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Spontaneous vegetation within a managed green space is often regarded as unwelcoming and insignificant weeds. This perception is still deep-rooted among green-space managers and the general public worldwide; they are generally uncertain about the management needs after allowing these groups of flora to take root. The short-term growth dynamics of both spontaneous and planted vegetation should be analyzed, and a widely acceptable, feasible management plan to balance aesthetic and ecological functions should be formulated with the backing of data and analysis for such fast-growing flora in tropical and subtropical regions. A manicured, extensive green roof with only seven (two native, five exotic) plant species was transformed into a renaturalized biotope by replacing 15 native ferns and forb species over 15 months. After planting, a baseline plant survey was conducted, with 54 plant species representing spontaneous growth and 14 planted species alive (7 planted native species survived, plus 7 species planted prior to renaturalization revived). Three quarterly plant surveys recorded the cover-abundance of each species, and the growth dynamics of the planted and spontaneous plant species were evaluated over the first year of study. During each quarterly survey, the number of planted and spontaneous plant species remained stable (ranging from 14 to 16 species and 51 to 54 species, respectively), with a constant turnover of 11 to 12 die-out species and 11 to 12 newly colonized or revived species. Plant coverage of different plant forms fluctuated slightly (within 7%) in the quarterly surveys according to seasonal changes, except for ferns, which outperformed (12% increase in coverage in a year) all the other plant forms. The height of the planted vegetation fluctuated in a year, being shorter during the summer, while the height of spontaneous vegetation remained stable throughout the year, exhibiting resilience to scouring heat. The seasonal growth tendencies of both planted and spontaneous plants were illustrated in relation to their species ranks, and further hierarchical cluster analysis was conducted for the clustering of spontaneous species. Their differential growth patterns provided comprehensive information or supported decisions regarding plant selection and maintenance, which is a scientific novelty within this unexplored topic. Management recommendations based on the findings were suggested to fulfill both aesthetic and ecological needs. Species with stable and less stable growth patterns could be useful to meet maintenance efficiency and biodiversity enhancement needs, respectively. These findings provide insights to form guiding principles for choosing plant species for renaturalization projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Synanthropic flora (weeds, i.e., spontaneously developed plants) are plants that accompany humans, appearing as a result of anthropopressure as well as after its cessation. The potential of synanthropic flora in shaping green areas usually brings many measurable benefits that depend on land management in cities. This study aimed to determine the preferences and attitudes of adults towards synanthropic flora in settlement units. This article presents survey results from 447 city residents. The obtained results were statistically analyzed using the k-means clustering method to identify segments of respondents with similar attitudes and preferences toward synanthropic flora. Mann–Whitney U tests were employed to determine statistical differences in the demographic variables among the analyzed clusters of respondents. Additionally, multiple regression analysis was performed to identify the opinions and attitudes towards synanthropic flora that may influence their greater acceptance in the vicinity of residential areas. The results obtained in the multiple regression analysis indicate that the respondent's evaluation of the level of support for the introduction of more synanthropic vegetation into urban greenery (Yw) grows with the increase in the acceptance of synanthropic plants' occurrence in the surroundings. Residents' acceptance of synanthropic flora in green areas is at a relatively high level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green roofs are typically constructed for their provision of both environmental and associated economic benefits including increased habitat, thermal regulation, mitigation of air and noise pollution, and stormwater retention. The provision of these various ecosystem services is sharply influenced by plant species composition, with particular species and traits known to excel at specific services. For this reason, increased biodiversity can improve the overall provision of ecosystem services. However, one key contributor to green roof biodiversity, colonizing species, is understudied. In this study we examine the contribution of common colonizing species (lawn weeds) and one green roof species, to three important ecosystem services: stormwater retention, temperature reduction, and nitrogen retention. This experiment used replicated green roof modules to examine 13 different treatments: eight colonizing species in monoculture, one green roof species monoculture, two treatments with a mix of colonizing species, one treatment where vegetation was allowed to spontaneously colonize, and one substrate only control. Results from this study show that mixtures of colonizing species performed well for all three monitored ecosystem services, with a few of the monocultures, especially those with high biomass or canopy density, performing similarly. While it is unlikely that green roof installations would proceed equally well without adding vegetation, our results indicate that colonizing species can support a viable green roof ecosystem. This study shows that spontaneous growth and/or allowing new species to colonize may be a viable design alternative for green roofs, decreasing cost while maintaining the desired ecosystem services.

The worldwide urbanization has resulted in a massive loss of natural habitats, which is threatening biodiversity and socio-ecological sustainability. Urban rewilding is a strategy aiming to restore the complexity, autonomy and self-sustainability of urban ecosystems by interlinking ecological processes while minimizing or gradually reducing human disturbances. The benefits of urban rewilding are widely acknowledged; however, there remains a knowledge gap concerning the identification of suitable locations for urban rewilding and the methodologies for assessing the rewilding potential of urban areas. In this study, we proposed an approach that can be used to accurately identify urban rewilding opportunity spaces (UROS, the existing wildness areas and spaces offering ecological conditions conducive to the establishment of new urban wildness), by integrating data on spatial heterogeneity, biodiversity and human disturbance. UROS in Chongqing, China was evaluated and mapped at the city-wide scale, with a subsequent validation of the UROS results through an assessment of species richness of spontaneous herbaceous communities, which serve as the pioneer species in rewilding processes. The results revealed a positive correlation between high-scoring UROS and increased species richness of spontaneous herbs, thus confirming the feasibility of the UROS assessment method. Eleven primary types of UROS were identified, with the majority displaying scattered or linear distributions. Most very high-scoring UROS are characterized by expansive woodland expanses situated on the outskirts of high-density built-up areas and substantial water bodies within the built-up urban areas. Notably, nearly half of the UROS encompass areas of 900 m2 or less, underscoring the importance of urban rewilding initiatives targeting not only the preservation of extensive UROS with robust connectivity but also the revitalization of fragmented UROS with limited areas situated within central urban regions. The methodology is applicable to offer insights and spatial guidance in the execution of urban rewilding initiatives and biodiversity conservation efforts, contributing to sustainable regional development in the context of rapid urbanization.

