Full Citation
Title: Plant invasion along an urban-to-rural gradient in northeast Connecticut
Citation Type: Journal Article
Publication Year: 2017
ISBN:
ISSN: 2058-5543
DOI: 10.1093/jue/jux008
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Abstract: Humans are the most important drivers of global invasive species introduction and natural habitat transformation. An understanding of the relationships between these impacts is needed to understand how we may prevent future species invasions. We explored the ecological differences between areas of dense human habitation and minimally managed natural habitats across an urban-to-rural gradient of land use in southern New England. Urban habitats were significantly different environmentally from rural habitats. Urban soils were more alkaline and coarse textured and had higher lead concentrations than rural soils. Urban habitats had more open canopies, impervious surface, patch forests and induced edge habitats than rural habitats. We also examined differences in presence/absence patterns and leaf functional traits for a set of invasive species across an urban to rural environmental gradient. Some species were more restricted to urban or rural sites than others along this gradient. A priori urban-classified species tended to show trait values associated with drought tolerance, including higher leaf length-to-width ratio, greater leaf thickness, higher leaf dry matter content and lower specific leaf area. Our findings suggest that urban environmental conditions contribute to an ‘urban drought island’ syndrome that favors drought-tolerant species.
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Authors: Ariori, Carolyn; Aiello-Lammens, Matthew E.; Silander, John A.
Periodical (Full): Journal of Urban Ecology
Issue: 1
Volume: 3
Pages: 13
Data Collections: IPUMS NHGIS
Topics: Land Use/Urban Organization, Other
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