Koster, A., 1998, Ecologisch beheer van beplantingen in het stedelijk gebied, Instituut voor Bos- en Natuuronderzoek IBN-DLO, Wageningen
- Author : Koster, A.
- Year : 1998
- Title English : Ecological management of planted urban woodlands
- Publisher : Instituut voor Bos- en Natuuronderzoek IBN-DLO
- Publisher's Location : Wageningen
- Pages : 394
- Abstract : Woodland vegetation is a key feature of the urban ecosystem. Yet generally speaking, designers of such plantings have overlooked this aspect. This thesis provides guidelines and principles to improve the design of woodland vegetation. It emphasises the herb layer and wild bees, because herbaceous plants are the most visible components of ecological green management and bees are wholly dependent on pollen- and nectar-producing plants. Where flowers are lacking, there are no bees; and where many bees fly, flowery vegetation tends to be nearby. Flowers also affect the aesthetic quality of the environment, generally in favour of human well-being. These implications can be integrated into the design of woodland plantings. The study deals with the following aspects of urban woodland vegetation: spontaneous development (chapter 4); morphological typology, architecture and image (chapters 5 and 6); impact of ecological green management on the development of herbs in and around woody vegetation (chapter 6); the importance of these herbs for flower-visiting insects, especially for wild bees (chapter 7); and the contribution of designers to these aspects (chapter 8). In 1996–98, some 200 plots in ecologically managed woodlands were investigated (Braun-Blanquet method) at 40 sites in The Netherlands. In 1991, 30 plots in Arnhem were investigated using the Tansley method. The heterogeneity of the woodlands and plots made statistical computations infeasible. This was true for the occurrence of wild bees as well. This thesis therefore is restricted to a qualitative analysis. By means of interviews, data were recorded on layout and management of woodlands (amenity woodlands usually covering less than 0.5 ha and less than 30 m in breadth). Also inventoried were 100 places where woody vegetation had emerged spontaneously. This was to learn whether planting is indeed necessary. Other areas were visited for the inventory of wild bees. Bees were caught with an insect net and determined based on several keys.
- Comments : ISSN: 0928-6888