Within urban green spaces, spontaneous groundcovers, as potential alternatives for traditional lawns, have garnered attention due to their ecological adaptability. However, little attention has been paid to whether spontaneous groundcovers can serve as suitable replacements for lawns in terms of the aesthetic values and human preferences for each. Based on questionnaires accompanied by photo elicitation, this study explored the perceptions of and preferences for seven kinds of lawns and six kinds of spontaneous groundcovers in China. The effects of social backgrounds on people's perceptions of and preferences for ground covers were also analyzed. The results indicated a general equivalence in preferences for the lawn and spontaneous groundcover. The Taraxacum mongolicum -- Cynodon dactylon -- Conyza canadensis community was significantly preferred most among all of the selected ground covers. Spontaneous groundcovers were regarded as more natural, wild, variable, and species-richer compared to lawns, while lawns were perceived as better kept than spontaneous groundcovers. Ground covers were preferred which were perceived to have high ecological aesthetic value and low wildness. Industry and attention to herbaceous plants mostly affected human perceptions and preferences among the social background factors, and gender, age, education level, and occupation also had significant effects. The results thus provide the support for the application of spontaneous groundcovers in moderately developed cities, but such application should consider the comprehensive development of ecological aesthetic value and the applicability of different groups of residents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In peri‐urban areas, many farmers are transitioning from conventional agriculture to agroecological practices to reduce pesticide input and preserving ecosystem services such as natural pest control. Field margins represent a stable habitat for arthropods, but community structure depends on many factors, including management type and vegetation features.We studied the effects of agroecological transitions and vegetation features on arthropods of horticultural field margins, focusing on three feeding guilds (herbivores, predators and parasitoids). We sampled arthropods using the beat‐sheet method in five conventional fields and five under agroecological transition. We also measured vegetation height, richness, flower abundance and plant cover.Our results showed that arthropod diversity was higher in agroecological fields whereas herbivore abundance was lower, with a consistent pattern across most taxonomic orders. Vegetation features displayed multiple effects among functional and taxonomic groups. Herbivores did not respond to most vegetation variables whereas predators correlated with several, with similar trends among orders.We conclude that agroecological transitions and field margins with high vegetation richness and floral resources influence arthropod communities with potential benefits regarding pest regulation. These practices might be more effective if considered alongside other methods that enhance biodiversity and if they are consistent at a landscape scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Regarding the maintenance of urban green infrastructure, most stakeholders prefer achieving an oversimplified aesthetic archetype of cleanliness and order at the cost of high maintenance, whilst landscape architects try to reproduce islands of near-natural vegetation even where the environmental factors typical of urban areas do not allow it. In the long term, the struggle between these two opposite ways of conceiving the look and the role of green infrastructure appears pointless: in the end, what decides the identity of most urban green infrastructure is the ‘vegetation by use’, that is, the daily people’s use of these spaces (whether accessible). By analysing the aesthetic value, the species composition, and the ecological meaning of the vegetation of some roadside habitats close to the city of Catania (Sicily), the Authors shed light on the possibility of enjoying low-cost, biodiverse and beautiful seasonally green areas. Article info Received: 30/04/2023; Revised: 07/05/2023; ; Accepted: 08/05/2023

Coal-mine sedimentation pools are extrazonal habitats in which the anthropogenic changes of all historic, abiotic, and biotic components, followed by conditions of extreme environmental stress, lead to the formation of novel ecosystems. Our study aims to (i) classify the vegetation on the basis of floristic and ecological criteria, (ii) detect the main environmental gradients responsible for the diversity of vegetation, and (iii) present the selection of species' functional traits along environmental gradients. A cluster analysis of the floristic data revealed 14 distinct combinations of species. Short- and long-lived ruderals, meadow, xerothermic, and psammophilous species make up the floristic composition of vegetation. A canonical correspondence analysis on the floristic data and average Ellenberg's indicator values confirmed moisture, soil reaction, and salinity as the main gradients, while fertility and insolation were secondary gradients shaping the diversity of vegetation. A RLQ with a subsequent cluster analysis revealed four groups of species traits selected along environmental gradients. These differed with reference to morphological (canopy height) and physiological traits (specific leaf area, or SLA), as well as persistence (life span), regeneration (reproduction by seeds or vegetative reproduction), and dispersal functional traits. This knowledge can be crucial when planning the restoration of these sites by using spontaneous succession and learning how the various environmental resources can be used to restore or provide new ecosystem services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Agathon: International Journal of Architecture, Art & Design is the property of DEMETRA CE.RI.MED and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Lettuce is one of the most consumed leafy greens. Depending on the variety, it is ready for harvesting 40–80 days after sowing, and therefore several growth cycles can be concluded within a growing season. Due to its high market standards, lettuce may require intensive management. This study implemented a critical period of weed interference (CPWI) trial to understand at which moment of the cropping cycle weeds can be tolerated without impacting crop yield to decrease the time needed for weeding and assess the potential support weeds can give to biological pest control in lettuce. Treatments represented two gradients of weed intensity: (1) increasingly weed-free, and (2) increasingly weedy. Dose–response curves were produced to find the CPWI based on lettuce relative yield. RLQ analysis was used to explore the relationships between weeding regime and weed functional traits for biological pest control. Yield was above the 5% acceptable yield loss threshold in all plots kept weed-free for 20 days or more, indicating a necessary weed-free period of 20 days from transplanting. However, the support of beneficial insects was not guaranteed at the end of the necessary weed-free period. We suggest that it is possible to limit intense weed management to the beginning of the growing season, reducing the cost of plastic mulches and increasing on-farm biodiversity, but field margins could be better suited to deliver conservation biological control in short-term crops where this service is of primary interest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In vineyards, the under-vine area is managed to control vegetation growth and to reduce the competing effect of growing plants on vines and fruit development. Applied under-vine management methods are the application of herbicides, soil tillage or the growth of spontaneous vegetation or cover crops. These methods affect pedo-climatic conditions differentially as well as the soil biota and have, therefore, consequences on soil functions and ecosystem services. In the presented case study, the effects of five under-vine management methods on the activity of soil hydrolytic enzymes, the soil water content, vine photosynthetic activity, shoot pruning weight, grape yield and quality are investigated in a vineyard in Lower Austria over three consecutive seasons. Thereby, we hypothesise that a permanent under-vine vegetation cover, either mowed or without mowing, supports the soil microbial communities and soil functions in a way to enhance water and nutrients availability for vines which partly compensates for the competition of the growing vegetation. Our results confirm effects on the soil water balance, more specifically, a reduced soil water content in 11 -20 cm soil depths induced by a permanent vegetation cover as compared to herbicide application or soil tillage. Further consequences of permanent vegetation below vines were lower shoot pruning weights and lower berry weights, while total soluble solids and titratable acidity were not affected. The vine's photosynthetic activity, as well as the soil water content, were partly affected by treatments dependent on the precipitation ahead of the measurement. In parallel, the soil microbial activity was significantly enhanced by a permanent vegetation cover below the vines as compared to herbicide application, a trend which increased with the years of the project. In conclusion, permanent under-vine vegetation strongly promoted soil microbial activity without strong effects on shoot pruning weight, grape yield and quality. In the next step, a functional proof is necessary to characterise the interaction between soil microbial activity, soil water balance and vine nutrition and water status by using sensors for continuous measurements.

