Manipulating soil microbial communities in extensive green roof substrates

There has been very little investigation into the soil microbial community on green roofs, yet this below ground habitat is vital for ecosystem functioning. Green roofs are often harsh environments that would greatly benefit from having a healthy microbial system, allowing efficient nutrient cycling and a degree of drought tolerance in dry summer months. To test if green roof microbial communities could be manipulated,we added mycorrhizal fungi and a microbial mixture (‘compost tea’) to green roof rootzones, composed mainly of crushed brick or crushed concrete. The study revealed that growingmedia type and depth play a vital role in the microbial ecology of green roofs. There are complex relationships between depth and type of substrate and the biomass of different microbial groups, with no clear pattern being observed. Following the addition of inoculants, bacterial groups tended to increase in biomass in shallower substrates, whereas fungal biomass change was dependent on depth and type of substrate. Increased fungal biomass was found in shallow plots containing more crushed concrete and deeper plots containing more crushed brick where compost tea (a live mixture of beneficial bacteria) was added, perhaps due to the presence of helper bacteria for arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). Often there was not an additive affect of the microbial inoculations but instead an antagonistic interaction between the added AM fungi and the compost tea. This suggests that some species of microbes may not be compatible with others, as competition for limited resources occurs within the various substrates. The overall results suggest that microbial inoculations of green roof habitats are sustainable. They need only be done once for increased biomass to be found in subsequent years, indicating that this is a novel and viable method of enhancing roof community composition

Habitat and habitat management requirements of the shrill carder bee (bombus sylvarum) and the brown-banded carder bee (bombus humilis) in South Essex

A study of the habitat and habitat management requirements of two UK Biodiversity Action Plan Priority bumblebee species, Bombus sylvarum and Bombus humilis. Maps were produced of the South Essex distributions of the bees and a combination of field surveys, pollen sampling, habitat manipulation and microsatellite DNA analysis were used to investigate the forage requirements, nestingp referencesa nd spatiald ynamicso f the bees. Bombus humilis and B. sylvarum queens were recorded as the latest emerging of the Bombus species observed, not appearing until late May. Fabaceae, Scrophulariaceae and Lamiaceae were recorded as being the floral families most frequently and consistently visited by the bees with pollen being most commonly collected from Fabaceae and Scrophulariaceae. Rarefaction analysis of dietary preference data revealed that the mean number of plant species B. sylvarum workers would be expected to visit during 20 flower visits was significantly fewer than for B. humilis and B. pascuorum (p=0.009 and p=0.004 respectively). The mean number of plant species B. humilis would be expected to visit during 20 flower visits was similar to that of the nationally ubiquitous species B. pascuorum and B. lapidarius but was consistently lower than another ubiquitous species B. terrestris/lucorum, although not significantly so (p=0.182). Forage patches sown with favoured forage species of the bees (Lotus glaber, Odontites verna, Ballota nigra, Lotus corniculatus and Trifolium pratense) successfully attracted B. humilis and B. sylvarum workers. No technique was found for reliably locating nests, and only three nests were located in the study. Those that were found were situated in relatively undisturbed tall rough grassland with a sunny exposure. For the first time, microsatellite DNA analysis was used to assess foraging distances of rare bumblebees. Mean foraging distances estimated from distances separating sister bees were calculated as 756m for B. humilis and 232m for B. sylvarum. These distances were considered to be appropriate spatial scales for nesting and foraging habitat management. Results from this study were fed into a 10-year habitat management program for the bees at Hadleigh Castle Country Park, South Benfleet, Essex

Nature-Based Solutions Initiating Scaling Guidebook

The Nature-Based Solutions ‘Initiating Scaling’ Process is a mechanism for beginning a city’s journey from one where nature-based solutions are delivered as isolated pilots of innovation to one whereby nature-based solutions are embedded in city-wide processes and practice. To begin on this scaling journey, there is a need to: establish the current expertise and experience in nature-based solutions with a city; map and engage stakeholders in a shared transitioning vision in relation to upscaled delivery of nature-based solutions; and identify learning objectives that represent challenges to upscaling. This initiation process is based upon a co-production methodology centred around a city authority team. Co-production engages a broad group of stakeholders through experiential workshops and questionnaires to explore collective experience of nature-based solutions

Barking Riverside Green Roof Experiment: Phase 2

This report represents a dissemination tool from Work Package 2 (WP2) of TURAS [Transitioning Towards Urban Resilience and Sustainability] - Greening Public and Private Urban Infrastructure. The aim of WP2 is to develop new visions, feasibility strategies, spatial scenarios and guidance tools to enhance the biodiversity and ecosystem service benefits of urban green infrastructure. This report represents an overview of the establishment of a green roof design research experiment carried out as part of TURAS to investigate the effect of green roof hydrology on the roof's value in terms of supporting regionally important biodiversity and associated ecosystem services

Barking Riverside ISIS Invertebrate Assemblage Analysis

In the UK, the Thames Gateway, Greater London, has been designated a national priority for urban regeneration and sustainable development. The area is, however, also recognised under Natural England's Natural Area designations for its distinctive and unique nature conservation value in terms of wildlife and natural features. In addition to statutory designation, the value of brownfield (post-industrial) sites in the area is being increasingly recognised

University of East London: the 2015 biodiversity update

In May 2012 the Rio+20 summit confirmed a 30% global decline in wildlife since 1970. Following on from the United Nations (UN) International Year of Biodiversity in 2010, global declines in biodiversity have never had such high profile. Rio+20 has been billed as a chance for world leaders to put global society on a sustainable path and an opportunity for the world to get serious about the need for development to be sustainable (Black 2012). For development to be truly sustainable this must include conserving, on a landscape scale, the valuable ecosystem services that biodiversity provides (TEEB 2010). Not only does this mean protecting and enhancing natural and semi-natural landscapes, but also restoring green and blue infrastructure of high biodiversity value in urban areas. As such, rather than merely targeting conservation efforts across the broader countryside, biodiversity also must be returned to our cities, towns and suburbs by breaking up expanses of hard impermeable surfaces and creating niches within which nature can take a hold