Vascular Plant Species Richness Patterns in Urban Environments: Case Studies from Hannover, Germany and Haifa, Israel

摘要: The continuous expansion and growth of urban settled areas result in a mosaic open spaces which provide important habitat for species. Species richness within the matrix has been commonly studied relation to urban-rural gradients, where open-space patches evaluated with respect their location along this gradient. In study we propose that additional factors may drive properties, namely patch size. We established comparative study, species patterns were compared between Haifa Hannover, two driving factors: open-area size its distance from edge. These relationships assessed overall number vascular plant native only. Patches identified by classifying aerial photographs cities, surveying 32 Hannover 37 randomly selected delineated patches. Results indicate both cities edge was not significant factor explaining either total patches, or richness. contrast, classes significantly related R2 values 53 % 45 Haifa. With richness, explained higher proportion variance = 73 %, lower (R2 33 %). preliminary results strikingly similar landscapes are characterized fundamentally different histories environments.