Unveiling the adaptation strategies of woody plants in remnant forest patches to spatiotemporal urban expansion through leaf trait networks

Background:With the expansion of urban areas,the remnants of forested areas play a crucial role in preserving biodiversity in urban environments.This study aimed to explore the impact of spatiotemporal urban expansion on the networks of leaf traits in woody plants within remnant forest patches,thereby enhancing our understanding of plant adaptive strategies and contributing to the conservation of urban biodiversity.Methods:Our study examined woody plants within 120 sample plots across 15 remnant forest patches in Guiyang,China.We constructed leaf trait networks (LTNs) based on 26 anatomical,structural,and compositional leaf traits and assessed the effects of the spatiotemporal dynamics of urban expansion on these LTNs.Results and conclusions:Our results indicate that shrubs within these patches have greater average path lengths and diameters than trees.With increasing urban expansion intensity,we observed a rise in the edge density of the LTN-shrubs.Additionally,modularity within the networks of shrubs decreased as road density and urban expansion intensity increased,and increases in the average path length and average clustering coefficient for shrubs were observed with a rise in the composite terrain complexity index.Notably,patches subjected to‘leapfrog’expansion exhibited greater average patch length and diameter than those experiencing edge growth.Stomatal traits were found to have high degree centrality within these networks,signifying their substantial contribution to multiple functions.In urban remnant forests,shrubs bolster their resilience to variable environmental pressures by augmenting the complexity of their leaf trait networks.

Application of Garden Ground Cover Plants in Urban Roof Gardens

By analyzing the characteristics of ground cover plants,this study aimed to discuss about the plant species available for roof gardens and the selection principles.

Research on Arrangement of Urban Garden Plants in the Perspective of Ecological Adaptability

With the increasing deterioration of urban environment, strengthening construction of garden green land was one of the effective ways to ameliorate urban environment. However, as designers only focused on the landscape effect of garden plant arrangement and neglected the relationship between plants and natural environment, it resulted in poor growth of some plant community even the disappearance of some communities. Therefore, good landscaping effect could be achieved only when garden layout requirement was considered and suitable cultivation environment was selected based on plants ecological feature, giving full play to its landscaping and ecological function. The study discussed the arrangement of garden plants mainly in the perspective of temperature, light, water, atmosphere and soil environmental factors which were suitable for garden plants, so as to realize the high unity of scientificity and artistry garden plants arrangement, provide a save, comfortable and healthy living and working environment for residents, achieve virtuous cycling development of urban ecological system and promote sustainable development of the city.

Species and Distribution Characteristics of Alien Invasive Plants in Garden Greenbelt of Shijiazhuang City

[Objectives]The paper was to investigate the garden greenbelt in 30 sample plots such as parks,roads,communities,etc.in Shijiazhuang City.[Methods]The species,abundance and frequency of weeds in the greenbelt of public gardens were recorded through point-line-surface investigation,and typical plants were sampled.[Results]There were 56 species of alien invasive plants in garden greenbelts of Shijiazhuang City,belonging to 44 genera and 20 families.In terms of life form,herbaceous plants were absolutely dominant,accounting for 92.8%of the total.The most alien invasive plants were native to America,accounting for 66.1%of the total.In terms of introduction path,the plants introduced artificially and unintentionally accounted for almost half.The species and quantity of alien invasive plants were related to the size of greenbelt area,the length of the build time of the surveyed plot,the composition structure of greenbelt and the level of green management and protection.There was larger distribution of alien invasive plants in the sample plots with large greenbelt area,long build time,herbaceous-dominated greenbelt and low level of green management and protection.Among the 56 alien invasive plants,3 plants were toxic.From the perspective of invasiveness,the alien invasive plants in the garden greenbelt of Shijiazhuang City could be divided into 5 levels:invasive alien species of malignant consequences,invasive alien species of severe consequences,invasive alien species of partial consequences,invasive alien species of average consequences,and invasive alien species to be observed.[Conclusions]This study will provide a reference for the prevention and control of alien plant invasion,and lay a foundation for the prevention and control of existing invasive plants.

