The Impacts of ‘No-Mow’ Areas on Floral Diversity: A Case Study at the University of Otago
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.11157/patr.v2i2.53Keywords:
biodiversity, no-mow, novel ecosystems, urban planning, re-wilding, university management, floral diversity, biosecurityAbstract
This report explores how mowing cessation impacts floral diversity at the University of Otago. The primary objective was to determine if there is a significant difference in plant species richness between mown and unmown areas on campus. By evaluating the biodiversity benefits of reduced lawn maintenance, the study aims to inform future landscaping practices at the university.
Proximal mown and unmown areas across three sites were compared for floral diversity, with all vascular plants recorded within each. A paired t-test evaluated if unmown areas had significantly more plant species than mown areas. Summary statistics quantified findings and guided recommendations.
A total of 98 distinct plant species were identified, with 94 present in unmown areas, and 22 in mown areas. The mean taxon richness in unmown areas was 43 species, compared to just 14 species in mown areas. Significant differences were detected between groups, with unmown areas richer in floral taxa (p = 0.01).
These results exemplify the benefits of reduced mowing on floral diversity. However, there was no discernible difference in the proportions of native and exotic species. Despite this, urban green spaces are considered ‘novel ecosystems’, supporting humans and fauna in urban centres regardless of species’ origin. Challenges to encouraging diversity include weed and pest mammal threats and biosecurity risks, which may suppress the reported benefits.
Cultural perceptions of beauty influence urban grassland maintenance. The European history of the lawn reflects a harmful ideology that suppresses both diverse biota and peoples. The re-wilding of the urban lawns offers an opportunity for campuses and cities to create inclusive spaces for everyone – tāngata whenua and tāngata tiriti.
This report underscores that reduced mowing can create biodiversity refuges in little-used corners of greenery in urban centres. However, careful management is needed to address the challenges presented by these novel ecosystems.
References
Angelstam, P., Hansson, L., & Pehrsson, S. (1987). Distribution borders of field mice Apodemus: the importance of seed abundance and landscape composition. Oikos, 123-130.
Davis, A. (2024). University joins No Mow May. Retrieved 13/06/2024, from https://www.aber.ac.uk/en/news/archive/2024/04/title-270513-en.html
Fischer, L. K., Neuenkamp, L., Lampinen, J., Tuomi, M., Alday, J. G., Bucharova, A., Cancellieri, L., Casado‐Arzuaga, I., Čeplová, N., & Cerveró, L. (2020). Public attitudes toward biodiversity‐friendly greenspace management in Europe. Conservation Letters, 13(4), e12718.
Heyzer, A. A. (2024). People, cities, and nature: Use of urban nature space through ethnic lenses University of Otago].
Ignatieva, M., Eriksson, F., Eriksson, T., Berg, P., & Hedblom, M. (2017). The lawn as a social and cultural phenomenon in Sweden. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 21, 213-223.
Ignatieva, M., Haase, D., Dushkova, D., & Haase, A. (2020). Lawns in cities: from a globalised urban green space phenomenon to sustainable nature-based solutions. Land, 9(3), 73.
Ignatieva, M., & Stewart, G. H. (2009). Homogeneity of urban biotopes and similarity of landscape design language in former colonial cities. In. Cambridge University Press.
Klaus, V. H. (2013). Urban grassland restoration: a neglected opportunity for biodiversity conservation. Restoration Ecology, 21(6), 665-669.
Kowarik, I. (2008). On the role of alien species in urban flora and vegetation. Urban ecology: An international perspective on the interaction between humans and nature, 321-338.
Le Roux, V., Chapuis, J.-L., Frenot, Y., & Vernon, P. (2002). Diet of the house mouse (Mus musculus) on Guillou Island, Kerguelen archipelago, Subantarctic. Polar Biology, 25, 49-57.
Lerman, S. B., Contosta, A. R., Milam, J., & Bang, C. (2018). To mow or to mow less: Lawn mowing frequency affects bee abundance and diversity in suburban yards. Biological conservation, 221, 160-174.
Loranger, H., Weisser, W. W., Ebeling, A., Eggers, T., De Luca, E., Loranger, J., Roscher, C., & Meyer, S. T. (2014). Invertebrate herbivory increases along an experimental gradient of grassland plant diversity. Oecologia, 174, 183-193.
Mogren, M. (2013). Lawns: Botanical garden design as colonial domination. In Ecology and Power (pp. 143-151). Routledge.
No Mow May: We're working towards improving biodiversity across LJMU. (2024). Retrieved 13/06/2024, from https://www.ljmu.ac.uk/about-us/news/articles/2024/4/30/no-mow-may-at-ljmu
Peltzer, D. A., Bellingham, P. J., Dickie, I. A., Houliston, G., Hulme, P. E., Lyver, P. O. B., McGlone, M., Richardson, S. J., & Wood, J. (2019). Scale and complexity implications of making New Zealand predator-free by 2050. Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand, 49(3), 412-439.
Rayne, A. L. (2021). Weaving ways of knowing to enhance biocultural resilience in a mahinga kai species-at-risk.
Rudolph, M., Velbert, F., Schwenzfeier, S., Kleinebecker, T., & Klaus, V. H. (2017). Patterns and potentials of plant species richness in high‐and low‐maintenance urban grasslands. Applied Vegetation Science, 20(1), 18-27.
Säumel, I., Weber, F., & Kowarik, I. (2016). Toward livable and healthy urban streets: Roadside vegetation provides ecosystem services where people live and move. Environmental Science & Policy, 62, 24-33.
Sehrt, M., Bossdorf, O., Freitag, M., & Bucharova, A. (2020). Less is more! Rapid increase in plant species richness after reduced mowing in urban grasslands. Basic and Applied Ecology, 42, 47-53.
Stewart, G. H., Ignatieva, M. E., Meurk, C. D., Buckley, H., Horne, B., & Braddick, T. (2009). URban Biotopes of Aotearoa New Zealand (URBANZ)(I): composition and diversity of temperate urban lawns in Christchurch. Urban Ecosystems, 12, 233-248.
Tī Kouka: The Sustainability Strategic Framework. (2022). https://www.otago.ac.nz/__data/assets/pdf_file/0022/307462/download-ti-kouka-the-sustainability-strategic-framework-2022-2030-0245882.pdf
Todd, J. H., Malone, L. A., Benge, J., Poulton, J., Barraclough, E. I., & Wohlers, M. W. (2016). Relationships between management practices and ground‐active invertebrate biodiversity in N ew Z ealand kiwifruit orchards. Agricultural and Forest Entomology, 18(1), 11-21.
Vega, K. A., & Küffer, C. (2021). Promoting wildflower biodiversity in dense and green cities: The important role of small vegetation patches. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 62, 127165.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2024 Rae Lerew
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Unless otherwise specified all work in Pūhau ana te rā is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Authors retain copyright and full publishing rights without restricitons.