Phytostabilization is a more appropriate way for rehabilitation of metal-polluted environments in the Copperbelt region. A 1.5-hectare tree planting trial had been installed on the tailings dam (TD) with the help of organic matter (OM) mixed to topsoil. Then, 15 years later, this study aimed to evaluate the performance of the tree plantation, in regard to soils and spontaneous vegetation. The Cu and Co concentration was higher in the reclaimed soil compared with the unreclaimed. Acacia auriculiformis, Acacia polyacantha, Albizia lebbeck, Pinus sylvestris, Psidium guajava, Senna siamea, Senna spectabilis, and Syzygium guineense responded well to the criteria of phytostabilization, whereas Leucaena leucocephala was very invasive. Metal concentration was manifold higher in charcoals than in woods (Zn: 3.8-39.8 mg kg-1 in wood versus 272-523 mg kg-1 in charcoal) with no differences between charcoals regardless of the origin. The tree implantation aided with amendments can meet the criteria of phytostabilization through good survival and regeneration in the heavily contaminated TD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phytostabilization is a more appropriate way for rehabilitation of metal-polluted environments in the Copperbelt region. A 1.5-hectare tree planting trial had been installed on the tailings dam (TD) with the help of organic matter (OM) mixed to topsoil. Then, 15 years later, this study aimed to evaluate the performance of the tree plantation, in regard to soils and spontaneous vegetation. The Cu and Co concentration was higher in the reclaimed soil compared with the unreclaimed. Acacia auriculiformis, Acacia polyacantha, Albizia lebbeck, Pinus sylvestris, Psidium guajava, Senna siamea, Senna spectabilis, and Syzygium guineense responded well to the criteria of phytostabilization, whereas Leucaena leucocephala was very invasive. Metal concentration was manifold higher in charcoals than in woods (Zn: 3.8–39.8 mg kg−1 in wood versus 272–523 mg kg−1 in charcoal) with no differences between charcoals regardless of the origin. The tree implantation aided with amendments can meet the criteria of phytostabilization through good survival and regeneration in the heavily contaminated TD.

Spontaneous and ruderal plants can be the key to a low-cost, low-maintenance urban Green Infrastructure that can adapt to the local climate context. In addition to providing a wide range of Ecosystem Services, such species can survive in environments altered by humans and withstand conditions adverse to them, such as water scarcity and shallow substrate. The paper aims to systematically identify the effects exerted by substrate depth during the first months of vegetation growth using the Point-Intercept method in low-maintenance extensive green roofs. Contrary to previous research focusing on vegetation growth in temperate climates, experimentation in a humid subtropical climate can help to fill a gap by assessing the long-term potential of roofs with heterogeneous spontaneous species establishment to improve urban ecology and its natural regeneration.

Resumen Los parques públicos son importantes espacios para la relajación y el disfrute en las zonas urbanas; son, además, lugares para que la población experimente con la naturaleza. Desde el decenio de 1990, los espacios verdes de Berlín utilizan cada vez más vegetación semi-natural, y la administración municipal de Berlín ha adoptado un enfoque integral para su mantenimiento. En el presente estudio se investigó la cuestión de si la vegetación semi-natural es percibida y aceptada positivamente por los visitantes del parque. Para ello, se realizaron encuestas in situ y un análisis de imágenes obtenidas de las redes de comunicación social. Los resultados del estudio muestran un elevado grado de aprobación con el planteamiento de la cuestión. Abstract Public parks are important spaces for relaxation and recreation in urban areas and are places for the population to experience nature. Since the 1990s, Berlin's green spaces have been increasingly using near-natural vegetation, and the Berlin city administration has taken a comprehensive approach to their maintenance. The present study investigated the question of whether near-natural vegetation is perceived and accepted positively by park visitors. For this purpose, on-site surveys and an analysis of images from social media were conducted. The results of the study show a high degree of agreement with the question. Keywords Low-

Aims: We aim (a) to investigate and describe the species composition of vegetation that has recolonized landslides and describe its relationship to environmental variables; and (b) to propose a set of plant species and restoration strategies applicable for speeding up the restoration process. Location: Elevation between 240 and 1,350 m a.s.l. in central Taiwan, East Asia. Methods: We delimited the boundaries of landslides using aerial photographs taken between 1975 and 2015. We sampled 52 plots from 48 selected landslides and measured 21 environmental variables to identify the significant factors related to species composition. Cluster analysis and transformation‐based redundancy analysis were used to determine the vegetation groups and corresponding environmental variables; the environmental differences between different vegetation types were evaluated by ANOVA. Results: We classified the vegetation into four types and related each of them to a successional age, landslide position and soil pH, as well as Mn and Mg contents. Two early‐successional types (aged 5–10 years) mainly occurred in habitats in steep slip zones, which are dominated by pioneer woody species and have a high coverage of grasses, forbs, or ferns thickets. In contrast, the mid‐successional vegetation type (aged 16–40 years), growing on flat habitats, consists of pioneer woody species in the canopy layer and seedlings or saplings of shade‐tolerant species in the understorey. Conclusions: We confirmed that the composition and recruitment of species can be well explained by environmental differences between landslide zones and successional age. Some framework species and some shade‐tolerant woody species can be applied to landslide scars with plant dispersal limitation problems and habitats suffering from poor local species pools, respectively. To overcome the problem of vegetation succession blocked by Miscanthus and ferns thickets, we suggest that pioneer woody species and herb species can be seeded on landslide scars at once for erosion control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Agathon: International Journal of Architecture, Art & Design is the property of DEMETRA CE.RI.MED and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Non-cultivated, spontaneous vegetation in urban environments plays a key role in supporting urban and rural disturbed ecosystems because of the advantages of low input and low energy consumption. There is a contradiction between such plants and conventional cultivated species in terms of sensory characteristics that could affect people's acceptance of such vegetated landscapes. Taking the most developed city of China Mainland, Shanghai, as a case study, this work aims to better understand how the public perceive these spontaneous plants in terms of physical and psychological senses based on the recently developed framework of landsenses ecology. Overall, these species activate people with positive senses, such as naturalism and nostalgia. Most people support the importance of their visual aspect, such as colourful fruits/flowers are more important for prompting such species. Our study indirectly supports the idea that the public seem not concern whether plants have soft or hard, smooth or rough tactility in parks. Similarly, people do not make high demands on the plants' olfactory output. These results may provide a wide range of space for design and management strategies since there are abundant choices. The key influencing factor in our study was 'childhood living environment' whereas the commonly related factor 'level of education' showed no connection. Based on the framework