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From urban lawns to urban meadows: Reduction of mowing frequency increases plant taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic diversity

(), 180, dec. 2018: pp. 121-124

 Présentation (FED) : Les villes sont une opportunité pour le maintien de la biodiversité dans les régions d’agriculture intensive. Les pelouses urbaines sont nombreuses dans les espaces publics et privés, mais leur gestion intensive ne permet pas qu’elles soient des refuges pour des communautés animales ou végétales. Une étude quasi-expérimentale sur 25 ans de la gestion plus ou moins intensive des espaces verts publics à Rennes étudie la diversité taxinomique fonctionnelle et phylogénétique des plantes selon l’intensivité de leur gestion. Un espacement des tontes augmente fortement la diversité des plantes, les pelouses devenant des prairies.

Abstract (authors) : In regions where intensive farming is the dominant land use, urban areas are an opportunity for biodiversity conservation. Thence there is an urgent need to promote more biodiversity-friendly cities. Lawns are widely distributed urban habitats which cover important surface in public and private places. However theses habitats are currently poor refuges for plant and animal communities due to their intensive management. This study assesses if a reduction in mowing frequency results in a more diverse plant community and changes functional ecological characteristics of urban lawns. We used a quasi-experimental situation resulting from 25 years differentiated management in public green spaces of Rennes (France) to evaluate the effect of reduced mowing frequency on plant taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic diversity. Our results clearly demonstrate that a reduction of mowing frequency induces a dramatic increase in the different components of plant community diversity that results in a switch from urban lawns to urban meadows.

Lien : https://www.researchgate.net/publication/327652411_From_urban_lawns_to_urban_meadows_Reduction_of_mowing_frequency_increases_plant_taxonomic_functional_and_phylogenetic_diversity