Native and exotic woody vegetation communities in domestic gardens in relation to social and environmental factors

Abstract

Drivers of garden diversity and structure are complex, reflecting the diversity of social, cultural, and socioeconomic characteristics of the householders who manage their gardens, as well as their predecessors. Here we investigate the woodiness of gardens, and focus on (1) the prevalence of native versus exotic woody plants and (2) the influence of characteristics of garden owners, the gardens, and their proximity to neighborhood green spaces to identify the degree to which these factors explain patterns in native and exotic woody species communities in entire (back and front) gardens in southern temperate New Zealand. We found few consistent patterns in structure in woody species community composition. Outlying gardens were characterized by low species richness and abundance. Thirty-seven species commonly occurred across most gardens: most of these were exotic. Twelve native species were common throughout most gardens. There was significant but weak matching to social and environmental variables: vegetated area, species knowledge, and education explained pattern in native communities, whereas vegetated area, species knowledge, and householder age explained variation in exotic communities. Native trees > 5 m tall occurred in only 58% of gardens. Tall tree density was 10/ha, and 29% of gardens lacked any trees > 5 m. Tree presence was weakly (positively) associated with extent and proximity of neighborhood green space. We suggest that the legacy of previous owners' gardening practices is important to consider when identifying drivers of garden plant community structure.

Variation in Vegetation Structure and Composition across Urban Green Space Types

“…Exploring these potential drivers lies outside the scope of the current paper, but could provide important avenues for future research. Ground surface covers and large living or dead trees have all been identified as important for wildlife, but are habitat features that are often limited in urban landscapes (Le Roux et al, 2014;Van Heezik et al, 2014). In our study, residential neighborhoods had little bare soil, little leaf litter, few large trees and few standing dead trees.…”

The Grass Is Always Greener on the Other Side of the Fence: The Flora in Urban Backyards of Different Social Classes

“…Backyards planted with more trees are positively correlated with invertebrate species (LORAM et al, 2008;KENDAL, et al 2010;HEEZIK et al 2014), and many of them are pollinating species. Thus, is there a minimum area to assure higher tree density in these spaces?…”

“…Data concerning plants cultivated in pots were not included in the current study. The botanical material was identified in the field, according to the methodology by Heezik et al (2014). The species that could not be identified in the field were classified at family, gender and species level in the Herbarium of the State University of Maringá.…”

“…Indeed, studies about the urban flora composition that integrate environmental data and social, economic and cultural aspects remain largely scarce (DOW, 2000;MARTIN et al, 2004;HEEZIK et al, 2014).…”

Private Urban Garden Satisfaction and Its Determinants in Quito, Ecuador

“…Traditionally, studies on home gardens have been dominated by either psychology or ecology approaches (Irvine et al, 2010). However, a small stream of research aims to bridge these two areas (e.g., van Heezik, Freeman, Porter, & Dickinson, 2014). This multidisciplinary approach bears great potential for understanding the complex interaction between human and nature in green spaces in general and in domestic gardens in particular (Irvine et al, 2010).…”