of landsenses ecology that specifically emphasizes incorporating sensory experience into places, this study may help practitioners connect people's multi-senses to non-cultivated vegetation and help accommodate a wider range of specific ecological attributes, constraints, priorities and people's concerns in a more human-centric way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of beneficial soil fungi, bacteria and mineral fertilizers containing nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium on the level and species composition of weed infestation, uptake of macronutrients by weeds and the nutritional status of ‘Sampion’ apple trees with nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg) and calcium (Ca) was assessed in three-year studies. In the field experiment, the effect of thirteen treatments was investigated, where fungal or bacterial inocula and mineral fertilizers at a standard dose and a dose reduced by 40% were applied individually or together. The fungal inoculum contained two species: Aspergillus niger and Purpureocillium lilacinum. The bacterial consortium consisted of three Bacillus strains: Bacillus sp., Bacillus amyloliquefaciens and Paenibacillus polymyxa. The weight of weeds and the uptake of macronutrients by weeds in the apple orchard increased significantly more after the application of mineral fertilization than after the application of beneficial organisms. The increased uptake of macronutrients by weeds did not significantly change the mineral nutritional status of apple trees expressed as the content of N, P, K Mg and Ca in apple leaves. After the use of NPK mineral fertilization, also with the addition of beneficial organisms, the uptake of N by both weeds and apple trees increased. P and K were more efficiently absorbed by weeds and they achieved greater benefits from fertilization with these two macroelements than trees.

Interactions between plants can be beneficial, detrimental or neutral. In agricultural systems, competition between crop and spontaneous vegetation is a major concern. We evaluated the relative support for three non‐exclusive ecological hypotheses about interactions between crop and spontaneous plants based on competition, complementarity or facilitation.The study was conducted in Swiss vineyards with different vegetation management intensities. In all, 33 vineyards planted with two different grape varieties were studied over 3 years to determine whether low‐intensity vegetation management might provide benefits for grape quality parameters. Management intensity varied with the degree of control of spontaneous inter‐row vegetation. Features of spontaneous vegetation measured included total cover, total species richness and abundance of nitrogen‐fixing plants. Grape quality parameters of known importance to wine making (yeast assimilable nitrogen, sugars, tartaric acid and malic acid) were determined by Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Using structural equation modelling, we evaluated hypotheses about the multivariate responses of grape quality parameters as well as the direct and indirect (plant‐mediated) effects of management.Observed effects of management differed between grape varieties. Management intensity and abundance of N‐fixing plants significantly influenced grape quality parameters while total richness of spontaneous plants did not have detectable effects. Abundance of N‐fixing plants was enhanced by low‐intensity management resulting in increased N content in the red grape variety Pinot noir, potentially enhancing grape quality, while measured soil N content did not explain the increase.Synthesis and applications. Our study shows that crop quality can be enhanced by spontaneous plants, in this case by the abundance of a key functional group (N‐fixers), most likely through plant–plant or plant–microbe facilitation. However, beneficial interactions may have a high specificity in terms of facilitation partners and may have contrasting effects at low taxonomic resolutions such as crop varieties. Generally, increasing plant biodiversity in agricultural systems may increase competition with crops. Thus, the identification of suitable interaction partners and a careful balance between crop variety and spontaneous plant species may be necessary to utilize beneficial interactions and to reduce the trade‐off between agricultural production and biodiversity to achieve a sustainable ecological benefit in agricultural systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Societal Impact Statement: The Anthropocene has seen declining biodiversity inextricably linked to our societies, values, and choices. This requires ecologists to engage with the public in ecosystems such as cities to learn from and help inform their values and experiences regarding their role in urban nature. This article presents a transdisciplinary citizen science project on spontaneous urban vegetation in the context of urban botany, art‐science, and participatory research that engages with the ecology of cities. We address the interdependence of ecological and social networks, suggesting how plant ecology can become more relevant for society in the Anthropocene, while presenting a specific methodology for engaging the public with urban botany. Summary: Cities are socio‐ecological systems that require new ways of thinking and engagement to successfully conserve biodiversity. In this article, we present the citizen science project Where Seeds Fall which was undertaken in the city of Zurich, Switzerland. It was developed in an "ecology with" cities approach seeking to conduct research with the humans living in the ecosystem while learning from and helping inform their values.Our project brings together the perspectives of ecologists, artists, and planners on the three themes of urban wastelands, spontaneous vegetation, and ecological connectivity. It is placed in the context of urban botany, environmental arts and participatory research.Volunteers placed trays of bare soil (without seeds) in their gardens and balconies and monitored what plants arrived and germinated. They then were able to share information about their trays (images, species lists) with one another through a spatially explicit web platform. The project was accompanied by public outreach events and artistic interventions in public space.This article presents the methodology of the project so that it can be replicated elsewhere. Based on the experiences with the project we discuss evolving transdisciplinary perspectives on wild plant biodiversity in cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Standard succulent vegetation mixes developed mostly in temperate climates are being increasingly used on green roofs in different climate zones with uncertain outcome regarding vegetation survival and cover. We investigated vegetation on green roofs at nine temperate, cold, and/or wet locations in Norway and Sweden covering wide ranges of latitude, mean annual temperature, annual precipitation, frequencies of freeze-thaw cycles, and longest annual dry period. The vegetation on the roofs were surveyed in two consecutive years, and weather data were compiled from meteorological databases. At all sites we detected a significant decline in species compared to originally intended (planted/sown) species. Both the survival rate and cover of the intended vegetation were positively related to the mean annual temperature. Contrary to a hypothesis, we found that intended vegetation cover was negatively rather than positively related to mean annual precipitation. Conversely, the unintended (spontaneous) vegetation was favoured by high mean annual precipitation and low mean annual temperature, possibly by enabling it to colonize bare patches and outcompete the intended vegetation. When there is high mortality and variation in cover of the intended vegetation, predicting the strength of ecosystem services the vegetation provides on green roofs is difficult. The results highlight the needs for further investigation on species traits and the local factors driving extinction and colonizations in order to improve survivability and ensure a dense vegetation throughout the successional stages of a green roof. