How to successfully improve the biodiversity of city grasslands?

Urban grasslands (UG) are among the most common types of urban green areas. They are usually species poor, and spontaneous plant migration, which can increase biodiversity, is limited. To improve the range of ecosystem services provided by UG, various seed mixtures are applied during the establishment and restoration of UG.

Genetic structure of populations in a cityscape.

Urban grasslands provide numerous ecosystem services, and their maintenance should be based on naturally regenerating plant populations. However, the urban environment is challenging for preserving viable populations, mostly because of their high fragmentation and small size, which can lead to genetic drift. We examined red clover () in a medium-size city in Central Europe to test the cityscape effect on within- and among-population genetic diversity.

The effect of grassland type and proximity to the city center on urban soil and vegetation coverage.

Urban soils with associated vegetation are important components of urban ecosystems, providing multiple regulating and supporting ecosystem services. This study aimed to analyze the differences in the soil chemistry and vegetation of urban grasslands considering urbanization gradient and urban grassland type (UGT). We hypothesized that the chemical properties of soil, such as metal content, as well as vegetation traits, differ according to grassland type (lawns, grasslands in parks, grasslands on river embankments, and roadsides) and the location of grassland patches (city center versus peripheries).

Seeds harvested during mowing from semi-natural grasslands as an but effective solution for grassland restoration.

Species-rich grasslands formed by local ecotypes of native species provide numerous ecosystem services both in rural areas as well as urban grasslands. Nonetheless, their area is still too small, making grasslands one of the most frequently restored habitats. Successful restoration requires high-quality seed material, which is expensive and often not easy to acquire.

Connectivity assessment and prioritization of urban grasslands as a helpful tool for effective management of urban ecosystem services.

Urban grasslands are usually managed as short-cut lawns and have limited biodiversity. Urban grasslands with low-intensity management are species rich and can perform numerous ecosystem services, but they are not accepted by citizens everywhere. Further, increasing and/or maintaining a relatively high level of plant species richness in an urban environment is limited by restricted plant dispersal.