To what extent does urbanisation affect fragmented grassland functioning?

Journal of Environmental Management

Volumn 151, Issue , 2015, Pages 517-530

  van der Walt, L ^a   Cilliers, S S ^a   Kellner, K ^a   Du Toit, M J ^a   Tongway, D ^b  

^a NORTH WEST UNIVERSITY   (South Africa)

^b CSIRO   (Australia)

Author keywords

Grassland fragments; Landscape function; Landscape metrics; Soil surface indices; Urbanisation gradient

Indexed keywords

ECOSYSTEM FUNCTION; ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT; FRAGMENTATION; GRASSLAND; GRAZING; MANAGEMENT PRACTICE; MOWING; PATCHINESS; SOIL SURFACE; URBANIZATION;

AGRICULTURE; ARTICLE; ENVIRONMENTAL EROSION; ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION; GRASSLAND; GRASSLAND FRAGMENTATION; GRAZING; HABITAT FRAGMENTATION; HABITAT PATCHINESS; LANDSCAPE; MINING; NONHUMAN; NUTRIENT CYCLING; PERENNIAL PLANT; URBAN AREA; URBANIZATION; VEGETATION; HUMAN; SOUTH AFRICA;

NORTH WEST PROVINCE; POTCHEFSTROOM; SOUTH AFRICA; TLOKWE;

AGRICULTURE; CONSERVATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES; GRASSLAND; HUMANS; MINING; SOUTH AFRICA; URBANIZATION;

EID: 84922234138     PISSN: 03014797     EISSN: 10958630     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2014.11.034     Document Type: Article

References (82)

