Sedum —Annual plant interactions on green roofs: Facilitation, competition and exclusion

Vasl, Amiel; Shalom, Hadar; Kadas, Gyongyver J.; Blaustein, Leon

doi:10.1016/j.ecoleng.2017.07.034

Cited by 30 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…Vasl et al. () also showed a reduction in colonizer abundance due to Sedum species. Butler and Orians (), on the other hand, reported a facilitating effect for species planted together in an experimental setup.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 91%

“…Due to the difference in species pools in comparison with natural systems and the presence of many successful (and potentially competitive) species in urban areas, this biotic filter may be stronger or act differently in novel ecosystems. A short‐term study has confirmed biotic filtering on experimental EGRs by showing that presence of Sedum can reduce the abundance of colonizing species (Vasl, Shalom, Kadas, & Blaustein, ). However, no interaction with annual species sown at the same time as the Sedum species was found.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 88%

“…For the taxon-based diversity measures (SR sp and H′ sp ), no significant effect of competition is found, even though we see a negative effect of the cover of planted species on the cover of colonizing species, possibly through direct competition for light. Vasl et al (2017) also showed a reduction in colonizer abundance due to Sedum species. Butler and Orians (2011), on the other hand, reported a facilitating effect for species planted together in an experimental setup.…”

Section: Biotic Factors Affect Cover and Functional Diversitymentioning

confidence: 95%

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Community assembly on extensive green roofs: Effects of dispersal‐, abiotic‐ and biotic filtering on the spontaneous species‐ and functional diversity

Vanstockem

Bastiaens

Helsen

et al. 2019

J Vegetation Science

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Questions Extensive green roofs (EGRs) are novel ecosystems and essential tools in mitigating the negative effects of urbanization. However, the extent to which traditional community assembly insights apply to spontaneous plant and trait diversity and composition on EGRs and novel ecosystems in general is unclear: (a) is a dispersal filter present because of EGRs’ fragmented nature (e.g., roof height, urban environment); (b) can we confirm the strong abiotic filtering due to extreme EGR conditions (e.g., limited substrate depth); and (c) does the presence of the planted vegetation lead to biotic filtering? Location The Flanders and Brussels region of Belgium. Methods The vegetation of 129 EGRs was sampled during a field campaign. Information on local (e.g., substrate, roof height) and regional characteristics (e.g., connectivity indices) were collected and species traits were collected from multiple databases. All data were used to construct (generalized) linear mixed models that tested the effects of the dispersal‐, local abiotic‐ and local biotic filters on plant community formation. Redundancy analysis was used to investigate predictor effects on functional composition and null models were constructed to assess trait divergence/convergence. Results Our results show that the spontaneous plant species diversity is not affected by their landscape context (dispersal filtering), while their functional composition is. Additionally, the importance of abiotic filtering is confirmed, as substrate depth and exposure have a strong impact on species diversity and decreasing substrate depth negatively impacts functional diversity. Finally, we show that biotic filtering by increased planted species cover leads to trait divergence, changes in functional composition and reduced cover of spontaneous species. Conclusions We find that a broad perspective that includes the regional and local biotic and abiotic environment is needed to assess all factors that influence the vegetation on EGRs. As biotic interactions are present, EGRs should not be considered as static systems.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 91%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 88%

Section: Biotic Factors Affect Cover and Functional Diversitymentioning

confidence: 95%

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Community assembly on extensive green roofs: Effects of dispersal‐, abiotic‐ and biotic filtering on the spontaneous species‐ and functional diversity

Vanstockem

Bastiaens

Helsen

et al. 2019

J Vegetation Science

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show abstract

“…Roof age had varying effects on species richness: Short-term studies usually reported decreasing richness after the start of an experiment, e.g., for micro-arthropods in a nine-month study in London, UK [39] or for vascular plants over three years in Haifa, Israel [40]. Vascular plant richness first increased, then levelled off or decreased within six months on an experimental green roof in London [41].…”