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The worldwide urbanization has resulted in a massive loss of natural habitats, which is threatening biodiversity and socio-ecological sustainability. Urban rewilding is a strategy aiming to restore the complexity, autonomy and self-sustainability of urban ecosystems by interlinking ecological processes while minimizing or gradually reducing human disturbances. The benefits of urban rewilding are widely acknowledged; however, there remains a knowledge gap concerning the identification of suitable locations for urban rewilding and the methodologies for assessing the rewilding potential of urban areas. In this study, we proposed an approach that can be used to accurately identify urban rewilding opportunity spaces (UROS, the existing wildness areas and spaces offering ecological conditions conducive to the establishment of new urban wildness), by integrating data on spatial heterogeneity, biodiversity and human disturbance. UROS in Chongqing, China was evaluated and mapped at the city-wide scale, with a subsequent validation of the UROS results through an assessment of species richness of spontaneous herbaceous communities, which serve as the pioneer species in rewilding processes. The results revealed a positive correlation between high-scoring UROS and increased species richness of spontaneous herbs, thus confirming the feasibility of the UROS assessment method. Eleven primary types of UROS were identified, with the majority displaying scattered or linear distributions. Most very high-scoring UROS are characterized by expansive woodland expanses situated on the outskirts of high-density built-up areas and substantial water bodies within the built-up urban areas. Notably, nearly half of the UROS encompass areas of 900 m2 or less, underscoring the importance of urban rewilding initiatives targeting not only the preservation of extensive UROS with robust connectivity but also the revitalization of fragmented UROS with limited areas situated within central urban regions. The methodology is applicable to offer insights and spatial guidance in the execution of urban rewilding initiatives and biodiversity conservation efforts, contributing to sustainable regional development in the context of rapid urbanization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lettuce is one of the most consumed leafy greens. Depending on the variety, it is ready for harvesting 40–80 days after sowing, and therefore several growth cycles can be concluded within a growing season. Due to its high market standards, lettuce may require intensive management. This study implemented a critical period of weed interference (CPWI) trial to understand at which moment of the cropping cycle weeds can be tolerated without impacting crop yield to decrease the time needed for weeding and assess the potential support weeds can give to biological pest control in lettuce. Treatments represented two gradients of weed intensity: (1) increasingly weed-free, and (2) increasingly weedy. Dose–response curves were produced to find the CPWI based on lettuce relative yield. RLQ analysis was used to explore the relationships between weeding regime and weed functional traits for biological pest control. Yield was above the 5% acceptable yield loss threshold in all plots kept weed-free for 20 days or more, indicating a necessary weed-free period of 20 days from transplanting. However, the support of beneficial insects was not guaranteed at the end of the necessary weed-free period. We suggest that it is possible to limit intense weed management to the beginning of the growing season, reducing the cost of plastic mulches and increasing on-farm biodiversity, but field margins could be better suited to deliver conservation biological control in short-term crops where this service is of primary interest.

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Rich pollinator assemblages are documented in some cities despite habitat fragmentation and degradation, suggesting that urban areas have potential as pollinator refuges. To inform urban bee conservation, we assessed local‐ and landscape‐scale drivers of bee community composition and foraging within vacant lots of Cleveland, Ohio, USA. Cleveland is a shrinking city, a type of urban area that has an over‐abundance of vacated greenspaces as a result of population loss and subsequent demolition of abandoned infrastructure. As such, Cleveland represents over 350 post‐industrial cities worldwide that are all promising locations for bee conservation.Across a network of 56 residential vacant lots (each ~30 m × 12 m), we established seven unique habitats, including seeded native prairies, to investigate how vegetation management and landscape context at a 1,500 m radius influenced urban bee communities. We assessed the distribution of several bee functional traits, diversity and abundance with pan and malaise traps. Foraging frequency was determined with plant–pollinator interaction networks derived from vacuum collections of bees at flowers.We observed higher bee richness and increased abundance of smaller sized bees as the size of surrounding greenspace patches increased within a 1,500 m radius landscape buffer. Within habitats, seeded treatments had no effect on bees but greater plant biomass and shorter vegetation were correlated with increased bee richness and abundance. Plant–pollinator interaction networks were dominated by spontaneous non‐native vegetation, illustrating that this forage supports urban bees.Synthesis and applications. Our study indicates that proximity to larger greenspaces within an urban landscape promotes overall bee richness and increased occurrence of smaller bee species within residential vacant lots. While we did not observe our seeded native plants enhancing the bee community, native wildflowers were still establishing during the study and may have a greater influence when blooming at higher densities. Importantly, spontaneous non‐native vegetation provided the majority of urban bee's forage. Thus, vacant land that is minimally managed and vegetated with what many consider undesirable 'weeds' provides valuable habitat for bee conservation in cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Former studies carried out in the 2000s in the Lahn-Dill region located in the middle-east of the German state Hesse stated a depletion of arable weeds on the field scale and more diverse weed flora on the landscape scale. Current study, having started in 2018, aims to contribute to a better understanding of the interactions between arable weed species diversity, farming intensity, grown crops and landscape area. Moreover, the potential of organic farming methods for conservation and promotion the arable weed diversity is aimed to be assessed with the study. In total, 42 fields in two landscape regions were sampled—six seedbank samples were collected from each field; additionally, data on spontaneous arable weed flora were recorded each spring from 2019 to 2021; emerged aboveground weeds were identified in the fields and their coverage was documented. Four factors were considered in the field trial: Farming practice, landscape area, soil depth and the current crop. Effects of these factors on arable weed species diversity were calculated with a Generalized Linear Model (GLM), resulting in significant effects of the management system, the area and the current crop. Among the four organic farming systems that were sampled, the time period of organic growing had a significant effect on weed seed numbers in the soil with an increase in seed numbers. Average seedbank species numbers were around twice as high in organic farming systems (18 species) compared to conventional managed fields (nine species). Evidence of an ongoing species decline in the region on the landscape scale could be detected by comparison with a former study. Especially rare and endangered weed species are a concern due to seedbank and current vegetation depletion tendencies.

