Urban biotopes: the typical and unique habitats of city environments and their natural analogues

Abstract

This paper reports on an investigation of Christchurch biotopes, based on sampling uniform areas where species were recorded by composition, abundance, and features of the physical environment. Seven biotopes were identified in Christchurch, these being lawns, wastelands, herbaceous (flower) borders, shrubberies and hedges, parklands and street trees, and pavement cracks and walls.

While there are natural analogues of urban biotopes clearly visible in Europe, in the case of Christchurch predominantly English settlers strove to survive and create familiar and productive plant communities of their home countries. Exotic plants arrived both deliberately and accidentally. The presence of native species demonstrates the resilience of indigenous species even in the most modified environments.