Section: Roof Characteristics Species Richness Species Abundance Funcmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biodiversity Impact of Green Roofs and Constructed Wetlands as Progressive Eco-Technologies in Urban Areas

2019

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The total amount of sealed surfaces is increasing in many urban areas, which presents a challenge for sewerage systems and wastewater treatment plants when extreme rainfall events occur. One promising solution approach is the application of decentralized eco-technologies for water management such as green roofs and constructed wetlands, which also have the potential to improve urban biodiversity. We review the effects of these two eco-technologies on species richness, abundance and other facets of biodiversity (e.g., functional diversity). We find that while green roofs support fewer species than ground-level habitats and thus are not a substitute for the latter, the increase in green roof structural diversity supports species richness. Species abundance benefits from improved roof conditions (e.g., increased substrate depth). Few studies have investigated the functional diversity of green roofs so far, but the typical traits of green roof species have been identified. The biodiversity of animals in constructed wetlands can be improved by applying animal-aided design rather than by solely considering engineering requirements. For example, flat and barrier-free shore areas, diverse vegetation, and heterogeneous surroundings increase the attractiveness of constructed wetlands for a range of animals. We suggest that by combining and making increasing use of these two eco-technologies in urban areas, biodiversity will benefit.

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“…Green roof studies have previously targeted the enhancement of species diversity via heterogeneity. Previous studies have manipulated different substrate features (Lundholm, 2009) as well as the mixing of annuals with perennials (Vasl, Shalom, Kadas, & Blaustein, 2017), creating heterogeneous surface features such as logs and pebbles (Walker & Lundholm, 2017) and substrate depth (Heim & Lundholm, 2014).…”

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confidence: 99%

Fine‐scale substrate heterogeneity in green roof plant communities: The constraint of size

Vasl

Schindler

Kadas

et al. 2019

Ecology and Evolution

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Heterogeneity–diversity relationship (HDR) is commonly shown to be positive in accordance with classic niche processes. However, recent soil‐based studies have often found neutral and even negative HDRs. Some of the suggested reasons for this discrepancy include the lack of resemblance between manipulated substrate and natural settings, the treated areas not being large enough to contain species' root span, and finally limited‐sized plots may not sustain focal species’ populations over time. Vegetated green roofs are a growing phenomenon in many cities that could be an ideal testing ground for this problem. Recent studies have focused on the ability of these roofs to sustain stable and diverse plant communities and substrate heterogeneity that would increase niches on the roof has been proposed as a method to attain this goal. We constructed an experimental design using green roof experimental modules (4 m2) where we manipulated mineral and organic substrate component heterogeneity in different subplots (0.25 m2) within the experimental module while maintaining the total sum of mineral and organic components. A local annual plant community was seeded in the modules and monitored over three growing seasons. We found that plant diversity and biomass were not affected by experimentally created substrate heterogeneity. In addition, we found that different treatments, as well as specific subplot substrates, had an effect on plant community assemblages during the first year but not during the second and third years. Substrate heterogeneity levels were mostly unchanged over time. The inability to retain plant community composition over the years despite the maintenance of substrate differences supports the hypothesis that maintenance of diversity is constrained at these spatial scales by unfavorable dispersal and increased stochastic events as opposed to predictions of classic niche processes.

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Sedum —Annual plant interactions on green roofs: Facilitation, competition and exclusion

Cited by 30 publications

References 39 publications

Community assembly on extensive green roofs: Effects of dispersal‐, abiotic‐ and biotic filtering on the spontaneous species‐ and functional diversity

Community assembly on extensive green roofs: Effects of dispersal‐, abiotic‐ and biotic filtering on the spontaneous species‐ and functional diversity

Biodiversity Impact of Green Roofs and Constructed Wetlands as Progressive Eco-Technologies in Urban Areas

Fine‐scale substrate heterogeneity in green roof plant communities: The constraint of size

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