1. Alberti M. Maintaining ecological integrity and sustaining ecosystem function in urban areas. Curr. Opin. Environ. Sustain. 2010, 2:178-184.
2. Alberti M., Marzluff J.M., Shulenberger E., Bradley G., Ryan C., Zumbrunnen C. Integrating humans into ecology: opportunities and challenges for studying urban ecosystems. BioScience 2003, 53(12):1169-1179.
3. Ashman M.R., Puri G. Essential Soil Science: a Clear Concise Introduction to Soil Science 2002, Blackwell Science Ltd.
4. Baldwin D.J.B., Weaver K., Schnekenburger F., Perera A.H. Sensitivity of landscape pattern indices to input data characteristics on real landscapes: implications for their use in natural disturbance emulation. Landsc. Ecol. 2004, 19:255-271.
5. Bartley R., Roth C.H., Ludwig J., McJannet D., Liedloff A., Corfield J., Hawdon A., Abbott B. Runoff and erosion from Australia's tropical semi-arid rangelands: influence of ground cover for differing space and time scales. Hydrol. Process. 2006, 20:3317-3333.
6. Boerner R.J.E. Fire and nutrient cycling in temperate ecosystems. BioScience 1982, 32(3):187-192.
7. Bond W.J., Midgley G.F., Woodward F.I. What controls South African vegetation - climate or fire?. South Afr. J. Bot. 2003, 69(1):79-91.
8. Bond W.J., Woodward F.I., Midgley G.F. The global distribution of ecosystems in a world without fire. New. Phytol. 2005, 165(2):525-538.
9. Brown D.G., Duh J.-D., Drzyzga S.A. Estimating error in an analysis of forest fragmentation change using North American Landscape Characterisation (NALC) data. Remote Sens. Environ. 2000, 71:106-117.
10. CNES SPOT 2007, [Web:] http, [Date of use: 20-26 Feb. 2012]. http://www.geoimage.com.au/geoweb/spot/spot_overview.htm.
11. Cifaldi R.L., Allan J.D., Duh J.-D., Brown D.G. Spatial patterns in land cover of exurbanising watersheds in southeastern Michigan. Landsc. Urban Plan. 2004, 66:107-123.
12. Collins J.P., Kinzig A., Grimm N.B., Fagan W.F., Hope D., Wu J., Borer E.T. Anew urban ecology. Am. Sci. 2000, 88:416-425.
13. Craul P.J. Adescription of urban soils and their desired characteristics. J.Arboric. 1985, 11(11):330-339.
14. Deng J.S., Wang K., Qi J.G. Spatio-temporal dynamics and evolution of land use change and landscape pattern in response to rapid urbanisation. Landsc. Urban Plan. 2009, 92:187-198.
15. Du Toit M.J. Grassland Ecology Along an Urban-rural Gradient Using GIS Techniques in Klerksdorp, South Africa 2009, NWU, Potchefstroom, (Thesis - MSc). http://hdl.handle.net/10394/4197.
16. ESRI (Environmental Systems Research Institute) ArcView 10 2010, Redlands, CA: USA. http://www.esri.com.
17. Fairbanks D.H.K., Thompson M.W., Vink D.E., Newby T.S., Van Den Berg H.M., Everard D.M. The South African Land-cover characteristics Database: a synopsis of the landscape. South Afr. J. Sci. 2000, 96:69-82.
18. Fox D.M., Bryan R.B. The relationship of soil loss by interrill erosion to slope gradient. Catena 2000, 38:211-222.
19. Freudenberger D., Noble J., et al. The nature of landscape dysfunction in rangelands. Landscape Ecology, Function & Management: Principles from Australia's Rangelands 1997, 49-62. CSIRO, Collingwood. J.A. Ludwig (Ed.).
20. García-Gómez M., Maestre F.T. Remote sensing data predict indicators of soil functioning in semi-arid steppes, central Spain. Ecol. Indic. 2011, 11:1476-1481.
21. Gibson D.J. Grasses and Grassland Ecology 2009, Oxford University Press Inc., NY.
22. Green E., Mitchell B., Tongway D., Doherty M., Beaty M., Brack C. Measuring and Monitoring Urban Ecological Function in Canberra 2009, CSIRO.
23. Grimm N.B., Grove J.M., Pickett S.T.A., Redman C.L. Integrated approaches to long-term studies of urban ecological systems. BioScience 2000, 50(7):571-584.
24. Haagner A.S.H. The Role of Vegetation in Characterising Landscape Function on Rehabilitating Gold Tailings 2008, NWU, Potchefstroom, (Thesis - MSc).
25. Hahs A.K., McDonnell M.J. Selecting independent measures to quantify Melbourne's urban-rural gradient. Landsc. Urban Plan. 2006, 78:435-448.
26. Hansen M.J., Franklin S.E., Woudsma C.G., Peterson M. Caribou habitat mapping and fragmentation analysis using Landsat MSS, TM, and GIS data in the North Columbia Mountains, British Columbia, Canada. Remote Sens. Environ. 2001, 77:50-65.
27. Hargis D.D., Bissonette J.A., David J.L. The behaviour of landscape metrics commonly used in the study of habitat fragmentation. Landsc. Ecol. 1998, 13:167-186.
28. Henwood W. An overview of protected areas in the temperate grasslands biome. Parks 1998, 8:3-8.
29. Herold M., Scepan J., Clarke K.C. The use of remote sensing and landscape metrics to describe structures and changes in urban land uses. Environ. Plan. 2002, 34:1443-1458.
30. Holm A.McR., Bennett L.T., Loneragan W.A., Adams M.A. Relationship between empirical and nominal indices of landscape function in the arid shrubland of Western Australia. J.Arid Environ. 2002, 50:1-21.