Thriving green havens in baking deserts:Plant diversity and species composition of urban plantations in the Sahara Desert

Hot arid zones represent vital reservoirs of unique species and ecosystems,holding significant importance for biodiversity.This study aimed to explore the plant diversity associated with tree plantations in urban ecosystems under hyper-arid climatic conditions in the Sahara Desert of Algeria.In May 2022,30 quadrats measuring 1 m^(2) each were established at the base of Phoenix dactylifera,Leucaena leucocephala,and Tamarix aphylla,corresponding to the dominant tree species in each of three plantations.In each quadrat,the plant quantitative inventory was conducted to measure plant diversity and similarity among the studied plantations.Based on this,we assessed the plant functional traits and rarity/abundance status of the flora.The findings revealed a diverse flora associated with the studied plantations,comprising 29 plant species grouped into 27 genera and 12 families.Notably,Poaceae(accounting for 30.8% of the flora),Asteraceae(25.0%),and Zygophyllaceae(21.6%)were well-represented.With an overall density of approximately 555 individuals/m^(2),Zygophyllum album(120 individuals/m^(2))and Polypogon monspeliensis(87 individuals/m^(2))emerged as the most abundant species.Functional trait analysis underscored the pivotal role of therophytes(constituting over 50.0% of the flora)and anemochorous species(33.0%-62.5%).Phytogeographic analysis emphasized the prevalence of the Saharo-Arabic element(constituting over 31.0% of the flora)and the Mediterranean Saharo-Arabic element(9.5%-21.5%).The Cosmopolitan element thrived under disturbance factors,recording percentages from 13.0% to 20.0% of the plant community.The rarity/abundance status of the flora emphasized the significance of rare,common,and very common species in the studied plantations.These findings could provide fundamental data for the effective control and management of biodiversity in hot hyper-arid urban ecosystems.

Use of evergreen and deciduous plants by nocturnal-roosting birds:A case study in Beijing

With continually increasing urbanization,the land cover in urban areas continues to change,resulting in the loss of biodiversity.Birds are highly sensitive to changes in habitat.Most forest birds perch on plants that provide increased safety to reduce the risk of predation,and small birds may also consider insulation when using roosting plants in winter because of cold weather.Landscaping plants thus shape the nocturnal roosting environment of urban birds,and proper planting is essential for the survival of birds at night.The use of roosting plants by urban birds should therefore be studied to provide a reference for landscaping.In the current study,we observed 1865 nocturnal roosting birds in Beijing from 2021 to 2022,with 23 species of birds from 12 families and 45 species of plants from 22 families recorded.Juniperus chinensis exhibited the highest bird rarity-weighted richness,followed by Fraxinus pennsylvanica,Phyllostachys propinqua,Pinus tabuliformis,and Ulmus pumila.The diameter at breast height,tree height,and crown width of plants used by birds was largest in summer and smallest in winter,and the perch height of birds was the highest in spring and summer and the lowest in winter.Birds used the highest proportion of deciduous plants in summer and the highest proportion of evergreen plants in winter.A significant seasonal difference in the use of evergreen and deciduous plants by small birds was noted,with a preference for deciduous plants in summer and evergreen plants in winter,while this preference was not found in large birds.These findings indicate that evergreen plants provide a vital nocturnal roosting environment for small birds in winter.To provide a better nocturnal roosting habitat for urban birds,we recommend paying attention to the combination of evergreen and deciduous plants when carrying out landscape construction.

Prospects and limitations of soil amendment and irrigation techniques for the water-saving public urban greenery and ephemeral weed management in the sandy soils of the United Arab Emirates

Public urban greenery greatly contributes to the residential and tourist value of cities in the Gulf Region,but due to the hyper-arid climatic conditions,the cost of irrigation and plant maintenance is very high.Existing strategies to reduce the monetary and ecological costs involve the cultivation of native xerophytic plantations,and/or the use of soil improvers to increase water-and nutrient-holding capacity of the sandy soils.Various soil improvers based on mineral,organic,or synthetic materials have entered the United Arab Emirates(UAE)market in recent years,but there is considerable uncertainty about how they should best be used in combination with ornamental plant stands involving xerophytic native plants.The present study investigated the effect of soil amendment and deep pipe irrigation on perennial ornamental plant stands involving native plants(Tephrosia appolinea(Gel.)Link in combination with Aerva javanica(Burm.f.)Juss.ex Schult.)and native-exotic plants(T.appolinea in combination with Ruelia simplex C.Wright)either or not topsoil and subsoil amendment with bentonite and hydrophobic sand under the irrigation water supply of less than 50%of reference evapotranspiration(ET0).After one year of cultivation,T.appolinea and A.javanica(native vs.native)produced high biomass and exhibited high water use efficiency(WUE)as compared with T.appolinea and R.simplex(native vs.exotic)combination given that no significant differences were found under the soil amendment treatments.All stands thrived under irrigation water supply far below what is usually supplied to exotic ornamental stands in public parks of the Al Ain City,the UAE.However,subsoil amendment in combination with deep pipe irrigation reduced the occurrence of weeds and increased the overall plant rooting depth.Our results suggest that subsoil amendment and irrigation up to 60-80 cm depth can potentially control ephemeral weed infestation,which is a great challenge in various plant production systems of the Gulf Region.The results of the present study suggest that the impact of soil amendment on the WUE of exotic plants is marginal and might not be economically justified.Replacing exotic with native ornamental plant species seems to have a far greater water-saving potential than the amendment of the soil,while weeds can be suppressed in the absence of topsoil moisture.

