (Viscum album L.) is a hemiparasitic, autotrophic plant, which is an integral part of natural and urbanized ecosystems of Ukraine, in particular Zhytomyr Polissia. V. album is considered to be an aboriginal species which is largely responsible for the deterioration of the sanitary condition of woody plants. In particular, it causes their premature drying, a sharp decrease in the intensity of growth and yield of fruit. This study pursues the following goals: 1) to identify the species of trees affected by V. album and which ones it prefers in the conditions of Zhytomyr Polissia; 2) to study the biology of the development of V. album in the conditions of the region; 3) analysis of the degree of damage to trees by V. album using the coefficient of complex assessment. Materials and Methods. The reconnaissance method was used to determine the distribution of V. album, the type of damage and the intensity of damage to tree plantations and the degree of tree damage by mistletoe was determined using the coefficient of comprehensive damage assessment (Ccda). Results and Discussion. It was found that out of the total number of affected trees, B. pendula (27.13 %), R. pseudoacacia (17.04 %) and P. tremula (11.13 %) were the most commonly infested by V. album in the region. At the same time, 46 % of the trees are slightly damaged, 31 % are moderately damaged and 23 % are insignificantly dama­ged. It was found that without human intervention, the number of populations and the number of V. album tend to increase. Conclusions. On the territory of Zhytomyr Polissia, V. album has entered the cate­gory of invasive plants. V. album was detected on 20 tree species, of which the number of trees affected by V. album reached 41.54 % of the total number of the examined trees. The vast majority of V. album populations (61 %) are growing. The largest numbers of V. album shrubs were recorded on trees aged 60–80 and 80–100 years, accounting for 23 % and 25.13 % of the total number of trees infested by V. album, respectively.

Microbiota associated with urban forests.

Urban forests are essential for maintaining urban ecological stability. As decomposers, soil microorganisms play an indispensable role in the stability of urban forest ecosystems, promoting the material cycle of the ecosystems. This study used high-throughput sequencing technology to explore the bacteria in six forest stands, including Phyllostachys edulis (ZL), Metasequoia glyptostroboides (SSL), Cornus officinalis (SZY), mixed broad-leaved shrub forest (ZKG), mixed pine and cypress forest (SBL), and mixed broad-leaved tree forest (ZKQ). Meanwhile, the differences in fungal communities were investigated. The results show that ZL has the highest alpha diversity of bacterial communities, while its fungal community is the lowest; Proteobacteria is the most abundant bacterial phylum in the six forest stands; ZKQ has the highest fungal diversity. In addition, soil microbial communities are affected by environmental factors. Soil pH, organic matter (SOM), and available phosphorus (AP) significantly influence the compositions of urban forest soil microbial communities. This study revealed the differences in bulk soil (BS) microbial community structures among six forest stands and the relationship between environmental factors and soil microbial communities, which has important guiding significance for creating healthy and stable urban forests with profound ecological benefits.

Development and Application of Technical Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for Smart Water Cities (SWCs) Global Standards and Certification Schemes

Smart water cities (SWCs) use advanced technologies for efficient management and preservation of the urban water cycle, strengthening sustainability and improving the quality of life of the residents. This research aims to develop measurement and evaluation tools for SWC key performance indicators (KPIs), focusing on innovative water technologies in establishing unified global standards and certification schemes. The KPIs are categorized based on the stage at which water is being measured, namely the urban water cycle, water disaster management and water supply and treatment. The objective is to assess cities’ use of technologies in providing sufficient water supply, monitoring water quality, strengthening disaster resilience and maintaining and preserving the urban water ecosystem. The assessment is composed of a variety of procedures performed in a quantitative and qualitative manner, the details of which are presented in this study. The developed SWC KPI measurements are used to evaluate the urban water management practices for Busan Eco Delta City, located in Busan, South Korea. Evaluation processes were presented and established, serving as the guideline basis for certification in analyzing future cities, providing integrated and comprehensive information on the status of their urban water system, gathering new techniques, and proposing solutions for smarter measures.

A systematic review of studies on fine and coarse root traits measurement: towards the enhancement of urban forests monitoring and management

The analysis of fine and coarse roots’ functional traits has the potential to reveal the performance of the root system, which is pivotal in tree growth, development, and failure in both natural and urban forest ecosystems. Furthermore, root traits may be a powerful indicator of tree resilience mechanisms. However, due to the inherent difficulties in measuring ‘the hidden half,’ and despite the recent advancements, the relationships among root functional traits and biotic and abiotic drivers still suffer from a lack of information. Thus, our study aimed to evidence knowledge milestones and gaps and to categorize, discuss, and suggest future directions for effective experimental designs in fine and coarse root studies. To this end, we conducted a systematic literature review supported by backward manual referencing based on 55 root functional traits and 136 plant species potentially suitable for afforestation and reforestation of natural and urban forest ecosystems. The majority of the 168 papers on fine and coarse root studies selected in our review focused predominantly on European natural contexts for a few plant species, such as Fagus sylvatica, Picea abies, Pinus sylvestris, and Pinus cembra, and root functional traits such as standing biomass, phenology production, turnover rate, and non-structural carbohydrates (NSC). Additionally, the analyzed studies frequently lack information and uniformity in experimental designs, measurements, and statistical analysis, highlighting the difficult integration and comparison of outcomes derived from different experiments and sites. Moreover, no information has been detected in selected literature about urban forest ecosystems, while most of the studies focus on natural forests. These biases observed during our literature analysis led us to give key indications for future experiment designs with fine and coarse roots involved, which may contribute to the building up of common protocols to boost the monitoring, managing, and planning of afforestation and reforestation projects.

Analyzing Habitat Suitability of Bird Species in Urban Areas to Changes in Biotope Level: Case Study of Seoul

Background and objective: Rapid urbanization has led to habitat degradation and fragmentation in urban ecosystems, negatively impacting biodiversity. Various natural spaces and green areas, particularly urban biotopes, are essential to foster an environment for diverse species within urban areas. The increase in biotope grades is a crucial factor in enhancing biodiversity and expanding wildlife habitats in urban areas, thereby improving the overall health and sustainability of urban ecosystems. This study focuses on environmentally sensitive bird species, applying scenarios of biotope grade elevation to derive efficient methods for improving biotope grades. The goal is to support projects and policy decisions to increase urban biodiversity and sustain ecosystems within the city.Methods: The analysis model employed the MaxEnt species distribution model, and 11 environmental variables tailored to bird characteristics were considered. Additionally, four scenarios for upward adjustments in biotope grades were examined: (1) current biotope grades, (2) upgrading second-grade areas to first-grade, (3) upgrading third-grade areas to second-grade, and (4) upgrading second and third-grade areas to first-grade. The study aimed to derive the efficiency of potential habitats in response to biotope grade increases under each scenario.Results: The results of the biotope grade upward scenarios showed an increase in efficiency of 81% for Scenario(2), 38.6% for Scenario (3), and 54.6% for Scenario (4). This reveals the efficiency of potential habitat expansion for urban birds with improved biotope grades. The findings underscore the significant role of biotope grade enhancement in securing bird habitats within the city.Conclusion: Focusing on birds in Seoul, this study concluded that higher biotope ratings significantly increase potential habitats. Limitations of the study include the omission of specific bird species when considering environmental variables and the lack of reflection of habitat characteristics like meteorological factors. Future research aims to develop a more in-depth and accurate model for evaluating the efficiency of biotope rating change scenarios.