Plant biodiversity in an urban wildlife refuge of New York City

摘要

Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, comprising 3,705 hectares, is part of a large National Park Unit, Gateway National Recreation Area, New York, New Jersey, USA. Gateway National Recreation Area was created by an act of Congress in 1972, to preserve the science, beauty, flora, fauna, and recreational opportunities of the estuaries and beaches in the New York City metropolitan area. Gateway is the United States' first urban national park. Urban and industrial developments have modified the natural environment by grading and filling, construction, pollution from biological and chemical contaminants and over harvesting or eradication of native plant species. Despite these impacts, the natural environment and many native plants have been remarkably preserved. Within the wildlife refuge are a variety of habitats including salt marsh, successional old fields, shrublands, woodlands, freshwater wetlands dominated by Phragmites australis. fresh and brackish-water impoundments, and several old landfill sites. Here we report on an aspect of a large comprehensive study dealing with the restoration of the Jamaica Bay ecosystem. We present information on enhancing and maintaining plant biodiversity in an urban wildlife refuge. Our initial objective has been to prepare a complete floristic inventory of the refuge, involving vegetation sampling, herbarium work, and voucher specimen deposition. Identified to date are 330 species of vascular plants. Once the plants have been completely inventoried, we will suggest recommendations to maintain and/or increase plant biodiversity at the refuge. The creation of new habitats such as freshwater impoundments, the introduction of native species, arresting community development by selectively cutting, mowing or burning will provide habitat supporting a more diverse number of species.