scholarly journals Flora of herbaceous and arboreous plants in Komaba Campus of the University of Tokyo, Japan

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seikan Kurata ◽  
Naoko Ishikawa ◽  
Diego Vasques ◽  
Masayuki Saito ◽  
Osamu Kurashima ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Urban Area ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Green Spaces ◽  
Insect Species ◽  
Herbaceous Plants ◽  
Green Area ◽  
Garden Plants ◽  
The University

Recent studies revealed that green spaces in urban areas are critical for conservation of native biodiversity and that assessment of the present flora of green spaces in urban areas is critical for protection of the native biodiversity. The Komaba Campus of the University of Tokyo embraces a relevant green area, located in a highly urbanised area in Tokyo Metropolis (35.66 N 139.68 E, Japan). The total area of this Campus is 25.4 ha, from which, 4.5 ha are covered by vegetation. Although intense urbanisation can be observed around the Campus, new insect species had been reported for the Campus area, suggesting that the biodiversity on the Campus still demands some attention. Differently from fauna surveys, no flora survey has been done for more than 30 years on the Campus. In this study, we have extensively surveyed the plants diversity on the Komaba Campus of the University of Tokyo, aiming for an update of the plants list on this green urban area in Tokyo. The survey covered all herbaceous and arboreous plants growing wild on the Campus. Garden plants were excluded in this survey because these plants were supposed to be cultivated. The final dataset contained, in total, 324 taxa, from which 234 were herbaceous plants and 90 were arboreous plants. The top three taxa are as follows: Poaceae (38 taxa), Asteraceae (34 taxa) and Rosaceae (14 taxa), respectively. This is the first update to the Flora of the Komaba Campus of the University of Tokyo in 30 years and represent an important contribution to conservation of native species in the Tokyo metropolis.

Diversity of organisms

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip James
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Native Species ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Urban Environments ◽  
Green Spaces ◽  
The Common ◽  
Living Organisms ◽  
Micro Organisms ◽  
Diversity Of Life

The focus of this chapter is an examination of the diversity of living organisms found within urban environments, both inside and outside buildings. The discussion commences with prions and viruses before moving on to consider micro-organisms, plants, and animals. Prions and viruses cause disease in plants and animals, including humans. Micro-organisms are ubiquitous and are found in great numbers throughout urban environments. New technologies are providing new insights into their diversity. Plants may be found inside buildings as well as in gardens and other green spaces. The final sections of the chapter offer a discussion of the diversity of animals that live in urban areas for part or all of their life cycle. Examples of the diversity of life in urban environments are presented throughout, including native and non-native species, those that are benign and deadly, and the common and the rare.

scholarly journals 6th Fábos Conference on Landscape and Greenway Planning

Land ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 436
Author(s):  
Richard Smardon
Keyword(s):  
Urban Areas ◽  
Green Spaces ◽  
Economic Potential ◽  
Special Issue ◽  
Conference Theme ◽  
The Social ◽  
University Of Massachusetts ◽  
The University

This editorial is an overview of a Special Issue of Land entitled “Selected Papers from the6th Fábos Conference on Landscape and Greenway Planning: Adapting and Expanding Contracting Cities.” This Special Issue of land contains six papers—most of which were presented at the 6th Fábos Conference on Landscape and Greenway Planning (Fábos et al. 2019) held at the University of Massachusetts Amherst 28–30 March 2019.The Fábos conference theme was to explore the social and economic potential of linear green spaces in urban areas that are declining or expanding.

scholarly journals Applicability of three complementary relationship models for estimating actual evapotranspiration in urban area

2015 ◽  
Vol 63 (2) ◽  
pp. 117-123 ◽  
Author(s):  
Takeshi Nakamichi ◽  
Toshitsugu Moroizumi
Keyword(s):  
Urban Area ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Green Spaces ◽  
Actual Evapotranspiration ◽  
Complementary Relationship ◽  
Rural And Urban Areas ◽  
Rural And Urban ◽  
The Difference

Abstract The characteristics of evapotranspiration estimated by the complementary relationship actual evapotranspiration (CRAE), the advection-aridity (AA), and the modified advection-aridity (MAA) models were investigated in six pairs of rural and urban areas of Japan in order to evaluate the applicability of the three models the urban area. The main results are as follows: 1) The MAA model could apply to estimating the actual evapotranspiration in the urban area. 2) The actual evapotranspirations estimated by the three models were much less in the urban area than in the rural. 3) The difference among the estimated values of evapotranspiration in the urban areas was significant, depending on each model, while the difference among the values in the rural areas was relatively small. 4) All three models underestimated the actual evapotranspiration in the urban areas from humid surfaces where water and green spaces exist. 5) Each model could take the effect of urbanization into account.

