Assessing species composition, phenology, and diversity of urban flora in a gradient of continentality from southern Spain

Abstract

Urban flora constitutes a source of diversity by itself; also, being the base for other living beings like invertebrates, birds, or micro-mammals among others. Continentality plays an important role in plant species distribution and composition. In this work, urban flora was studied in a continentality gradient; four towns were surveyed in southern Spain, Andalusia region: Huelva, Seville, Cordoba, and Linares (Jaen). Two patches per town were sampled retrieving information about different parameters like diversity, phenology, or allochthony. Our main results stated the high amount of nitrophilous species, mainly therophytes, in urban areas. Towns closer to the coast, Huelva and Seville, showed a more advanced phenology and a higher number of allochthonous species than continental towns (Cordoba and Linares). Asteraceae, Poaceae, and Fabaceae were the most represented families in this order. Diversity indices showed high values for all the towns.

Keywords

• nitrophilousflora
• ruderal flora
• guadalquivir valley