scholarly journals Plant Communities Suitable for Green Roofs in Arid Regions

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 1755 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel Gioannini ◽  
Malik Al-Ajlouni ◽  
Richard Kile ◽  
Dawn VanLeeuwen ◽  
Rolston St. Hilaire
1981 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 233 ◽  
Author(s):  
MH Friedel

The levels and turnover of nitrogen, phosphorus and sulfur in the herbage layer: litter and soil of three central Australian plant communities were investigated, following several years of above-average rainfall, and the possibility of a relationship between nutrient levels and range condition assessment was examined. There were only a few positive correlations between range condition and phosphorus levels, and they were not associated with the susceptibility of different soils to erosional losses. There were no positive correlations between range condition and the levels of either nitrogen or sulfur. The herbage and litter layers together, of the three plant communities, contained 30-72 kg ha-1 of total nitrogen, 4 kg ha-1 of total phosphorus and 4-7 kg ha-1 of total sulfur. These quantities were comparable to those of arid regions in other parts of the world, but the levels of nitrogen, phosphorus and sulfur in soils, estimated by incubation or extraction to be available to plants, were comparatively low. Incubated nitrogen in the 0-10 cm depth of soils was 9-14 ppm and extractable phosphorus was 3-1 1 ppm. The 0-4 cm depth of soil contained 0.5-3 ppm extractable sulfur, and concentrations decreased with depth. Total soil nitrogen was lower than that in other arid regions whereas the amount of organic carbon in soil was comparable, so that C:N was relatively high. Substantial withdrawal of nutrients from senescing plant parts and rapid cycling of nutrients through litter appeared to be responsible for maintaining the level of nutrients in the herbage layer.


2016 ◽  
Vol 62 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 32-43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicole L. Kinlocka ◽  
Bracha Y. Schindler ◽  
Jessica Gurevitch

Green roofs can mitigate a number of urban environmental problems when green roof plant communities provide ecosystem services. However, this perspective may fail to address ecological aspects of the plant community. In particular, it does not account for the potential for green roofs to facilitate biological invasions. We consider current research in green roof ecology in light of the literature on biological invasions, focusing on plant invasion. We evaluate the role of species composition and novel communities, species interactions, succession, and dispersal on the trajectory of green roof plant communities. Green roofs have the potential to introduce invasive species through initial plantings, to become dominated by invasive species, and to spread invasive species, and we provide recommendations for plant selection and maintenance to reduce the risks of facilitating plant invasions to surrounding communities.


2019 ◽  
Vol 16 ◽  
pp. 00021
Author(s):  
Natalia Makunina ◽  
Mikhail Telyatnikov ◽  
Evgeniy Zibzeev

8 basic types of plant communities of arid regions of Altai- Sayan mountains have been revealed, their floristic classification has been carried out. Short description of the basic types has been given, their altitudinal distribution has been characterized.


Ecosphere ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (9) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kelly Ksiazek‐Mikenas ◽  
V. Bala Chaudhary ◽  
Daniel J. Larkin ◽  
Krissa A. Skogen

Author(s):  
A.B. Bubnova ◽  
◽  
I.A. Melnichuk ◽  
M.E. Ignatieva ◽  
◽  
...  

2016 ◽  
Vol 62 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 68-73 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bracha Y. Schindler ◽  
Lior Blank ◽  
Shay Levy ◽  
Gyongyver Kadas ◽  
David Pearlmutter ◽  
...  

The integration of photovoltaic (PV) panels and green roofs has the potential to improve panel efficiency to produce electricity and enhance green roof species diversity and productivity. In this review, we provide an overview of research on the effects of green roofs on PV panel electricity production, and predict the expected effects of the PV panel on green roof plant communities. Previous studies suggest that PV panels are more efficient above a green roof than above several types of conventional roofs due to the cooling effect of green roofs on the temperature-sensitive PV cells. Some ecological studies on shade suggest that shade imposed by panels may enhance the biotic productivity of green roofs. Shade is often shown to be important for seedling survival, particularly in arid environments – so the effect of shade on plants may depend on climate and irrigation. Previous studies also suggest that shade variations over the roof area may enhance plant diversity, as such heterogeneity creates niches of light and moisture levels that are appropriate for a diversity of plants. These positive effects on plant diversity may lead to increased arthropod diversity as well. Additional replicated studies are needed to test the reciprocal effects of green roofs and PV, as past studies lacked replication. Future directions for research that could guide the design of green roof–PV integration include the effects of irrigation, plant diversity, and green area-to-panel ratio on the roof.


1997 ◽  
pp. 43-52
Author(s):  
N. M. Novikova

Authors recognize the different kinds of vegetation dynamics in arid regions: natural, natural under anthropogenic influence, and anthropogenic one. Developing the ideas of V. B. Sochava, plant community successions in two first cases are referred to «ranges of development». These ranges are used as a basis for the legend of Map of Plant Community Dynamics in the South Pre-Aral region (scale 1 : 500 000). Changes in vegetation under anthropogenic impact are regarded to «ranges of transformations». The latter are used as the subordinate categories in the legend. The «series» of the plant communities are the main categories in legend. They are formed under different edaphic processes during the evolution of the arid landscapes or at the anthropogenic influence.


Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 546
Author(s):  
Behrouz Pirouz ◽  
Stefania Anna Palermo ◽  
Michele Turco

Conventional green roofs, although having numerous advantages, could place water resources under pressure in dry periods due to irrigation requirements. Moreover, the thermal efficiency of green roofs could decrease without irrigation, and the plants could get damaged. Therefore, this study aims to improve the efficiency of conventional green roofs by proposing a new multipurpose green roof combined with fog and dew harvesting systems. The analysis determined that the average water use of green roofs in the summer (in humid regions) is about 3.7 L/m2/day, in the Mediterranean regions about 4.5 L/m2/day, and in arid regions about 2.7 L/m2/day. During the dry season, the average fog potential in humid regions is 1.2 to 15.6 L/m2/day, Mediterranean regions between 1.6 and 4.6 L/m2/day, and arid regions between 1.8 and 11.8 L/m2/day. The average dew potential during the dry season in humid regions is 0.1 to 0.3 L/m2/day, in the Mediterranean regions is 0.2 to 0.3 L/m2/day, and in the arid regions is 0.5 to 0.7 L/m2/day. The analysis of the suggested multipurpose green roof combined with fog/dew harvesting systems, in the summer, in three different climates, show that fog harvesting could provide the total water requirement of the green roofs, and that dew harvesting by PV (photo-voltaic) panels could provide 15 to 26% of the water requirements. Moreover, it could show a higher thermal impact on the building, higher efficiency in stormwater management, less dependence on the urban water network, and greater efficiency in decreasing urban air, water, and noise pollution. Finally, the novel green roof system could consume less water due to the shaded area by mesh and solar PVs and maximize the utilization of the roof area, as solar panels could be applied on the same green roof.


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