Maintaining and Improving Biodiversity in Urban Centers: Landscape Spatial Design in Mexico City and New York City

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luis Zambrano ◽  
Steven N Handel ◽  
Tania Fernandez ◽  
Isabel Brostella
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
New York City ◽  
Mexico City ◽  
York City ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Animal Movement ◽  
Species Conservation ◽  
Spatial Arrangement ◽  
Green Spaces

Abstract ContextLarge cities contain different sizes and distributions of green spaces in a sea of buildings and roads. This urban landscape establishes the habitat for different species that persist in cities.ObjectivesHow does this “archipelago” of habitat space function? How does the arrangement of green spaces affect plant and animal species' biodiversity and movement through this urban pattern?MethodsBy using Patch Analyst Metrics, we propose a novel method to analyze and improve the current spatial arrangement of green spaces using Mexico City and New York City, long-established urban areas.ResultsThe two cities differ in the number, size, and spatial distribution of green spaces. Frequency analysis suggests that Mexico City has a high number of large green spaces for native species conservation; but most of them are in one vast cluster of green areas at the south. In New York City large spaces are distributed along the whole territory, comprising most potential habitats, but it has much more small areas. This spatial analysis shows particular areas in which both cities have the potential to add connectivity among existing green spaces for dispersal of many taxa of plants and animals. ConclusionsMuch data is available on the potential dispersion through cities, but a better framework for understanding the existing distribution is needed for future landscape decisions. Results suggest ways that new urban areas can better increase plant and animal movement patterns.

scholarly journals Native and non-native plants attract diverse bees to urban gardens in California

2019 ◽  
Vol 25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gordon Frankie ◽  
Ingrid Feng ◽  
Robbin Thorp ◽  
Jaime Pawelek ◽  
Marissa Helene Chase ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Urban Areas ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Host Plants ◽  
Native Plants ◽  
Ornamental Plants ◽  
Geographic Origin ◽  
Native Plant ◽  
Native Plant Species ◽  
Native Bee ◽  
The University

Bees visit native and non-native plant species for pollen and nectar resources in urban, agricultural, and wildland environments. Results of an extensive survey of bee-flower collection records from 10 California cities from 2005-2011 were used to examine host-plant records of native and non-native ornamental plants to diverse native and non-native bee species; five cities were from northern California and five were from southern California. A total of 7,659 bees and their floral host plants were examined. Of these, 179 were Apis mellifera and 7,390 were non-Apis. Only four other non-native species (all in Megachilidae) were recorded in the survey, and together they accounted for 402 individuals. These bees have been databased in preparation for deposition in the University of California-Berkeley Essig Museum of Entomology. We identified 229 bee species and 42 genera visiting native and non-native plant types in urban areas. Of the 229 species, 71 bee species were collected from only native plants; 52 were collected from only non-native host plants; and 106 were collected from both types of plants. Native bee species were common on native plants and non-native plants, but there were substantially more non-native bee species visiting non-native plants compared to native plants. Flowering periods in months were similar for both types of plants, but non-natives tended to flower later in the year. We propose that using native and non-native plants improves habitat gardening by increasing opportunities for attracting a richer diversity of bee species and for longer periods. Knowing basic bee-flower relationships in an area is key to planning a bee habitat garden with a variety of plant types, regardless of their geographic origin. 

scholarly journals Isolation of Actinomycetes with Cellulolytic and Antimicrobial Activities from Soils Collected from an Urban Green Space in the Philippines

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Jann Eldy L. Daquioag ◽  
Gil M. Penuliar
Keyword(s):  
Urban Areas ◽  
Soil Microorganisms ◽  
Antimicrobial Activities ◽  
The Philippines ◽  
Green Spaces ◽  
Screening Methods ◽  
Cellulolytic Activity ◽  
Candida Spp ◽  
Commercially Important ◽  
The University

