The role of patch area and habitat diversity in explaining native plant species richness in disturbed suburban forest patches in northern Belgium
The role of patch area and habitat diversity in explaining native plant species richness in disturbed suburban forest patches in northern Belgium
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DOI：
10.1046/j.1472-4642.1999.00047.x
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发表时间：
1999-07-01
影响因子：
4.6
通讯作者：
Hermy, M.
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Honnay, O.;Endels, P.;Hermy, M.
相对容易测量的斑块特征（特别是栖息地多样性措施）已被证明是有价值的指标，森林植物物种丰富度的森林片段相对不受干扰的地区。然而，城市和郊区的森林斑块的特点是一个特定的景观生态环境，这意味着特定的过程可能会影响生态系统功能，因此，其他非生物指标的植物多样性是更合适的。研究了功能生态植物种组与城郊森林斑块面积、生境多样性和隔离度等斑块特征的关系。物种丰富度的某些成分与斑块的隔离度有关。与以前类似的大规模破碎化研究在更多的农村地区，进一步的结果强调了压倒性的重要性，斑块面积相对于栖息地变量在确定物种丰富度。这表明：（1）密度依赖的物种灭绝过程中发生的小斑块的森林;或（2）外部的决定性因素的存在，把一个主要的限制在小斑块的物种丰富度。我们倾向于支持后一种假设，并提出森林干扰和相关的黑樱桃（樱桃Ehrh。）入侵是一个可能的外部因素。由于各种原因，森林小斑块可能对干扰和生物入侵更敏感。因此，大的森林斑块是郊区植物保护的首选。
Relatively easy measurable patch characteristics (especially habitat diversity measures) have proven to be valuable indicators of forest plant species richness in forest fragments of relatively undisturbed areas. Urban and suburban forest patches, however, are characterized by a specific landscape ecological context implying that specific processes may influence ecosystem functioning and hence that other abiotic indicators for plant diversity are more appropriate. We studied the relation between functional ecological plant species groups and suburban forest patch characteristics such as patch area, habitat diversity and isolation. Some components of species richness were related to the isolation of the patches. In contrast to previous similar large-scale fragmentation studies in more rural areas, further results stressed the overwhelming importance of patch area relative to habitat variables in determining species richness. This suggests (1) the occurrence of density-dependent species extinction processes in small forest patches; or (2) the existence of external deterministic factors which put a major constraint on species richness in small patches. We tend to support the latter hypothesis and propose forest disturbance and associated black cherry (Prunus serotina Ehrh.) invasion as such a possible external factor. Small forest patches may be more sensitive to disturbance and biological invasion due to various reasons. Hence large forest patches are to be preferred for plant conservation in the suburban area.