Publication Details

Category Text Publication
Reference Category Journals
DOI 10.1111/geb.12159
Document Shareable Link
Title (Primary) Beta diversity of urban floras among European and non-European cities
Author La Sorte, F.A.; Aronson, M.F.J.; Williams, N.S.G.; Celesti-Grapow, L.; Cilliers, S.; Clarkson, B.D.; Dolan, R.W.; Hipp, A.; Klotz, S.; Kühn, I. ORCID logo ; Pyšek, P.; Siebert, S.; Winter, M.
Source Titel Global Ecology and Biogeography
Year 2014
Department BZF; iDiv
Volume 23
Issue 7
Page From 769
Page To 779
Language englisch
Keywords Agriculture; archaeophytes; beta diversity; biological invasions; biotic homogenization; extra-regional residence time; introduction pathways; non-native species; plants; urbanization
UFZ wide themes RU1;
Abstract

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.

Persistent UFZ Identifier https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=14675
La Sorte, F.A., Aronson, M.F.J., Williams, N.S.G., Celesti-Grapow, L., Cilliers, S., Clarkson, B.D., Dolan, R.W., Hipp, A., Klotz, S., Kühn, I., Pyšek, P., Siebert, S., Winter, M. (2014):
Beta diversity of urban floras among European and non-European cities
Glob. Ecol. Biogeogr. 23 (7), 769 - 779 10.1111/geb.12159