31. Ludwig J.A., Tongway D.J. Spatial organisation and its function in semi-arid woodlands, Australia. Landsc. Ecol. 1995, 10(1):51-63.
32. Ludwig J.A., Tongway D.J., Marsden S.G. Stripes, strands or stipples: modelling the influence of three landscape banding patterns on resource capture and productivity in semi-arid woodlands, Australia. Catena 1999, 37:257-273.
33. Ludwig J.A., Wiens J.A., Tongway D.J. Ascaling rule for landscape patches and how it applies to conserving soil resources in savannas. Ecosystems 1999, 3:84-97.
34. Ludwig J.A., Eager R.W., Bastin G.N., Chewings V.H., Liedloff A.C. Aleakiness index for assessing landscape function using remote sensing. Landsc. Ecol. 2001, 17:157-171.
35. Ludwig J.A., Tongway D.J., Bastin G.N., James C.D. Monitoring ecological indicators of rangeland functional integrity and their relation to biodiversity at local to regional scales. Austral Ecol. 2004, 29:108-120.
36. Ludwig J.A., Wilcox B.P., Breshears D.D., Tongway D.J., Imeson A.C. Vegetation patches and runoff-erosion as interacting ecohydrological processes in semiarid landscapes. Ecology 2005, 86(2):288-297.
37. Maestre F.T., Cortina J., Vallejo R. Are ecosystem composition, structure, and functional status related to restoration success? A test from semi-arid Mediterranean steppes. Restor. Ecol. 2006, 12(2):258-266.
38. Marañón-Jiménez S., Castro J. Effect of decomposing post-fire coarse woody debris on soil fertility and nutrient availability in a Mediterranean ecosystem. Biogeochemistry 2013, 112:519-535.
39. Marchiori K. An Assessment of Spring Creek and its Catchment, Lake Cowal, New South Wales: Implications for Natural Sequence Farming Techniques 2006, ANU (Thesis - Master of Resources, Environment and Society), Canberra.
40. McAlpine C.A., Eyre T.J. Testing landscape metrics as indicators of habitat loss and fragmentation in continuous eucalypt forests (Queensland, Australia). Landsc. Ecol. 2002, 17:711-728.
41. McDonnell M.J., Pickett S.T.A. Ecosystem structure and function along urban-rural gradients: an unexploited opportunity for ecology. Ecology 1990, 71(4):1232-1237.
42. McDonnell M.J., Pickett S.T.A., Groffman P., Bohlen P., Pouyat R.V., Zipperer W.C., Parmelee R.W., Carreiro M.M., Medley K. Ecosystem processes along an urban-to-rural gradient. Urban Ecosyst. 1997, 1:21-36.
43. McGarigal K., Marks B.J. FRAGSTATS: Spatial Pattern Analysis Program for Quantifying Landscape Structure 1995, Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-351, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station, Portland.
44. McIntyre S., Tongway D.J. Grassland structure in native pastures: links to soil surface condition. Ecol. Manag. Restor. 2005, 6(1):43-50.
45. The Vegetation of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland. Strelitzia 19 2006, South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria. L. Mucina, M.C. Rutherford (Eds.).
46. Munro N.T., Fischer J., Wood J., Lindenmayer D.B. Assessing ecosystem function of restoration plantings in south-eastern Australia. For. Ecol. Manag. 2012, 282:36-45.
47. National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act (10 of 2004). South Africa.
48. NWDACERD (North West Department of Agriculture, Conservation, Environment and Rural Development) North West Provincial Biodiversity Conservation Assessment Technical Report, Version 1.2., March 2009 2009, North West Department of Agriculture, Conservation, Environment and Rural Development, Mmbatho.
49. Niemelä J. Is there a need for a theory of urban ecology?. Urban Ecosyst. 1999, 3:57-65.
50. Urban Ecology Patterns, Processes, and Applications 2011, Oxford University Press. J. Niemelä, J. Breuste, T. Elmqvist, G. Gutenspergen, P. James, N. McIntyre (Eds.).
51. Ojima D.S., Galvin K.A., Turner B.L. The global impact of land-use change. BioScience 1994, 44(5):300-304.
52. O'Connor T.G., Bredenkamp G.J. Grassland. Vegetation of Southern Africa 1997, 215-257. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. R.M. Cowling, D.M. Richardson, S.M. Pierce (Eds.).
53. Pickett S.T.A., Cadenasso M.L., Grove J.M., Nilon C.H., Pouyat R.V., Zipperer W.C., Costanza R. Urban ecological systems: linking terrestrial ecological, physical, and socioeconomic components of metropolitan areas. Annu. Rev. Ecol. Syst. 2001, 32:127-157.
54. Pickett S.T.A., Cadenasso M.L., Grove J.M., Boone C.G., Groffman P.M., Irwin E., Kaushal S.S., Mashall V., McGrath B.P., Nilon C.H., Pouyat R.V., Szlavecz K., Troy A., Page W. Urban ecological systems: scientific foundations and a decade of progress. J.Environ. Manag. 2011, 92:331-362.
