Twelve seepage springs in a 3 km 2 area of the Goldmine Tract in the C&O Canal National Historical Park in Montgomery County, Maryland, USA were sampled in 1994–1995 and again in 2023 for three ...amphipod species: Stygobromus tenuis potomacus , Stygobromus pizzinii , and Crangonyx shoemakeri . During that time interval, there were 11 colonizations and 1 exinction. Three populations persisted. These results are consistent with the proposed metapopulation hypothesis of population structure.
The article focuses on the new concept of 'ambiente urbano', as emerged at the turn of the last century in Venice. Painters, photographers, and writers contributed to the elaboration of this concept, ...partly reflected into the new term 'Venezia minore'. Born out of the conflict initiated in 1885, due to urban modernization projects, these notions were initially based on spatial identity and focused on the less known corners of the city, fostering their conservation. Following 1910, however, architects start applying these concepts to the field of urban design, as shown in the social housing settlement of Sant' Elena, in the city's periphery. In the 1940s, there was an attempt to mirror the old into the new, by recreating urban patterns, presumably typical of the old city of Venice. It was until the publication in 1948 of the book Venezia minore analysing in terms of morphology the urban context, that this story was fully elaborated. Highlighting unknown fragments of Venetian contemporary urban history and integrating them to the planning history of the city, this article overcomes the usual antithetical reading of conservation against sanitary planning, throwing light to the Italian concept of ambiente and tracing its history up to the 60s.
Kentsel planlama, kentsel çağın rekabetçi kent kavramsallaştırmasına uygun olarak, kenti yenilemek ya da dönüştürmek üzere yeni bir kent imajı yaratmak ya da kentin özgün dokusunu korumaya çalışan ...iki yaklaşımdan etkilenmektedir. Bu çalışmanın temel sorusu, uluslararası normlara atıfla, Türkiye’de modernleşmenin planlamayı nasıl araçsallaştırdığıdır. Kentsel planlama disiplininin İstanbul'daki yıkım / yeniden yapılanma temel çelişkileri ile tanımlanacak olan bu süreç, ilgili uluslararası sözleşmeler kapsamında değerlendirilmiştir. Planlama yaklaşımının sürdürülebilir bir koruma anlayışından yoksun olduğu görülmektedir. Kentsel çağın saldırgan ekonomik, siyasi ve kültürel araçları karşısında İstanbul’un tarihi ve kültürel mirasının uluslararası normlara uygun bir biçimde korunması tehdit altındadır.
Urban planning is influenced by two approaches, one of which attempts to create a new urban image, to renew or transform the city in accordance with the competitive city conceptualization of the urban age, and the other which tries to protect the city’s original structure. The basic question of this study is how planning has been instrumentalized by modernization of Turkey with special reference to international standards. This process, which will be defined through the basic paradox of urban planning discipline in terms of destruction/reconstruction on Istanbul case, is evaluated within the scope of relevant international conventions. The planning approach seems to lack a sustainable understanding of conservation. The protection of Istanbul's historical and cultural heritage in accordance with international norms is threatened by the aggressive economic, political and cultural tools of the urban age.
The colourful history evident in art-deco architectural heritage in historic neighbourhoods such as Parklands in Nairobi is barely discernible now. Swamped in drab tenements, this heritage has faced ...an avalanche of economic and development pressure used to justify its destruction to pave way for contemporary edifices. Discrepant intrusions have overloaded the heritage space detracting its scale, historic colour and visual quality. This paper sought to assess the range of visual preferences for the built environment in historic Parklands in an aim to identify values necessary for urban conservation. Two theories, the Informational Processes Theory and Tuan's Topophilia theory were examined and are drawn from environmental psychology. The first considers how environmental image affects the perception of individuals in relation to urban space, whilst Topophilia was used to identify cognitive landscape concepts. 302 study respondents were exposed to a photo-based schedule containing 25 old and 25 contemporary building scenes rated on a 7-degree Likert scale designed for responses. Statements with shared variances were grouped together under factor analysis and the degree of variability within shared variances distilled 4 visual preference dimensions. Coherence as a predictor of landscape preference scored the highest mean of 5.4 followed by verdancy with a mean of 4.8, historicity with a mean of 4.7 and finally complexity with the lowest mean of 2.34. The results established that, one, contradictions between built heritage and contemporary edifices resulted in a low preference. Two, historicity is an important preference predictor ascertained by the age, rarity and diverse detailing of built heritage. Three, verdant spaces whose vegetation component is highly fragmented and ill maintained is a reducer of landscape preference. This study recommends designation to classify, protect and conserve built heritage in an established urban conservation zone. There should be aesthetic control regulated under architectural character appraisals to restrict unsympathetic character of proposed developments and protect patrimony from discrepant intrusion. Finally, complementary adaptive re-use to enhance continuity with change to preserve heritage image, history and cultural values.
