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Influence of urbanization on riparian forest diversity and structure in the Georgia Piedmont, US

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Abstract

Riparian forests are increasingly threatened by urban expansion and land use change worldwide. This study examined the relationships between landscape characteristics and woody plant diversity, structure, and composition of small order riparian corridors along an urban-rural land use gradient in the Georgia Piedmont, US. Riparian plant diversity, structure, and composition were related to landscape metrics and land use. Species richness was negatively associated with impervious surfaces and landscape diversity, and positively associated with forest cover and largest forest patch index. Shannon species diversity was strongly related to the biomass of non-native species, especially for the regeneration layer. Urban sites were characterized by high richness of non-native and pioneer species. Developing sites were dominated by the non-native shrub, Ligustrum sinense Lour., and several native overstory trees, mainly Acer negundo L. While agricultural and managed forest sites were composed of ubiquitous species, unmanaged forest sites had a structurally distinct midstory indicative of reduced disturbance. Urban and agricultural land uses showed decreased native stem densities and signs of overstory tree regeneration failure. Results from this study highlight the impact of the surrounding landscape matrix upon riparian forest plant diversity and structure.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Auburn University’s Center for Forest Sustainability in the School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences for funding this research, and we thank Skip Kizire and Henry Atkins for field assistance. Many thanks are given to the numerous private and public land owners in West Georgia who made this research possible by granting access to property.

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  1. School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences, Center for Forest Sustainability, Auburn University, 3301 Forestry & Wildlife Bldg, Auburn, AL, 36849, USA

    Michele L. Burton & Lisa J. Samuelson

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  1. Michele L. Burton
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Correspondence to Michele L. Burton.

 

 

Appendix 1 Species sampled across all 17 sites. Non-native species indicated by (*). Note: Plants were identified only to the genus group if species could not be determined. Nomenclature followed Godfrey (1988). Habitat descriptions follow Samuelson and Hogan (2006)
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Burton, M.L., Samuelson, L.J. Influence of urbanization on riparian forest diversity and structure in the Georgia Piedmont, US. Plant Ecol 195, 99–115 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11258-007-9305-x

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