Actinomycetes are one of the most important groups of soil bacteria that are recognized as sources of commercially important enzymes and antimicrobials. Actinomycetes, however, are largely underestimated and uncharacterized in underexplored habitats such as green spaces in urban areas. This study aimed to isolate actinomycetes from soils in the University of the Philippines Diliman campus and determine their cellulolytic and antimicrobial activities. A total of 235 isolates were purified from the soil samples collected. Cellulolytic and antimicrobial activities were observed in 114 and 18 isolates, respectively. The cell-free supernatants of 31 isolates exhibited high cellulolytic activities. Two isolates, in particular EWLG2 and EPNA9, had 0.596 FPU and 0.885 FPU cellulolytic activity, respectively. Seven isolates exhibited antimicrobial activities in the screening methods used. The crude extracts of isolates AWLG9, AWLG8, AWLG10, AULG1, APLG2, and AWLG13 had minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) values ranging from 31.25 µg/mL to 500 µg/mL against Candida spp. Isolates AULG1 and EPLG5 were active against the bacterial test microorganisms and had MIC values ranging from 250 µg/mL to 500 µg/mL. DNA sequencing identified the isolates which exhibited high cellulolytic and antimicrobial activities as Bacillus sp. and Streptomyces sp., with percent identities ≥98%. This study shows that green spaces are rich sources of soil microorganisms that have cellulolytic and antimicrobial activities. It is recommended that the isolates obtained in this study be examined further for possible applications in bioethanol production and pharmacology.

scholarly journals Identifying urban food trees in campus green spaces

2021 ◽  
Vol 918 (1) ◽  
pp. 012022
Author(s):  
A B Rangkuti ◽  
A Susilowati ◽  
M M Harahap ◽  
A H Iswanto
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Impact ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Green Space ◽  
Food System ◽  
Urban Sustainability ◽  
Green Spaces ◽  
Alternative Food ◽  
Food Sources ◽  
Ecological Services ◽  
The University

Abstract The environmental impact of food is one of the drivers of cities’ growing interest in the developed food system in urban areas, one of which is campus green space. Green spaces (GS) on campus accompany native trees, landscaping, and water features for nurturing wildlife and people in the surrounding campus. In addition, GS can provide food sources such as fruit, alternative food, seeds, and nuts. This study aims to identify food trees in 120 hectares of the University Sumatera Utara campus area through field inventory methods. Our research showed that 49 species belong to 18 families and 1536 individuals USU campus produce beneficial food for people surrounding campus, either fruit, nuts, and alternative food. Thus, we conclude that the university’s green space can support the urban area’s vision as food providers and ecological services for achieving urban sustainability. Furthermore, gathering and gleaning from green space provides opportunities for inhabitants to maintain urban resources and deeply interact with nature.

Wildfire spreading across the urban area: definition and mapping of vegetation connectivity

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Polinova ◽  
Haim Kutiel ◽  
Lea Wittenberg ◽  
Anna Brook
Keyword(s):  
Urban Area ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Fire Management ◽  
Fire Service ◽  
Green Spaces ◽  
Landsat 8 ◽  
Ignition Point ◽  
Urban Green ◽  
Urban Green Spaces ◽  
Forest Fire Management