Combing and Discussion of Modern Urban Planning Ideas

Since the emergence of utopian socialism and other modern urban planning ideas,as well as the proposing of“garden cities”by Howard,modern urban planning theory has experienced a variety of planning ideas,and these ideas play a great role in guiding urban construction and planning.In this century,cities have ushered in many industrial revolutions,and urban life,economy,and ecology have changed greatly.Planning scholars in various countries are actively looking for“medicine”to save cities in the“sick”.In this paper,modern urban planning ideas were sorted out,and how to learn from the current territorial spatial planning that is being compiled around the country was thought about.

Study on Plant Landscaping Methods in Garden Landscape Construction

Garden landscape is a beautiful complex formed by space and time complementing each other and acting together.Garden plants are the core landscaping elements in garden landscape construction.It is necessary to flexibly use a variety of plant landscaping methods to create a richer and more vivid natural landscape,and promote the improvement of the quality of the living environment and the harmonious coexistence between man and nature.

Analysis of Culture Expression in the Garden Plants Disposition

Culture of the garden plants disposition was expressed in many aspects,such as the plant disposition with special cultural environment and specific environment,expression of urban culture in the plant disposition,application of plants with historical and cultural connotations in the design and protection for ancient and famous trees.

On the Cultivation & Maintenance of Gardening Plants in Residential Areas of Liuzhou City

According to the analysis of the specific condition of green space of residential area in Liuzhou,effective suggestions to the design,cultivation and maintenance were put forward.

Landscape Plants Selection and Design in the Peony Garden of Xibaipo

Peony is a traditional famous flower in China.With the peony garden of Xibaipo as an example,the landscaping planning of functional divisions,the selection and design of landscaping plants for the peony garden are introduced in this study,then the landscaping plants selection and design principles are summarized.

The Application of Garden Plants in Landscaping

In this study,the roles and application characteristics of various garden plants in landscape were discussed,the existing problems were analyzed,finally some suggestions and countermeasures were put forward.

Effects of Pigment Indicators on the Color Expression of Leaves of the Colored-leaf Garden Plants

[Objective] In this study, the relationship between the pigments and the color expression of leaves of colored-leaf plants was discussed. [Method] The colors of leaf blades of 6 kinds of plants were analyzed with the Royal Horticultural Soci-ety Colour Chart. The chlorophyl content, carotenoids content and anthocyanin con-tent in leaf blades were determined. In addition, the color types of leaf blades, kinds of pigments, pigment contents and pigment distributions of 6 kinds of plants were compared. [Result] The chlorophyl contents ranked as Populus canadensis Moench （green leaves） 〉 Populus deltoids cv. Zhonghuahongye （purple green leaves） 〉 Populus euramericana cv. Quanhong （red leaves）; Acer palmatum Thunb. （green leaves） 〉 Acer palmatum cv. Atropurpureum （purple red leaves） 〉 Acer pal-matum Thunb. cv. Atropurpureum （red leaves）. The ranking of anthocyanin contents was just opposite. The chlorophyl content was negatively related to the anthocyanin content. The leaf color of plants is determined by various pigments. The more the chlorophyl is, the greener the leaf is. The more the anthocyanin is, the redder the leaf is. In the colored-leaf plants, the chlorophyl content represents about 80% of the content of pigments, the carotenoids content represents about 17%, and the an-thocyanin represents about 3%. There is a difference in the chlorophyl content be-tween colored-leaf plants and green plants. However, the relatively low chlorophyl content wil not hamper the normal life activities of colored-leaf plants. [Conclusion] We hoped to provide reference and basis for the production and landscaping of col-ored-leaf plants.

Application Characteristics and Patterns of Aromatic Plants in Gardens

4 characteristics of aromatic plants as garden design elements are described:"aromatic beauty" of plants is not limited by vision;aroma of plants has the capacity of adjusting mental and physical state of viewers;aroma of plants is able to sterilize and purify the environment;aroma of plants helps form the artistic conception of gardens.There are 4 major types of aromatic plants:aromatic flower plants,aromatic foliage plants,aromatic fruit plants and others.Representative plants of each type are given to discuss application modes of aromatic plants,specifically,aromatic plant as main landscape,aromatic plant as decorative landscape,aromatic plant for health care,indoor combination of aromatic plant,aromatic plant as dress and personal adornment.Concrete application techniques and attentions are introduced.

