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Ecosystem Properties of Urban Land Covers at the Aboveground–Belowground Interface

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Abstract

Understanding of ecological differences among urban land covers can guide the sustainable management of urbanized landscapes for conservation of ecosystem services. The objective of our study was to compare ecosystem properties at the aboveground–belowground interface of three land-cover types commonly found in residential landscapes: lawns, bark mulch, and gravel mulch. Using unmowed vegetation as a reference land cover, we measured surface soil variables (to 5 cm depth), CO2 fluxes, and ground temperatures in experimental field plots within 3 years after their creation. Each land cover had a distinctive set of ecosystem properties. Mulched plots had significantly warmer soil and surface temperatures, wetter soils and faster surface litter decomposition than vegetated plots. Variables associated with soil C and earthworm numbers were consistently lowest in gravel-covered soils, whereas bark mulch plots had highest earthworm abundances, lowest soil bulk density, and temporally variable soil organic matter dynamics. Compared to unmowed plots, lawns had higher soil carbon, CO2 fluxes, and temperatures but lower earthworm abundances especially during 2005 drought conditions. We conclude that ecosystem properties of the land covers were influenced by the composition, density, and arrangement of materials comprising their aboveground habitat structures. We discuss our results within an ecosystem services framework and suggest that interpretations of our findings depend on in situ urban environmental contexts and landscape management objectives. Future studies of urban land covers, their ecosystem properties and associated ecosystem services are needed to help provide a scientific basis for sustainable urban landscape management.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Curt Dell and Ron Wasco for their help with analyses and use of their instrumentation; Julie Bowdle for her aggregate stability work; and Laura Perrin, Wayne Lehman, Matt McCoy, and Jen Lundy for laboratory and field assistance. Jason Rohr provided consultation with statistical analyses and Kathy Szlavecz provided help in earthworm identification. Comments from Peter Groffman and two anonymous reviewers improved the manuscript. Financial support was provided by an NSF Dissertation Improvement Grant (DEB 0411527), the Pennsylvania NASA Space Grant Consortium, the Penn State Center for Environmental Chemistry, and the Penn State Departments of Crop and Soil Sciences and Entomology.

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  1. Loren B. Byrne

    Present address: Department of Biology, Marine Biology and Environmental Science, Roger Williams University, Bristol, Rhode Island, 02809, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Intercollege Graduate Degree Program in Ecology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, 16802, USA

    Loren B. Byrne, Mary Ann Bruns & Ke Chung Kim

  2. Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, 16802, USA

    Loren B. Byrne & Mary Ann Bruns

  3. Department of Entomology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, 16802, USA

    Loren B. Byrne & Ke Chung Kim

Authors
  1. Loren B. Byrne
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Correspondence to Loren B. Byrne.

Additional information

Loren B. Byrne conceived of the study, performed research, and analyzed data. Loren B. Byrne, M. A. Bruns and K. C. Kim designed the study and wrote the article.

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Byrne, L.B., Bruns, M.A. & Kim, K.C. Ecosystem Properties of Urban Land Covers at the Aboveground–Belowground Interface. Ecosystems 11, 1065–1077 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10021-008-9179-3

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