<p>Climate change, increased frequency of natural disasters and their anomaly in the modern world demand review existing knowledge about environment and approaches for its management. In recent decades, one of the phenomena that humanity met with is urban wildfires. Experience has shown that existing approaches from forest fire management are not effective in a built-up environment. In practice, studying this phenomenon is limited due to lack of empirical knowledge.</p><p>To bridge this knowledge gap, the fire dynamic patterns in an urban area was reconstructed based on fire service data on the example of wildfire in Haifa (Israel) in November 2016. The results of reconstruction show that unlike forest fires, where fuel is almost unlimited around the ignition point, urban areas are sensitive to wildfire because of 'fire connectivity' through vegetation: fire moves from one green patch to another, bypassing nonflammable structures.</p><p>Although the role of urban vegetation in the spread of fires is obvious, it is difficult to define a suitable term in case of fire management. Today, cities and vegetation are studied together in the urban planning and ecosystem services and have different definitions, depends on study propose: ‘Urban Green Spaces’, ‘Green Infrastructure’, ‘Urban Forestry’, etc. The closest term in fire management for vegetation interaction with structures is ‘Wildland Urban Interface’ (WUI). However, WUI considers vegetation surrounding the city and excludes urban green spaces. Since before this time the inner-city vegetation was not considered in the fire management and wasn’t estimated its essential parameters for this case, it does not have an exact term and definition. The reconstructed wildfire allows to analyze and define vegetation in context of fire connectivity.</p><p>The results show that wildfire spreads in the urban area through ember attacks. Meanwhile, the embers led to ignition only in some patches and only in a few cases the energy amount was enough for new embers emission. Thus, the fire vegetation connectivity in urban areas can be defined by its ability to ignite and reproduce new embers.</p><p>To support fire management and risk assessment in urban areas, it is important to map vegetation based on its ignitability and potential energy emission. The task is complicated due to the uncertainty of surface fuel (including both litter and human waste). Citywide, detecting and monitoring such patches through field surveys is time-consuming work. To solve this objective by remote sensing technique, we analyzed series of Landsat 8 images for 2015 to identify spectral and temporal features of vegetation related to its flammability. The proposed approach supports estimation and mapping of vegetation connectivity in case of urban wildfire based on its multi-temporal spectral signature.</p>

scholarly journals Assessment of Land Use/Land Cover Detection and Its Impact on the Human Environment Using Geospatial Techniques in the University of Port Harcourt Host Communities, Nigeria

2020 ◽  
pp. 40-53
Author(s):  
Collins H. Wizor ◽  
Olatunde S. Eludonyi
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Land Cover ◽  
Urban Area ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Control Measure ◽  
Land Use Land Cover ◽  
Rapid Urbanization ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Port Harcourt ◽  
The University

This study examines the use of GIS and Remote Sensing in Mapping Land Use/Land Cover changes in the University of Port Harcourt host communities, mainly Choba, Aluu and Alakahia, between 2005-2010 and 2010-2015, to recognise the changes that have taken place in these peri-urban areas within the period of study. The study aim is to detect and map the land use/land cover of the area over a period of 10 years (2005-2015). Three data set of Landsat Satellite images were layer-stacked, after which supervised classification in EARDAS imagine software was carried out and mapping in Arc GIS software were carried out. Five land use and land cover categories were distinguished: built-up areas, cultivation, vegetation, and water body. The results of the study show rapid growth in built-up land between 2010 and 2015, whereas the periods between 2005 and 2010 witnessed an increase in this class also. The rapid increase in built-up areas revealed by the study is due to the rapid urbanization and industrialization in the peri-urban area. It was further observed that the increasing population of students in the area brings about much more demand on housing, which resulted in a great detrimental effect on the land cover of the area in recent years. The study, therefore, recommends, amongst others, the regulation of land use in the peri-urban area, encouragement of afforestation by government and other critical stakeholders, and provision of a mitigating control measure to realistically address the contemporary issues of rapid urbanization in the peri-urban areas.

scholarly journals Checklist of the superfamily Scarabaeoidea (Insecta, Coleoptera) in an urban area of the Caribbean Colombia

Check List ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 579-594
Author(s):  
Carlos Taboada-Verona ◽  
Carlos Sermeño-Correa ◽  
Oscar Sierra-Serrano ◽  
Jorge Ari Noriega
Keyword(s):  
Urban Area ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
The Caribbean ◽  
Taxonomic Groups ◽  
The University ◽  
First Time

We report an inventory of the superfamily Scarabaeoidea present at the campus of the University of Sucre, Sincelejo, Colombia. Specimens were captured between the months of May and June 2016. A total of 510 specimens were collected belonging to 3 families, 8 subfamilies, 27 genera, and 34 species. The subfamilies presenting the greatest diversity were Scarabaeinae and Dynastinae. For the first time the following 8 species were recorded for Sucre Department: Anomala valida Burmeister, 1844, Liogenys quadridens (Fabricius, 1798), Megasoma elephas (Fabricius, 1775), Omorgus suberosus (Fabricius, 1775), Phileurus didymus (Linnaeus, 1758), Phileurus valgus (Olivier, 1789), Phyllo­phaga menetriesi (Blanchard, 1850), and Xenopelidnota anomala (Burmeister, 1844). We highlight the importance of green zones within urban areas as possible faunistic refugia for different taxonomic groups, especially for the beetles of the superfamily Scarabaeoidea.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document