1. The present study tested the hypothesis that tree context (natural, semi‐natural or planted) and contrast (height of surrounding vegetation) affect tree physiological characters (leaf size, ...nutrient content, and stress‐related factors), and also alter the arthropod biodiversity patterns either directly or indirectly.
2. Arthropods were collected from tree canopies using chemical fogging from the ecologically important South African native tree Podocarpus elongatus.
3. Low contrast trees had significantly larger leaves than those in high contrast environments and harboured an overall higher richness, abundance, and biomass of arthropods, although this was guild‐dependent.
4. Trees in natural contexts had less foliar δ13C, suffered less from artificial nitrogen enrichment, and harboured significantly higher herbivore and predator arthropod richness and unique assemblages, compared with planted trees.
5. Semi‐natural trees supported natural levels of arthropod richness, although these were mostly generalist species.
6. Tree context and contrast can therefore dictate associated biota at multiple trophic levels and native trees may fail to maintain natural biodiversity in transformed landscapes.
Low contrast trees had significantly larger leaves than those in high contrast environments and harboured an overall higher richness, abundance, and biomass of arthropods, although this was guild‐dependent.
Trees in natural contexts had less foliar δ13C, suffered less from artificial nitrogen enrichment, and harboured higher herbivore and predator arthropod richness and unique assemblages, compared with planted trees.
Tree context and contrast can therefore dictate associated biota at multiple trophic levels and native trees may fail to maintain natural biodiversity in transformed landscapes.
In the last 10 years, the interest in nature‐based solutions and ecosystem services like pollination has increased profoundly and with it the need to gather knowledge about wild bees and apoid wasp ...community dynamics, especially in urban ecosystems. Research on how the urban environment impacts the conditions of nesting sites is relatively scarce. Recent observations in the Brussels‐Capital Region (BCR; Belgium) show that urban pavements can provide alternative nesting opportunities for ground‐nesting Hymenoptera, such as wild bees and apoid wasps.
Here, using a citizen science approach, we investigated the richness of ground‐nesting species living under urban pavements, as well as their preferences for sidewalk characteristics.
A total of 22 species belonging to 10 families of wild bees, digger wasps and their associated cleptoparasites were identified at 89 sites in the BCR (Belgium). Sandstone setts or concrete slabs, with an unbound joint size of around 10 mm, were found to be the best suitable urban pavements for the ground‐nesting species. The soil texture under the pavement contained mainly sandy particles.
We propose management guidelines to support bee and wasp species nesting under urban pavement in highly urbanised areas. Our observations pave the way for further research in the field of urban ecology and highlight the potential of multifunctional pavement designs that promote not only climate adaptation but also biodiversity.
Urban pavement can be an alternative nesting site opportunities for insect pollinators.
This study recorded 22 ground‐nesting wild bees and apoid wasps in Brussels (Belgium).
Old pavements with sandstone setts or concrete slabs with an unbound joint size of around 1 cm and sandy foundation layers harboured the ground‐nesting species.
Population translocations are used increasingly as a conservation strategy for vertebrates. However, relatively few attempts have been made to translocate invertebrates despite their potential ...benefits for food webs, and despite the practicality of undertaking such translocations in small areas including urban environments where space is limited.
We conducted 36 translocations of 1851 individuals of the generalist flightless grasshopper Vandiemenella viatica across urban Melbourne, where 93% of its original habitat has been lost.
We aimed to understand characteristics essential for grasshopper persistence and to investigate detection, occupancy, dispersal and habitat suitability throughout its active period to improve insect translocation success in urban settings using revegetated sites and small remnant habitats. We also measured movement and detection probability after one week in short‐term trials.
The one‐week trial indicated that grasshopper sex and colour morph did not influence the probability of detection, and there was no evidence of directional movement by females and males.
One year after translocation, V. viatica were found in 28 out of 36 translocation sites. These surveys showed that detection probability changed across survey seasons and was influenced by soil temperature. Also, soil temperature positively affected detection in the winter surveys. Occupancy probability was influenced by graminoid cover, plant species richness and weed cover. We found no evidence of directional movement by females and males in the F1 generation. Abundance and presence/absence data were best explained by graminoid cover and plant species richness.
