Urban Trees and Hydrological Ecosystem Service: A Novel Approach to Analyzing the Relationship Between Landscape Structure and Runoff Reduction

Amini Parsa, Vahid, Istanbuly, Mustafa Nur, Kronenberg, Jakub, Russo, Alessio ORCID: 0000-0002-0073-7243 and Amiri, Bahman Jabbarian (2024) Urban Trees and Hydrological Ecosystem Service: A Novel Approach to Analyzing the Relationship Between Landscape Structure and Runoff Reduction. Environmental Management, 73 (1). pp. 243-258. doi:10.1007/s00267-023-01868-z

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Abstract

Urban stormwater runoff has posed significant challenges in the face of urbanization and climate change, emphasizing the importance of trees in providing runoff reduction ecosystem services (RRES). However, the sustainability of RRES can be disturbed by urban landscape modification. Understanding the impact of landscape structure on RRES is crucial to manage urban landscapes effectively to sustain supply of RRES. So, this study developed a new approach that analyzes the relationship between the landscape structural pattern and the RRES in Tabriz, Iran. The provision of RRES was estimated using the i-Tree Eco model. Landscape structure-related metrics of land use and cover (LULC) were derived using FRAGSTATS to quantify the landscape structure. Stepwise regression analysis was used to assess the relationship between landscape structure metrics and the provision of RRES. The results indicated that throughout the city, the trees prevented 196854.15 m3 of runoff annually. Regression models (p ≤ 0.05) suggested that the provision of RRES could be predicted using the measures of the related circumscribing circle metric (0.889 ≤ r2 ≤ 0.954) and the shape index (r2 = 0.983) of LULC patches. The findings also revealed that the regularity or regularity of the given LULC patches' shape could impact the patches' functions, which, in turn, affects the provision of RRES. The landscape metrics can serve as proxies to predict the capacity of trees for potential RRES using the obtained regression models. This helps to allocate suitable LULC through optimizing landscape metrics and management guidance to sustain RRES.

Item Type:	Article
Article Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Ecosystem service modelling; Green infrastructure; Landscape ecology; Landscape metrics; Regulating ecosystem services; Urban water management
Subjects:	S Agriculture > SB Plant culture > SB469 Landscape gardening. Landscape architecture S Agriculture > SD Forestry
Divisions:	Schools and Research Institutes > School of Creative Arts
Research Priority Areas:	Place, Environment and Community
Depositing User:	Alessio Russo
Date Deposited:	05 Sep 2023 14:14
Last Modified:	17 Jan 2024 16:00
URI:	https://eprints.glos.ac.uk/id/eprint/13086

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