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In urban green space (UGS), diverse acoustic resources are essential for enhancing the public's well-being, as different sound sources can bring distinct auditory experiences. However, there is a lack of research on the sources-based soundscapes diversity (SSD). In this study, we fill this gap by exploring the characteristics of SSD in different recreational areas of UGSs across three urban gradients in Fuzhou City, China. Additionally, we investigated the relationship between SSD, landscape elements (LEs), and landscape patterns (LPs) at various spatial scales. Our findings identified 53 types of sound sources, predominantly biological sound and anthrophony. The alpha and beta diversity indices effectively characterized SSD in UGSs and captured the differences in three levels of urbanization. Our results showed that urbanization gradients significantly impact soundscape diversity, especially in terms of animal sounds and mechanical sounds. For LEs, we found that trees play a crucial role in enhancing the diversity of animal and recreation sounds, whereas the proportion of buildings negatively correlates with animal sounds. Our analysis between LPs and SSDs revealed a strong correlation between the built environment (mainly roads) and lawn with traffic sound. In contrast, a higher percentage of forest land was associated with more animal sounds and fewer recreational and mechanical sounds. Characterizing urbanization gradients and the factors affecting SSD can be used to guide the development and enhancement of soundscapes in UGS. Highlights: The urban green space in different urban gradients and green space types have varying soundscape diversity characteristics. Urbanization mainly affects animal sounds and mechanical sounds. Trees play a crucial role in enhancing the diversity of animal and recreational sounds. Built environment (mainly roads) and lawn ratio significantly correlates with traffic sounds, while the percentage of forest land attracts more animal sounds and weakens recreational and mechanical sounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban green space sound sources play an important role in providing people with high quality recreation experiences. However, the evaluation index for urban green space sound sources is still limited. The main purpose of this study is to propose indices for soundscape diversity in urban green spaces, compare soundscape diversity with acoustic diversity, and understand the role of soundscape diversity in urban green spaces. In our field investigation, the sound sources of 30 sample sites were recorded over a five-minute period, and the soundscape diversity index (SDI), soundscape richness index (SRI), soundscape dominance index (SDO), and soundscape evenness index (SEI) were calculated. The results showed that soundscape diversity indices are more suitable for the evaluation of urban green space sound diversity than acoustic diversity indices. There is a significant correlation between soundscape diversity and urban green space landscape patterns, and there is a varied relationship between soundscape diversity and sound perception in different urban green spaces. Soundscape diversity can be explained by existing objective acoustic indicators, which can explain 55% of SDI model variations, 71% of SRI model variations, 43% of SDO model variations, and 32% of SEI model variations. Soundscape diversity can be applied to future urban green space planning and acoustic environment design.

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Improving the evaluation criteria for the soundscape of urban green spaces is essential for the purposes of designing and planning. Nevertheless, studies that focus on the significance of soundscape diversity in such evaluations have been very limited. Furthermore, the relationship between soundscape diversity and the indicators used to evaluate soundscape in urban green spaces remains unclear. The present study investigates the relationship by conducting a soundscape survey across 30 green spaces to derive four soundscape diversity indices: the soundscape diversity index (SDI), soundscape richness index (SRI), soundscape dominance index (SDO), and soundscape evenness index (SEI). The findings indicate that soundscape diversity significantly influence sound preference, perceived affective quality, and the overall soundscape assessment, especially in traffic-noise-dominated and natural-sounds-dominated green spaces. Additionally, sound preference and perceived affective quality were found to act as intermediary factors between soundscape diversity and the overall soundscape assessment. The mediating effect was responsible for 23.7%, 24.5%, and 84.3% of the total effect in three types of green space, respectively. Therefore, the ideal soundscape diversity in urban green spaces depends on their specific type, rather than a simple "more is better" or "less is better" approach. Correspondingly, the use of soundscape diversity as a novel evaluation indicator can be employed for the assessment and design of soundscape in urban green spaces in future studies. • SD significantly influence PRE, PAQ, and OSA. • PRE and PAQ are intermediaries through which SD influences OSA. • Soundscape diversity can be used to adjust soundscape evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Soundscape diversity suitable for describing sound diversity in urban green spaces. • Soundscape diversity correlated with landscape patterns in urban green spaces. • Soundscape diversity correlated with sound perception in urban green spaces. • Soundscape diversity could be explained by existing acoustic indicators. Urban green space sound sources play an important role in providing people with high quality recreation experiences. However, the evaluation index for urban green space sound sources is still limited. The main purpose of this study is to propose indices for soundscape diversity in urban green spaces, compare soundscape diversity with acoustic diversity, and understand the role of soundscape diversity in urban green spaces. In our field investigation, the sound sources of 30 sample sites were recorded over a five-minute period, and the soundscape diversity index (SDI), soundscape richness index (SRI), soundscape dominance index (SDO), and soundscape evenness index (SEI) were calculated. The results showed that soundscape diversity indices are more suitable for the evaluation of urban green space sound diversity than acoustic diversity indices. There is a significant correlation between soundscape diversity and urban green space landscape patterns, and there is a varied relationship between soundscape diversity and sound perception in different urban green spaces. Soundscape diversity can be explained by existing objective acoustic indicators, which can explain 55% of SDI model variations, 71% of SRI model variations, 43% of SDO model variations, and 32% of SEI model variations. Soundscape diversity can be applied to future urban green space planning and acoustic environment design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]