55. Pouyat R.V., Yesilonis I.D., Russel-Anelli J., Neerchal N.K. Soil chemical and physical properties that differentiate urban land-use and cover types. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 2007, 71(3):1010-1019.
56. PRIMER-E. PRIMER Software V6 2012, PRIMER-e Ltd.
57. Rebele F. Urban ecology and special features of urban ecosystems. Glob. Ecol. Biogeogr. Lett. 1994, 4(6):173-187.
58. Rezaei S.A., Arzani H., Tongway D.J. Assessing rangeland capability in Iran using landscape function indices based on soil surface attributes. J.Arid Environ. 2006, 65:460-473.
59. Sauerwein M. Urban soils - characterisation, pollution, and relevance in urban ecosystems. Urban Ecology: Patterns, Processes, and Applications 2011, 228-237. Oxford University Press. Niemelä (Ed.).
60. Saura S., Martinez-Millán J. Sensitivity of landscape pattern metrics to map spatial extent. Photogramm. Eng. Remote Sens. 2001, 67(9):1027-1036.
61. Savard J.-P.L., Clergeau P., Mennechez G. Biodiversity concepts and urban ecosystems. Landsc. Urban Plan. 2000, 48:131-142.
62. Schlesinger W.H., Raikes J.A., Hartley A.E., Cross A.F. On the spatial pattern of soil nutrients in desert ecosystems. Ecology 1996, 77(2):364-374.
63. Statistics South Africa Census 2001: Census Small Area Statistics 2005, Statistics South Africa, Pretoria, [CD].
64. StatSoft, Inc STATISTICA (Data Analysis Software System) 2012, Version 11. Tulsa: USA.
65. Thompson W.A., Eldridge D.J., Bonser S.P. Structure of biological soil crust communities in Callitris glaucophylla woodlands of New South Wales, Australia. J.Veg. Sci. 2006, 17:271-280.
66. Tongway D.J., Hindley N. Landscape function analysis: a system for monitoring rangeland function. Afr. J. Range Forage Sci. 2003, 21(2):109-113.
67. Tongway D.J., Hindley N. Indicators of Ecosystems Rehabilitation Success 2003, CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems.
68. Tongway D.J., Hindley N. Landscape Function Analysis: Procedures for Monitoring and Assessing Landscapes 2004, With Special Reference to Minesites and Rangelands, CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems, Canberra.
69. Tongway D.J., Hindley N. Landscape function analysis: a system for monitoring rangeland function. Afr. J. Range Forage Sci. 2004, 21(1):109-113.
70. Tongway D.J., Hodgkinson K.C. The effects of fire on the soil in degraded semi-arid woodland. III. Nutrient pool sizes, biological activity and herbage response. Aust. J. Soil Res. 1992, 30(1):17-26.
71. Tongway D.J., Ludwig J.A. The nature of landscape dysfunction in rangelands. Landscape Ecology, Function & Management: Principles from Australia's Rangelands 1997, 49-62. CSIRO, Collingwood. J.A. Ludwig (Ed.).
72. Tongway D.J., Ludwig J.A. Desertification, reversing. Encyclopedia of Soil Science 2002, 343-345. CRC Press. R. Lal (Ed.).
73. Tongway D.J., Ludwig J.A. Restoring Disturbed Landscapes: Putting Principles into Practice 2010, Island Press, USA.
74. USDA, Natural Resources Conservation Service Soil quality information sheet: rangeland soil quality - infiltration 2001, The U.S. Department of Agriculture.
75. Van der Walt L. Landscape Functionality and Plant Diversity of Grassland Fragments Along an Urban-rural Gradient in the Tlokwe Municipal Area, South Africa 2013, NWU, Potchefstroom, (Thesis - MSc).
76. Van der Walt L., Cilliers S.S., Kellner K., Tongway D., Van Rensburg L. Landscape functionality of plant communities in the Impala Platinum mining area, Rustenburg. J.Environ. Manag. 2012, 113:103-116.
77. Van der Walt L., Cilliers S.S., Du Toit M.J., Kellner K. Conservation of fragmented grasslands as part of the urban green infrastructure: how important are species diversity, functional diversity and landscape functionality?. Urban Ecosyst. 2014, Published online: 26 August, 2014. 10.1007/s11252-014-0393-9.
78. Vásquez-Méndez R., Ventura-Ramos E., Oleschko K., Hernández-Sandoval L., Parrot J.-F., Nearing M.A. Soil erosion and runoff in different vegetation patches from semi-arid Central Mexico. Catena 2010, 80:162-169.
79. Vauramo S., Setälä H. Decomposition of labile and recalcitrant litter types under different plant communities in urban soils. Urban Ecosyst. 2011, 14:59-70.
80. Williams N.S.G., McDonnell M.J., Seager E.J. Factors influencing the loss of an endangered ecosystem in an urbanising landscape: a case study of native grasslands from Melbourne, Australia. Landsc. Urban Plan. 2005, 71:35-49.
81. Wu J., Jenerette G.D., Buyantuyev A., Redman C.L. Quantifying spatiotemporal patterns of urbanisation: the case of the two fastest growing metropolitan regions in the United States. Ecol. Complex. 2011, 8:1-8.
82. Zipperer W.C., Gutenspergen G.R. Vegetation composition and structure of forest patches along urban-rural gradients. Ecology of Cities and Towns: a Comparative Approach 2009, 274-286. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. M.J. McDonnell (Ed.).