Title: Urbanization and exotic plants in northern Sydney streams
Abstract: Austral EcologyVolume 25, Issue 5 p. 455-461 Urbanization and exotic plants in northern Sydney streams Scott A. King, Scott A. King Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Technology, Sydney, PO Box 123, Broadway, NSW 2007, Australia (Email: [email protected]) *Corresponding author.Search for more papers by this authorRod T Buckney, Rod T Buckney Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Technology, Sydney, PO Box 123, Broadway, NSW 2007, Australia (Email: [email protected])Search for more papers by this author Scott A. King, Scott A. King Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Technology, Sydney, PO Box 123, Broadway, NSW 2007, Australia (Email: [email protected]) *Corresponding author.Search for more papers by this authorRod T Buckney, Rod T Buckney Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Technology, Sydney, PO Box 123, Broadway, NSW 2007, Australia (Email: [email protected])Search for more papers by this author First published: 24 December 2001 https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1442-9993.2000.01085.xCitations: 30 Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onEmailFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat Abstract The vegetation and sediment of urban and non-urban streams in the northern Sydney region were compared to examine the possible effects of urbanization on within-stream vegetation. Many sediment characteristics were significantly different in urban streams. At least one exotic plant species was found in each urban stream sampled, but none were found in the non-urban streams. The presence of exotic species led to the overall number and abundance of plant species being significantly higher in urban streams. Interestingly, the number and abundance of native species at the urban sites were the same as non-urban sites, but a different suite of species was usually present. This suggests that urban streams favour exotic plants and certain native plants that are adapted to the modified conditions. The differences between the plant communities in the urban and non-urban streams appeared to be associated with the increased level of nutrients in the urban stream sediment. Several multivariate techniques were used to assess the relative importance of individual nutrients, but no nutrients were directly associated with the observed differences. In particular, total phosphorus levels were less important in explaining the vegetation patterns than a combination of nutrients. It is therefore likely that the general increase of nutrients in stream sediment has enhanced exotic invasion and altered stream plant communities in Sydney streams. REFERENCES Allen S. E. (1989) Chemical Analysis of Ecological Materials, 2nd edn. Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford. Arthington A. H. & Mitchell D. S. (1986) Aquatic invading species. In: Ecology of Biological Invasions: an Australian Perspective (eds R. H. Groves & J. J. Burdon) pp. 34–53. Australian Academy of Science, Canberra. Beadle N. C. 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Publication Year: 2000
Publication Date: 2000-10-01
Language: en
Type: article
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