• Residents in both Warsaw and Łódź are subject to unequal accessibility to urban green spaces. • The greenery associated with transportation routes, multi-family housing and agriculture have the greatest potential to complement formal UGS. • In Łódź, it is children who are most disadvantaged in terms of access to UGS, while in Warsaw it is elderly citizens. • Disparities among children and elderly citizens in access to formal green spaces can be reduced by informal green spaces. • Preservation of unmanaged areas can allow access to green spaces and enable more contact with nature close to home. Urban green spaces (UGS) offer a wide range of ecosystem services to city dwellers, contributing to their health and well-being. The resources of formally designated UGS, such as parks and forests, are frequently underprovided, however. This results in unequal access to UGS, which has become an environmental justice issue. We investigated the potential of informal green spaces (IGS) to complement existing formal UGS to reduce distributional inequity in UGS availability. We focused on the most vulnerable groups of citizens, children and elderly residents, for whom the availability of UGS plays a particularly important role. The study was performed in two Eastern-European cities, Warsaw and Łódź, both characterised by a well-developed system of UGS but of different spatial composition and UGS configuration. We focus on unmanaged areas within IGS and link them to the provisioning of recreational ecosystem services, such as enabling direct contact with nature. We identified different categories of formal and informal UGS based on publicly available data, supported by NDVI values, followed by UGS availability analysis of formal and informal UGS in the service area of 300 m for each residential building. We found that informal UGS are equally important as formal ones, and they may contribute to better access to selected urban ecosystem services. Both cities are characterised by unequal distribution of formal UGS. In Łódź, children are least favoured in terms of UGS availability, while in Warsaw, elderly citizens are most excluded. In both cities, it is the green areas associated with transportation routes communication routes, multi-family housing and agricultural lands along with grasslands that have the greatest potential to improve the equal availability of UGS to residents. We propose maintaining various types of unmanaged green areas in cities to help limit disparities to UGS access, and it would also increase their importance in the provisioning of recreational ecosystem services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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• The present study aims to establish a flora inventory of a red gypsum technosol. • The site was characterized by a remarkably low availability of some nutrients. • A spontaneous tree succession has been established, dominated by Betula pendula. • This study aided the implementation of a revegetation strategy at the landfill. Red gypsum is the product of the neutralization of titanium dioxide (TiO 2) extraction residue from ilmenite and anatase. The disposal of red gypsum creates heterogeneous plots with layers that may include Fe, Ca, Al, Mg, Mn, S, and other elements and an alkaline pH that makes revegetation complicated and slow. The vertical and horizontal dispersion of the sediment particles are the main concern. Therefore, the establishment of precise vegetation cover is needed to address this issue. One of the aims of this study was (1) to explore the distribution of the spontaneous vegetation found along a red gypsum-formed landfill located at the Ochsenfeld site in eastern France. Additionally, (2) some pedological parameters were also studied to determine the most significant red gypsum chemical drivers influencing the occurrence and abundance of the vegetation within the site. The Braun-Blanquet scale was used to rate the species presence in the field contained in the spontaneous vegetation dataset. The vegetation survey revealed the presence of 59 species from 23 families. The most abundant species was Betula pendula, and a further cluster analysis enabled the differentiation of areas with this species. The CaCl 2 extractable concentrations of the nutrients and trace elements, as well as the pH and the organic matter (OM) present in the sampled substrate, were used to form the pedological parameters dataset. A multiple factor analysis (MFA) was performed to link the large datasets together and revealed 3 groups of plants. Group 1 was composed of pH-tolerant species such as B. pendula and S. caprea. Group 2 was formed by Cr-Zn-tolerant species, including Echium vulgare and R. pseudoacacia. Finally, group 3 was characterized by species such as Clematis vitalba and Artemisia vulgaris that tolerate the presence of Na. The MFA revealed a correlation between the Betula pendula distribution and the pH, CaCl 2 extractable P concentration and organic matter. On the other hand, A lack of relation of the CaCl 2 extractable concentrations of Fe, Mn, Na, Si and K were also found. This study aided in the selection of an adapted candidate for the implementation of the revegetation strategy of a red gypsum landfill in eastern France. Further tests were performed at the site using white birch for Mn accumulation and topsoil stabilization in situ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Abstract In the current context of strong urban sprawl, it becomes urgent to find urban approaches that simultaneously promote ecological functions and relationships between people and nature in cities. Streets are omnipresent urban elements that can deliver ecosystem services and facilitate people daily interactions with nature. Promoting vegetation in streets can take different forms which have to be combined with people's preferences. Based on photomontages, we assessed people's perceptions and valuations for herbaceous vegetation types associated to various managements and designs of pavements. Using a combination of a local field survey and a French national online survey, we collected a total of 3609 responses representing a large diversity of socio-demographic characteristics. The results of the field survey confirmed those of the online survey. Although there was variability among people valuations, we found that lowly managed pavements with spontaneous vegetation were in average higher valued than highly managed pavements without vegetation. Pavements with spontaneous vegetation were perceived as less kept than pavements without vegetation, but more beautiful and less boring. We found a consensus of high valuations towards pavements containing vegetation integrated in small design interventions (flowers seeded in foot of wall, design of a meadow strip along the pavement), suggesting that people generally accept vegetation with visible signs of human actions or managements. Socio-demographic characteristics partly explained variabilities in photo valuations. As expected, people frequently connected with nature had the highest preferences for vegetated pavements, spontaneous or integrated in designs. These results show that vegetated streets can become daily biodiversity-friendly urban greenspaces appreciated by urban dwellers. We provide recommendations for promoting vegetation in streets that will be useful for politics, urban designers and managers. Highlights • We assess people valuations for various herbaceous