The Relation Between Road Crack Vegetation and Plant Biodiversity in Urban Landscape

Abstract

ABSTRACT:The objective of this study is to collect basic information on vegetation in road crack, especially in curbside crack of road, for evaluating plant biodiversity in urban landscape. A curbside crack in this study was defined as a linear space (under 20 mm in width) between the asphalt pavement and curbstone. The species composition of plants invading curbside cracks was surveyed in 38 plots along the serial National Route, over a total length of 36.5 km, in Fukuoka City in southern Japan. In total, 113 species including native plants (83 species, 73.5%), perennial herbs (57 species, 50.4%) and woody plants (13 species, 11.5%) were recorded in curbside cracks. Buried seeds were also obtained from soil in curbside cracks, which means the cracks would possess a potential as seed bank. Incidentally, no significant differences were found in the vegetation characteristics of curbside cracks among land-use types (Kolmogorov-Smirnov Test, P > 0.05). From these results, curbside cracks would be likely to play an important role in offering habitat for plants in urban area.

Ecological Significance of Masonry Revetments in Plant Biodiversity

“…In this study, 43 families and 88 species including 69 (78.4%) natives were observed between stones of the masonry revetments (Appendix 1). Our results are not surprising, because even hard surfaces such as cracks in pavement and mortared walls provide good opportunities for plants to colonize [10], [19].…”

“…17), pp. 1353-1359 ____ ruins, building walls, and stone walls (masonry revetments) have been conducted, and it is widely understood that these surfaces are sufficiently able to support various taxa [5], [10], [11], [19], [20]. However, those studies are overwhelmingly concentrated in Europe [10], whereas information originating in other countries and regions regarding vegetation of hard surfaces, including masonry revetments, is lacking despite the importance of plant habitats.…”

Dynamique de Colonisation des Zones Rudérales d’un Massif Forestier Urbain par les Espèces Végétales Exotiques Envahissantes : Cas du Parc National du Banco (Côte d’Ivoire)

“…Les zones rudérales se définissent comme des milieux influencés par l'homme, à savoir les bords de routes, de chemins, de pistes, les bords des massifs forestiers, les zones piétinées, les friches, les voies ferrées, les terrains vagues, les voies de fil électriques, les décharges, les décombres, les dépotoirs, etc. (Nyakabwa, 1981 ;Brun, 2007 ;Uchida et al, 2014). Ces zones renferment des plantes utiles qui peuvent avoir une valeur nutritive et médicinale pour l'homme ou fourragère pour les animaux domestiques (Nyakabwa, 1981).…”

Contemporary adaptive divergence of plant competitive traits in urban and rural populations and its implication for weed management

“…This invasive species is an aggressive crop weed in both its native area and in areas where it has been introduced. Furthermore, it grows not only in farmland habitats but also in urban habitats, such as along roadsides and train tracks, and in parks (Uchida et al., 2014; Wilhalm, 2009). Because seeds of this species have no specific dispersal traits and are thought to be dispersed by barochory only, local adaptation may occur rapidly even among geographically close populations.…”