Our findings suggest that wingless grasshopper translocations are feasible in small urban patches of suitable habitat, helping to restore invertebrate biodiversity and ecological services.
The flightless grasshopper, Vandiemenella viatica, was translocated to 37 sites across Melbourne, where 93% of its original habitat has been lost. After one year/generation, 28 sites were still occupied.
Graminoid cover and plant species were the most important predictors of grasshopper abundance and presence/absence. Detection probability was affected by ground temperature in winter surveys.
The results indicate the feasibility of translocations of low vagility insects in urban environments where suitable habitat is available or where it has been re‐established.
•Expert system supports selection of heritage friendly urban level energy strategies.•Method allows an incremental decision-making that can be automatized through a DSS.•3D urban model with ...categorisation tool offers a data-conscious approach for baseline.\•The method and the DSS have been implemented in Santiago of Compostela.•Energy retrofit scenarios can be designed that are respectful with the historic values.
European Historic Urban Environments (HUEs) are highly appreciated by their inhabitants and visitors and they can be considered as one of the most valuable collective achievements of the European culture. The preservation of our urban heritage requires the protection of the social context as well as the preservation of the authenticity and integrity of its physical materiality. That means improving the quality of life of their inhabitants as well as the sustainability of the historic districts. This paper proposes an incremental decision-making methodology that allows the modelling of the historic city and the selection of the best strategies. An application of this model is demonstrated through a case study using the historic city of Santiago de Compostela in Spain that was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1985.
Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of different levels of place understanding (primarily typo-morphological analysis) on the nature of interventions within historic urban ...setting and buildings within the City of Amman. Design/methodology/approach The research methodology depended on an extensive thematic survey and analysis. The typo-morphological analysis addressed several of Amman's residential hills and their connections with the downtown area. The thematic place survey tool included different units of analysis (e.g. buildings, public spaces, streets and sloped lands between streets) and addressed the values of these various buildings and spaces, their typology, typo-morphology and relation to the urban context, nature of change and transformations over time to mention a few. The extensive survey also included semi-structured interviews about these buildings addressing their emergence, historic context and values. Findings The paper presents an architectural typology for Amman's architecture and its relationship with the city's morphology stressing the specificity of Amman's historic core and residential hills. The paper also discusses the effect of this level of place understanding on the nature and levels of interventions within historic settings and buildings. Research limitations/implications This level of place understanding (typo-morphological analysis) can have a positive impact on the practice of architectural and urban conservation by informing the nature of interventions within historic urban setting and buildings within the city. More specifically, this level of place understanding can, first, inform the development of urban and heritage guidelines within conservation areas in one of Amman's residential neighborhoods (Weibdeh) and, second, inform the nature of interventions to existing historic buildings based on respect of building typology. Originality/value This paper contributes to the disciplines of architectural and urban conservation illustrating how place understanding can inform practices of heritage conservation and future policies and strategies concerning new intervention within such heritage places.
Over the last years, world cities have emerged as multiple and complex habitats hosting numerous and varied urban refugia for biodiversity. Therefore, the published literature was systematically ...reviewed to investigate the increasingly acknowledged role of many urban habitats to function as refugia for species. Many plants and animals were reported to colonize a variety of urban environments: Urban forest/grassland (natural/seminatural), City park, Historical park (villa garden, botanical gardens, cemeteries, etc.), Green spaces (abandoned areas, railways, line of trees, etc.), Water body, and Built area. Refugia were found in over a hundred world cities, especially in medium- to very big-size cities. The number of papers focusing on animals (n = 66) were higher than those regarding plants and mushrooms (n = 19 and n = 1, respectively); however, the number of species recorded within refugia were the highest for plants. Plants exhibited the highest frequency (7 out of 19 papers) in Historical park, while animals in Urban forest/grassland (20 out of 66 papers). In most studies (25.9%), urban refugia were linked to Urban forest/grassland that is terrestrial natural and seminatural sites widespread within or around cities. The 22.3% of studies referred to generic Green spaces of several types interspersed within cities, both public and private. The 14.1% of refugia were found in Built area (artificial). About the 33% of studies reported the presence of species worthy of conservation (rare, endemic, endangered, or protected) for a total of 365 species. The 20% of investigated papers reported the presence of alien species for a total of 879 species. Invasive alien species recorded within refugium areas should be subjected to control measures to prevent degradation to refugia. Overall, the capability for urban areas to host a huge amount of biodiversity needs to be acknowledged by city planners so that management practices that maintain and support such diversity can be pursued. Recording and monitoring species along with their refugial habitats is fundamental to achieve this goal.
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