Drivers of plant species diversity in suburban forests: A case study from the Czech Republic
The result's identifiers
Result code in IS VaVaI
<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F00216224%3A14310%2F25%3A00144474" target="_blank" >RIV/00216224:14310/25:00144474 - isvavai.cz</a>
Result on the web
<a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.baae.2025.08.007" target="_blank" >https://doi.org/10.1016/j.baae.2025.08.007</a>
DOI - Digital Object Identifier
<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.baae.2025.08.007" target="_blank" >10.1016/j.baae.2025.08.007</a>
Alternative languages
Result language
angličtina
Original language name
Drivers of plant species diversity in suburban forests: A case study from the Czech Republic
Original language description
Urbanization, together with land use changes, significantly transforms surrounding habitats, affecting the occurrence of plant species and the diversity of communities they form. However, detailed information on the individual environmental drivers influencing plant species composition of suburban forests remains limited. In this study, we ask: What are the main drivers of plant species diversity in suburban forests? In the city of Brno, Czech Republic, and its surroundings, we surveyed 110 vegetation plots of acidophilous oak and hornbeam forests. Using generalized linear models and canonical correspondence analysis, we studied the effects of urban environmental drivers on various plant species characteristics. Urbanization was the most significant driver since artificial surfaces near forests decreased total species richness and increased both the disturbance severity and the proportion of non-native species. Larger forest areas supported the presence of forest specialists and limited the spread of competitive generalists. Open forest stands surrounded by agricultural areas promoted the persistence of threatened species. Despite the prevailing acidic bedrock, variation in soil pH - common in urban areas - also influenced plant species diversity. In addition, forest management significantly affected vegetation composition, independently of the surrounding land use. Based on our findings, ensuring sufficient forest area, minimizing disturbance, maintaining habitat continuity, and enhancing landscape connectivity are essential for conservation of near-natural forests in urban planning. Management of oak and hornbeam forests should aim to create more open stands, support understorey regeneration, and prevent environmental degradation to sustain their required ecosystem functions.
Czech name
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Czech description
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Classification
Type
J<sub>imp</sub> - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database
CEP classification
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OECD FORD branch
10618 - Ecology
Result continuities
Project
<a href="/en/project/GA25-15190S" target="_blank" >GA25-15190S: Urbanized landscape as a human contribution to the diversity of nature: integrating urban ecology and urban biology</a><br>
Continuities
P - Projekt vyzkumu a vyvoje financovany z verejnych zdroju (s odkazem do CEP)
Others
Publication year
2025
Confidentiality
S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů
Data specific for result type
Name of the periodical
BASIC AND APPLIED ECOLOGY
ISSN
1439-1791
e-ISSN
1618-0089
Volume of the periodical
88
Issue of the periodical within the volume
November
Country of publishing house
NL - THE KINGDOM OF THE NETHERLANDS
Number of pages
11
Pages from-to
83-93
UT code for WoS article
001580311400001
EID of the result in the Scopus database
2-s2.0-105016590809