Construction of Urban Ecological Garden in Qinhuangdao City

By applying the relevant theories of constructing urban ecological gardens,the problems existing in the ecological garden city construction of Qinhuangdao City were analyzed,the construction planning and countermeasures were put forward.

Enlightenment on the Construction of Modern Urban Plazas from Classical Chinese Gardens

Researches on modern urban plazas in China were reviewed,phenomena caused by the shortage of proper theoretical guidance such as blind imitation and fixed forms of urban plazas were pointed out,and it was emphasized that researches on urban plazas with Chinese characteristics should be enhanced.By analyzing features of traditional western plazas and classical Chinese gardens,this study proposed that by combining with their practical functions the construction of modern urban plazas in China should maintain traditional concepts and aesthetic characteristics of Chinese people on the basis of satisfying demands of the public to the best.The enlightenment on the construction of modern urban plazas from classical Chinese gardens was particularly analyzed,the application of garden aesthetics,components,and landscaping methods of classical Chinese gardens were highlighted,and moreover,it was put forward that the relationship between human and human,human and society,human and nature implied in classical Chinese gardens would surely bring profound inspiration to urban plazas.

Cultural Implication of Plants in Classical Chinese Gardens

Besides the ornamental and landscape composition functions,plants in classical Chinese gardens also play another significant role,i.e.cultural function.The cultural psychology of taking garden plants as emotional vectors and a living history as well as that of garden plant furnishing were elaborated in this study,and the cultural implication of plants was studied to make the cultural connotation of classical Chinese gardens be understood fully.

Strategy for Construction of World Modern Garden City in Chengdu of China under the Background of Integration of Urban-rural Development

In the perspective of natural geological climate and social economic situation of Chengdu City,the paper had analyzed the tendency of integration of urban-rural development in Chengdu,and proposed strategy to construct world modern garden city.It had illustrated basic conditions to construct world modern garden city in Chengdu at current period,and it was considered that good timing,geographical convenience and good human relations were involved in this strategy.In order to satisfy the six traits of word modern garden city,it had proposed short-term,mid-term and long-term targets;and focused on industrial development,enriching and benefiting the people,opening up to the outside world and institutional innovation.It also suggested weakening original economic geological pattern of Chengdu,so as to form complete urban system of sharing homogeneity of market construction,policy allocation,basic facilities,and social security system,seek for general welfare and diverse cooperation,and finally construct world modern garden city with good living environment,excellent investment environment,fine cultural atmosphere,high functional level,and strong comprehensive competitiveness.

Physicochemical characteristics of ambient particles settling upon leaf surfaces of urban plants in Beijing

Particulate pollution is a serious health problem throughout the world, exacerbating a wide range of respiratory and vascular illnesses in urban areas. Urban plants play an important role in reducing particulate pollution. Physicochemical characteristics of ambient particles settling upon leaf surfaces of eleven roadside plants at four sites of Beijing were studies. Results showed that density of particles on the leaf surfaces greatly varied with plant species and traffic condition. Fraxinus chiuensis, Sophora japonica Ailanthus altissima, Syringa oblata and Prunus persica, had larger densities of particles among the tall species. Due to resuspension of road dust, the densities of particles of Euonymus japonicns and Parthenocissus quinquefolia with low sampling height were 2-35 times to other taller tree species. For test plant species, micro-roughness of leaf surfaces and density of particles showed a close correlation. In general, the larger micro-roughness of leaf surfaces is, the larger density of particles is. Particles settling upon leaf surfaces were dominantly PM30 （particulate matter less than 10 μm in aerodynamic diameter; 98.4%） and PM2.5 （particulate matter less than 2.5 μm in aerodynamic diameter; 64.2%） which were closely relative to human health. Constant elements of particles were C, O, K, Ca, Si, Al, Mg, Na, Fe, S, Cl and minerals with higher content were SiO2, CaCO3, CaMg（CO3）2, NaCI and 2CASO4. H2O, SiO2. CaCO3 and CaMg（CO3）2 mainly came from resuspension of road dust. 2CaSO4. H2O was produced by the reaction between CaCO3 derived from earth dust or industrial emission and SO2, H2SO4 or sulfate. NaCl was derived from sea salt.