Brownfield sites promote biodiversity at a landscape scale

Macgregor, Callum J.; Bunting, M. Jane; Deutz, Pauline; Bourn, Nigel A.D.; Roy, David B. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5147-0331; Mayes, Will M.. 2022 Brownfield sites promote biodiversity at a landscape scale. Science of the Total Environment, 804, 150162. 6, pp. 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.150162

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.150162

Abstract/Summary

Repurposing of brownfield sites is often promoted, because it is perceived that protecting the “green belt” limits damage to biodiversity; yet brownfield sites provide scarce habitats with limited disturbance, so conversely are also perceived to be ecologically valuable. Combining data from three national-scale UK biological monitoring schemes with location data on historical landfill sites, we show that species richness is positively associated with both the presence and increasing area of ex-landfill sites for birds, plants and several insect taxa. Assemblage rarity of birds is also positively associated with presence of ex-landfill sites. Species richness associated with ex-landfill sites declined over time for birds and insects but increased over time for plants. These findings suggest that development of brownfield sites may have unintended negative consequences for biodiversity, and imply that to minimise loss of biodiversity, brownfield site repurposing could be targeted towards smaller sites, or sites in areas with a high density of other brownfield sites.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.150162
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	Biodiversity (Science Area 2017-)
ISSN:	0048-9697
Additional Keywords:	abandoned land, contaminated land, Lepidoptera, Odonata, post-industrial sites, repurposing
NORA Subject Terms:	Ecology and Environment
Date made live:	08 Apr 2022 10:02 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/532452

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.150162

UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:

Biodiversity (Science Area 2017-)

ISSN:

0048-9697

Additional Keywords:

abandoned land, contaminated land, Lepidoptera, Odonata, post-industrial sites, repurposing

NORA Subject Terms:

Ecology and Environment