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Urban pavement crevices as microhabitats: soil properties and spontaneous vegetation in roadside environments.

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Bibliographic Details
Title: Urban pavement crevices as microhabitats: soil properties and spontaneous vegetation in roadside environments.
Authors: Manu, Matthew1 (AUTHOR), Li, Jianwei1 (AUTHOR) jli2@tnstate.edu
Source: International Journal of Sustainable Development & World Ecology. Sep2025, Vol. 32 Issue 6, p687-699. 13p.
Subject Terms: *SOIL degradation, *BIODIVERSITY, *ECOLOGICAL niche, *SOIL cracking, *SUSTAINABLE design, *URBAN plants, *URBAN ecology, *URBANIZATION
Geographic Terms: NASHVILLE (Tenn.), MIDDLE Tennessee
Abstract: Rapid urbanization leads to soil degradation, threatens the ecological benefits of urban soils and vegetation, and deteriorates the urban microenvironment to address climate resilience, pollution, soil degradation, and biodiversity loss. We reviewed the one-century-long history, origins, classification, and characteristics of urban anthropogenic soils (UAS) while emphasizing rarely studied and untapped potential of the crevice soil, plant, and abiotic conditions in the designated cracks of concrete materials of urban roadside. The long-overlooked crevice soils share features with UAS, such as being shallow, heterogeneous, and existing under harsh environmental conditions. Our urban crevice studies were conducted in the Nashville metropolitan area in Tennessee, USA. We collected soil samples from crevices with and without plants, nearby roadsides, and one switchgrass cropland in an urban farm. A total of 34 different plant species growing in crevices were identified, and only 12 species are native to the area, suggesting the dominance of non-native species in crevice soils. Regardless of the presence of plants, the crevice soils showed significantly higher temperature, pH, electrical conductivity, and a lower moisture content than roadside soils and switchgrass soils. The crevice micro-environment thus preserved precious soil resources, promoted urban biodiversity, and inspired innovative strategies for future sustainable urban design. Our ongoing efforts further examine heavy metals, organic and inorganic pollutants, and microbial composition, activity, and function in crevice soils and their counterparts in the urban environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Database: Academic Search Index
Description
Abstract:Rapid urbanization leads to soil degradation, threatens the ecological benefits of urban soils and vegetation, and deteriorates the urban microenvironment to address climate resilience, pollution, soil degradation, and biodiversity loss. We reviewed the one-century-long history, origins, classification, and characteristics of urban anthropogenic soils (UAS) while emphasizing rarely studied and untapped potential of the crevice soil, plant, and abiotic conditions in the designated cracks of concrete materials of urban roadside. The long-overlooked crevice soils share features with UAS, such as being shallow, heterogeneous, and existing under harsh environmental conditions. Our urban crevice studies were conducted in the Nashville metropolitan area in Tennessee, USA. We collected soil samples from crevices with and without plants, nearby roadsides, and one switchgrass cropland in an urban farm. A total of 34 different plant species growing in crevices were identified, and only 12 species are native to the area, suggesting the dominance of non-native species in crevice soils. Regardless of the presence of plants, the crevice soils showed significantly higher temperature, pH, electrical conductivity, and a lower moisture content than roadside soils and switchgrass soils. The crevice micro-environment thus preserved precious soil resources, promoted urban biodiversity, and inspired innovative strategies for future sustainable urban design. Our ongoing efforts further examine heavy metals, organic and inorganic pollutants, and microbial composition, activity, and function in crevice soils and their counterparts in the urban environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
ISSN:13504509
DOI:10.1080/13504509.2025.2531435