The analysis of functional significance of the urban plantings in Vladivostok landscape structure. N.S. SHIKHOVA
Keywords:
urban landscaping, types of green planting, urban ecology, anthropogenic load, heavy metals, functional efficiency of urban plantings, qualimetryAbstract
The analysis of functional significance of the urban plantings in Vladivostok landscape structure. N.S. SHIKHOVA (Federal Scientific Center of the East Asia Terrestrial Biodiversity, FEB RAS, Vladivostok).
The article compiles the results of long-term monitoring of green plantings in Vladivostok city. The vegetation and soils of all city parks, most of squares, old gardens, alleys and ordinary plantings, 34 intra-quarter plantings in different parts of the city, 6 urban recreational forests were examined. The qualitative and quantitative characteristics of greenery and urban green areas of various functional purposes are given for a set of ecological and biological indicators. The species composition of arboriflora, the vitality of the stand, the quality of the soil cover, the intensity of accumulation of heavy metals by soils and plants, and the intensity of the anthropogenic-technogenic press are compared. The main purpose of the work was a systematic analysis of the state of green spaces and a methodological substantiation of the integral assessment of their functional significance in the urban greening system. An original methods was developed based on the summary indicator introduced by the author – the “functional status index (IFS) of plantings”. A comparative assessment of the functional effectiveness of urban plantings of various town planning function has been made on the basis of such index. The increased functional status of ordinary plantings and squares, caused mainly by the active transformation of heavy metals by soils and plants, was installed. This index is 1.5 times lower for intraurban recreational forests and was the result of a few species composition, low vitality of woody species and poor accumulation of heavy metals by soils and plants. The results of this research may serve as a scientific-methodological basis to creation of stability town plantings structure and organize the rational monitoring system of urban ecosystems.