vegetation types in streets. • Photomontages showed vegetation types associated to diverse managements and designs. • A total of 3609 respondents answered the questionnaire. • Pavements with spontaneous vegetation higher valued than pavements without vegetation. • A consensus of high valuations towards vegetation integrated in small designs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Acta Zoologica Lilloana is the property of Fundacion Miguel Lillo and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Under-vine management practices have traditionally consisted of herbicide applications or cultivation to manage weeds, thus limiting competition for resources with grapevines. However, increasing awareness of detrimental impacts of herbicides and cultivation on agricultural landscapes are shifting practices towards alternative options, including an unmanaged under-vine area where spontaneous vegetation proliferates. How this practice may affect the suite of soil, water, and nutrient relations and corresponding grapevine performance in a Mediterranean climate in the long-term is relatively unknown. Thus, this study utilised a unique opportunity to explore how undisturbed under-vine spontaneous vegetation compared to traditional herbicide (Eden Valley, loamy sand soil) or cultivation (McLaren Vale, silty loam soil) practices at two commercial vineyards. After five years of treatments, assessments were made on under-vine plant community and soil dynamics, grapevine responses, and juice composition. At Eden Valley, the spontaneous vegetation changed the plant community by increasing total plant coverage and biomass, while at McLaren Vale there was a lesser effect; however, the plant communities at both sites were similarly dominated by perennial grasses compared to higher proportions of broad-leaf, fast-growing species in the traditional herbicide and cultivation treatments. Soil water and nutrient availability were decreased by spontaneous vegetation in Eden Valley, while in McLaren Vale, the spontaneous vegetation enhanced soil phosphorus, water infiltration, and increased organic carbon by 40%. In Eden Valley, spontaneous vegetation decreased juice yeast available nitrogen; yet phenolics, anthocyanins, and total soluble solids were higher. At both sites, there was no significant impact of maintaining under-vine spontaneous vegetation on yields, however it decreased pruning weights at Eden Valley, while no effects were quantified on pruning weights or juice composition at McLaren Vale. We demonstrate that in the long-term, maintaining undisturbed spontaneous vegetation as an alternative to using herbicides or cultivation in the under-vine row can benefit the vineyard agroecosystem, while not adversely impacting grapevine yields depending on vineyard soil type and target winemaking outcomes. • Under-vine spontaneous vegetation increased plant coverage and biomass. • Plant communities in spontaneous vegetation were dominated by grass species. • Spontaneous vegetation lowered soil water and available nutrients in loamy sand soils. • Faster soil water infiltration in silty loam soils under spontaneous vegetation. • No significant impact of under-vine spontaneous vegetation on grapevine yields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intercropping can favour the yield of the main crop. However, because of the potential competition among woody crops, this system is rarely used by farmers. To increase knowledge about the intercropping system, we have explored three different combinations of alley cropping in rainfed olive groves compared to conventional management (CP): (i) Crocus sativus (D-S); (ii) Vicia sativa/Avena sativa in annual rotation (D-O); and (iii) Lavandula x intermedia (D-L). Different soil chemical properties were analyzed to evaluate the effects of alley cropping, while 16S rRNA amplification and enzymatic activities were determined to study the changes that occurred in soil microbial communities and activity. In addition, the influence of intercropping on the potential functionality of the soil microbial community was measured. Data revealed that the intercropping systems highly affected the microbial community and soil properties. The D-S cropping system increased soil total organic carbon and total nitrogen that were correlated with the bacterial community, indicating that both parameters were the main drivers shaping the structure of the bacterial community. The D-S soil cropping system had significantly higher relative abundances of the phyla Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria, and Patescibacteria compared to the other systems and the genera Adhaeribacter, Arthrobacter, Rubellimicrobium, and Ramlibacter, related to C and N functions. D-S soil was also related to the highest relative abundances of Pseudoarthrobacter and Haliangium, associated with the plant growth-promoting effect, antifungal activity, and a potential P solubilizer. A potentially increase of C fixation and N fixation in soils was also observed in the D-S cropping system. These positive changes were related to the cessation of tillage and the development of a spontaneous cover crop, which increased soil protection. Thus, management practices that contribute to increasing soil cover should be encouraged to improve soil functionality., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Beatriz Lozano Garcia reports financial supportwas provided by The European Commission Horizon 2020 project Diverfarming. All co-authors reports financial support was provided by The European Commission Horizon 2020 project Diverfarming., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Within urban green spaces, spontaneous groundcovers, as potential alternatives for traditional lawns, have garnered attention due to their ecological adaptability. However, little attention has been paid to whether spontaneous groundcovers can serve as suitable replacements for lawns in terms of the aesthetic values and human preferences for each. Based on questionnaires accompanied by photo elicitation, this study explored the perceptions of and preferences for seven kinds of lawns and six kinds of spontaneous groundcovers in China. The effects of social backgrounds on people's perceptions of and preferences for ground covers were also analyzed. The results indicated a general equivalence in preferences for the lawn and spontaneous groundcover. The Taraxacum mongolicum - Cynodon dactylon - Conyza canadensis community was significantly preferred most among all of the selected ground covers. Spontaneous groundcovers were regarded as more natural, wild, variable, and species-richer compared to lawns, while lawns were perceived as better kept than spontaneous groundcovers. Ground covers were preferred which were perceived to have high ecological aesthetic value and low wildness. Industry and attention to herbaceous plants mostly affected human perceptions and preferences among the social background factors, and gender, age, education level, and occupation also had significant effects. The results thus provide the support for the application of spontaneous groundcovers in moderately developed cities, but such application should consider the comprehensive development of ecological aesthetic value and the applicability of different groups of residents., Competing Interests: 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., (Copyright © 2023 Liang, Li, Xue, Liu, Jin, Wang, Gao, Chen, Li, Qiu and Gao.)

