Research Note: Garden-owner reported habitat heterogeneity predicts plant species richness in urban gardens

Open access
Date
2019-05Type
- Journal Article
Abstract
Amidst ongoing urbanization and increased research on urban greenspaces, the biodiversity level of these spaces is an important variable. Attaining biodiversity estimates by asking non-expert greenspace users to assess aspects of a greenspace has a number of advantages over expert assessments (costs, sample size etc.). This article discusses an approach to such a citizen-science assessment of plant species richness using reported garden habitat heterogeneity and visually assisted reported plant species richness. We compare expert-assessed plant species richness with garden owner-generated estimates in a sample of 83 gardens. We show it is possible to predict approx. 50% of variation in plant species richness in gardens using just two visual survey questions regarding habitat heterogeneity and plant species richness. Show more
Permanent link
https://doi.org/10.3929/ethz-b-000328418Publication status
publishedExternal links
Journal / series
Landscape and Urban PlanningVolume
Pages / Article No.
Publisher
ElsevierSubject
Urban biodiversity; Citizen science; Garden; Allotment; Vegetation; Habitat spatial heterogeneityMore
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