Journal Article

Evaluating the impact of roads on the diversity pattern and density of trees to improve the conservation of species

Zhaoyuan Yu, Ahmad Hasnain, Uzair Aslam Bhatti, Luo Wen, Saqib Ali Nawaz, Linwang Yuan, Mughair Aslam Bhatti

2022

Overview

Roadside trees alter biotic and abiotic factors of plants diversity in an ecosystem. Rows of plants grow along the roadside due to the interplay between the arrival of propagule and seedling establishment, which depends on the road’s specifications, land pattern, and road administration and protection practices. A field study was conducted to measure the roadside tree diversity in the city of Karachi (Pakistan). A total of 180 plots, divided into three primary road groups, were surveyed. The highest quantity of tree biomass per unit area was found on wide roads, followed by medium roads. On narrow roads, the least biomass was detected. A single species or a limited number of species dominated the tree community. Conocarpus erectus was the most dominant non-native species on all types of sidewalks or roadsides, followed by Guaiacum officinale . A total of 76 species (32 non-natives and 44 natives) that were selectively spread along the roadsides of the city were studied. There was a significant difference in phylogenetic diversity (PD), phylogenetic mean pairwise distance (MPD), and phylogenetic mean nearest taxon distance (MNTD) among wide, medium, and narrow roads. Management practices have a significant positive correlation with diversity indices. Our study identified patterns of diversity in roadside trees in Karachi. It provides the basis for future planning for plant protection, such as the protection of plant species, the maintenance of plant habitats, and the coordination of plant management in Karachi.

• Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC,Springer Berlin Heidelberg,Springer Nature B.V
• Subject: Abiotic factors / Aquatic Pollution / Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution / Biodiversity / Biomass / Conocarpus erectus / Conservation of Natural Resources / Diversity indices / Earth and Environmental Science / Ecosystem / ecosystems / Ecotoxicology / Environment / Environmental Chemistry / Environmental Health / Environmental science / Guaiacum officinale / Herbivores / Indigenous species / Introduced species / Pakistan / Phylogenetics / Phylogeny / Plant diversity / plant establishment / Plant management / Plant protection / Plant species / Plants / Protected species / Research Article / Roads & highways / Roadsides / Seedlings / species / Transportation / Trees / Waste Water Technology / Water Management / Water Pollution Control / Wildlife conservation