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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
agricultural and biological sciences
Beta diversity of urban floras among European and non-European cities
Global Ecology and Biogeography, Volume 23, No. 7, Year 2014
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Description
Aim: Cities represent an ideal study system for assessing how intensive land-use change and biotic interchange have altered beta diversity at broad geographic extents. Here we test the hypothesis that floras in cities located in disparate regions of the globe are being homogenized by species classified as invasive (naturalized species that have spread over a large area) or as a European archaeophyte (species introduced into Europe before ad 1500 from the Mediterranean Basin). We also test the prediction that the global influences of European activities (colonization, agriculture, commerce) have supported this outcome. Location: One hundred and ten cities world-wide. Methods: We examined the richness and composition of urban floras among European (n=85) and non-European cities (n=25) for species classified as native or non-native, or further classified as European archaeophyte or invasive. We modelled how geographic, climatic and anthropogenic factors were related to compositional similarity between European and non-European cities. Results: We found that most plants in the cities we examined, particularly non-European cities, were native and unique to each city. Non-native species were similarly unique, but occurred in much lower proportions relative to natives. Although European archaeophytes and invasive species also occurred in lower proportions, they had similar compositions among cities. European archaeophytes were most prevalent in European cities, but were most similar among non-European cities. Contrasting European and non-European cities, geography and climate were most relevant for native and invasive species, whereas climate and agriculture were most relevant for European archaeophytes. Main conclusions: Cities in disparate regions of the globe retain regionally distinct native and non-native plant assemblages, while invasive species, and especially European archaeophytes, were associated with lower beta diversity among cities. These findings suggest that intensive land-use change and biotic interchange, shaped through European influences, have had a world-wide effect on the beta diversity of urban plant assemblages. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley Sons Ltd.
Authors & Co-Authors
la Sorte, Frank A.
United States, Ithaca
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Aronson, Myla F.J.
United States, New Brunswick
Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Natural Resources
Williams, Nicholas S.G.
Australia, Melbourne
University of Melbourne
Celesti-Grapow, Laura
Italy, Rome
Sapienza Università Di Roma
Cilliers, Sarel S.
South Africa, Potchefstroom
North-west University
Clarkson, Bruce D.
New Zealand, Hamilton
The University of Waikato
Dolan, Rebecca W.
United States, Indianapolis
Butler University
Hipp, Andrew L.
United States, Lisle
Morton Arboretum
Klotz, Stefan
Germany, Leipzig
Helmholtz Zentrum Für Umweltforschung
Germany, Leipzig
German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research Idiv Halle-jena-leipzig
Kühn, Ingolf
Germany, Leipzig
Helmholtz Zentrum Für Umweltforschung
Germany, Leipzig
German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research Idiv Halle-jena-leipzig
Pyšek, Petr
Czech Republic, Prague
Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic
Czech Republic, Prague
Charles University
South Africa, Stellenbosch
Stellenbosch University
Siebert, Stefan John
South Africa, Potchefstroom
North-west University
Winter, Marten
Germany, Leipzig
German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research Idiv Halle-jena-leipzig
Statistics
Citations: 98
Authors: 13
Affiliations: 13
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1111/geb.12159
ISSN:
1466822X
e-ISSN:
14668238
Research Areas
Environmental