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

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

Hai-Li Zhang  1   2 , Lin-Yuan Guo  1   2 , Mir Muhammad Nizamani  3 , Hua-Feng Wang  1   2
Affiliations

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

Hai-Li Zhang et al. Front Plant Sci. .

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.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The geographic location of Haikou; (A) Map of China highlighting Hainan, (B) Map of Hainan highlighting Haikou City, and (C) Satellite map of Haikou City (https://www.google.com/maps) showing the urban functional units and plot samples (UFUs, red boundaries) surveyed in this study.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Example of secondary types of urban functional units of Haikou. (A) High-Density Residential Area. (B) Low-Density Residential Area. (C) Hospital. (D) Road. (E) Colleges/University. (F) Transportation hub.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Examples of cultivated species occurring within secondary urban functional units. (A) Arachis pintoi Krapov. et W. (C) Greg. (B) Bougainvillea spectabilis Willd. (C) Ixora chinensis Lam. (D) Ruellia simplex. (E) Allamanda cathartica L. (F) Strelitzia reginae Aiton.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Examples of spontaneous species occurring within secondary urban functional units. (A) Hedyotis corymbosa (L.) Lam. (B) Spathodea campanulata P. Beauv. (C) Ficus microcarpa Linn. f. (D) Cuscuta chinensis Lam. (E) Pilea microphylla (L.) Liebm. (F) Tridax procumbens L.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Land Cover (LC) data for the sampled Urban Functional Units (UFUs) in Haikou, China.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Total area and proportion of green space in each urban functional unit category. The lower case letters a and b indicate the results of Ýifferent group comparisons. A and B are different and differ significantly from each other.
Figure 7
Figure 7
The number of spontaneous and cultivated species richness in each urban functional unit category. The lower case letters a and b indicate the results of Ýifferent group comparisons. A and B are different and differ significantly from each other.
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