Distribution patterns and drivers of urban green space and plant diversity in Haikou, China

Hai-Li Zhang; Lin-Yuan Guo; Mir Muhammad Nizamani; Hua-Feng Wang

doi:10.3389/fpls.2023.1202115

Distribution patterns and drivers of urban green space and plant diversity in Haikou, China

Front Plant Sci. 2023 Aug 21:14:1202115. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1202115. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Hai-Li Zhang^{1

2}, Lin-Yuan Guo^{1

2}, Mir Muhammad Nizamani³, Hua-Feng Wang^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Sanya Nanfan Research Institute of Hainan University, Hainan Yazhou Bay Seed Laboratory, Hainan University, Sanya, China.
² Collaborative Innovation Center of Nanfan and High-Efficiency Tropical Agriculture, School of Tropical Crops, Hainan University, Haikou, China.
³ Department of Plant Pathology, Agricultural College, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China.

Abstract

Investigating historical and ongoing changes in urban green space (UGS) and urban plant diversity (UPD) provides critical insights into urban ecology and urban planning development. The present study illuminates some of the transformations which can occur in rapidly developing urban landscapes. In this work, we used 30 m resolution images from the Landsat 5 satellite from 2015 to investigate UGS patterns in Haikou City, China. Metrics of UPD were obtained using field surveys, allowing the proportion of UGS and UPD to be determined in each urban functional unit (UFU) of Haikou. The results revealed that leisure and entertainment areas (such as parks) had the highest diversity, whereas roads and transportation hubs had the lowest. More frequent anthropogenic maintenance had a positive effect on the total number of species, including cultivated, tree, and herb species. Similarly, increased watering frequency had a positive impact on the diversity of cultivated and shrub species. By providing demonstrating a crucial link between UGS and UPD, the results provide valuable information for planning sustainable urban development in Haikou City and other tropical regions. They highlight the important role of UGS in maintaining biodiversity and providing a range of ecosystem services. This research will inform policymakers and urban planners about the need to consider UGS and UPD in urban planning and management process, in order to promote sustainability and conservation of biodiversity.

Keywords: conservation; maintenance times; urban functional unit (UFU); urban plant diversity (UPD); watering frequency.

Grants and funding

This study was supported by National Natural Science Fundation of China (32160273), the Project of Sanya Yazhou Bay Science and Technology City (SCKJ-JYRC-2022-83), the PhD Scientific Research and Innovation Foundation of Sanya Yazhou Bay Science and Technology City (HSPHDSRF-2023-12-010). an open funding from Huadong Normal University (SHUES2021A08, SHUES2022A06) and funding from Collaborative Innovation Center of Nanfan and High-Efficiency Tropical Agriculture, Hainan University (XTCX2022NYB09).