Highlights • Low-maintanance green tramways are socially highly acceptable. • City residents perceive green tramways better from a distance than from a close-up. • Vegetation composition of tram tracks undergoes significant changes seasonally and over the course of the year. Abstract The creation of green tramways has become a common solution in many European cities in efforts to meet the increasing demands for green areas. However, maintaining high-quality vegetation requires costly maintenance. In this study, we assessed the possibility of managing green tram tracks in a manner that combines people's attitudes with economic and ecological performance. We examined low-maintenance vegetation along existing tram tracks that has undergone natural succession to answer several specific questions. The aims of the present study include 1) assessment of how residents perceive the existing low-maintenance green tramways of various ages (1-11 years), 2) identification of measurable vegetation quality parameters affecting residents' aesthetic preferences, and 3) assessment of whether viewing distance (from close up or from a distance) is a factor affecting residents' perception of green tramways. Based on our results, green tramways were valued five times higher by residents than conventional tram tracks. Respondents indicated that the most important features of green tracks were vegetation coverage, with only a minority specifying factors such as uneven colour (33.9%) or the presence of weeds (7.1%). Perception also depended on turf age and biodiversity. Additionally, the greatest effect on the perception of tramways was the viewing perspective: as deficiencies in quality became less visible and were considered negligible, tramways were perceived 19% more favourably when viewed at a distance than when viewed close-up. The results of our research indicate that low-maintenance green tram tracks are an economically feasible solution for introducing more green areas into cities. Despite deficiencies in turf quality, this approach can become an accepted element of a city's green infrastructure, and such a solution should be encouraged. Considering residents' expectations, high-quality turf should be intensively maintained in only areas observed from a short distance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are numerous maps of the spontaneous vegetation of Argentina. However, a country-level map with enough detail to discriminate vegetation units within the phytogeographic provinces described by Cabrera (1976) is lacking. We analyzed vegetation descriptions published in recent decades, with special attention to those that produced physiognomic-floristic maps. As a result of this analysis, here we present a physiognomic-floristic map of spontaneous vegetation of Argentina that shows the heterogeneity within phytogeographic provinces. The map has 50 vegetation units as subdivisions of the phytogeographic ecotone and provinces early described, and a brief physiognomic-floristic description of each ecotone, province and vegetation unit. We propose a nomenclature of each vegetation unit based on dominant type of spontaneous vegetation and characteristic species and present digital cartographic material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban green space (UGS) is a broad and potentially very inclusive term. Although most discussions on UGS focus on urban parks, there are many other vegetated areas in cities. Many are not formally recognised and protected, hence they are called informal green spaces (IGS), and yet they provide ecosystem services similar to parks. Based on a detailed overview of the different categories of UGS, we shed new light on how the different categories of UGS are included in urban planning and provide a snapshot of the disturbing urban land use transition – from UGS to other uses – which is partly related to the lack of formal recognition of IGS. The novelty in our study is that we mapped and analysed all UGS in our case study area, following two rivers that cut through Lodz (Łódź), Poland – from one peri-urban area (partly rural), through the city centre, to the peri-urban area on the other side of the city. The urban structures and the gradient of buildings in the studied area coincide with the urban structures for the whole of Lodz; therefore, our research area is a representative part of the city and its heterogeneity. Out of the seventeen UGS categories we distinguished, only six are formally recognised and account for 24% of all areas covered by UGS. Only 7% of the area we identified as UGS is designated as different types of vegetated areas according to local zoning plans. The analysis highlights broader challenges related to the planning and management of urban green and blue infrastructures. • Urban green spaces (UGS) need to be defined broadly to include all vegetated areas. • We identified UGS based on land use datasets and confronted them with a vegetation cover map. • Out of 17 UGS categories, only six are formally recognised (24% of UGS area). • The share of informal GS is large, and the scope of unprotected informal GS is even larger. • Collaboration between public and private actors is particularly necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With accelerating urbanization, insect pollinators in urban ecosystems face challenges such as reduced pollen sources, habitat fragmentation, and damage to the nesting environment. Urban green spaces (UGS) are essential for the stability of pollinator communities. However, little is known about the relationship between vertical layer heterogeneity and horizontal layer complexity of vegetation structure in UGS and pollinator communities. The present study aimed to assess how vegetation structure and environmental characteristics shape the insect pollinator community in UGS. To this end, this study was conducted with seven typical vegetation types which were selected according to the biotope mapping classification system (BMCS) in the ring parks around Hefei City, in Anhui province, China. A total of 11,401 pollinators belonging to 6 orders and 34 families were identified during the eight-month survey. Among the seven habitats under the BMCS, mainly successional short-cut shrub and partly open green space, trees two- or multi-layered broad-leaved mixed forest and partly closed green space, and mainly successional tall grass and partly open green space were identified as high-quality insect pollinator habitats. According to the results of the generalized linear regression, the explanatory power of the four best-fitting generalised linear models is relatively high (over 77%). In four optimal models, the effect of vegetation structure on pollinator community was greater than that of environmental characteristics. The redundancy discriminant analysis showed that the flowering abundance of nectar plants, herb richness, and shrub coverage rate were the three most important factors influencing insect pollinator communities, with a cumulative explanatory power of up to 78.8%. Pollinator abundance was positively influenced by spontaneous herbs and low-intensity management. However, high-intensity management, low diversity of plants, low nectar plant richness, ignoring seasonal nectar plant configuration, and dense tree distribution could limit pollinator reproduction and population growth. These results reflect the status of insect pollinator community in UGS in Hefei city and present a possible direction for improving urban green habitats and plant configurations. • Vegetation structure and environmental factors affecting insect pollinators in urban green spaces were explored. • We assessed which vegetation types are more attractive to pollinators. • Nectar plants were the most important factor affecting pollinator diversity. • Urban green space may become a "transfer station" and "shelter" for pollinators. • Pollinator abundance was effectively improved by spontaneous herbs and low-intensity management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]