Habitat structure: a fundamental concept and framework for urban soil ecology

Habitat structure is defined as the composition and arrangement of physical matter at a location. Although habitat structure is the physical template underlying ecological patterns and processes, the concept is relatively unappreciated and underdeveloped in ecology. However, it provides a fundamental concept for urban ecology because human activities in urban ecosystems are often targeted toward management of habitat structure. In addition, the concept emphasizes the fine-scale, on-the-ground perspective needed in the study of urban soil ecology. To illustrate this, urban soil ecology research is summarized from the perspective of habitat structure effects. Among the key conclusions emerging from the literature review are: (1) habitat structure provides a unifying theme for multivariate research about urban soil ecology; (2) heterogeneous urban habitat structures influence soil ecological variables in different ways; (3) more research is needed to understand relationships among sociological variables, habitat structure patterns and urban soil ecology. To stimulate urban soil ecology research, a conceptual framework is presented to show the direct and indirect relationships among habitat structure and ecological variables. Because habitat structure serves as a physical link between sociocultural and ecological systems, it can be used as a focus for interdisciplinary and applied research (e.g., pest management) about the multiple, interactive effects of urbanization on the ecology of soils

Evaluation of peat stability under various temperature and moisture conditions

The study explores relationships between the peat decomposition rate and moisture-temperature conditions. Decomposition was evaluated through studying microbial production of CO2 and CH4. Decomposition of the original peat substrate (peat) was compared to one of the peat-sand mixture from 5 year old urban lawn (mixture). In the research the CO2 and CH4 emissions were studied under following temperatures and moisture conditions: temperature – 5 °C, 10 °C, 15 °C и 40 °C and moisture – 30%, 60%, 120%, 300%. The obtained results showed significant correlations between moisture and temperature conditions and CO2 and CH4 emissions. Differences of moisture and temperature impacts on the soil organic carbon (SOC) decomposition in the peat and peat-sand mixtures were observed as well. The CO2 emissions from the peat-sand mixture were higher compared to the peat, whereas SOC content in both substrates was similar