Effects of Park Utilization Disturbance on Plant Diversity in Karst Urban Remnant Mountain Habitats

Abstract

Urban remnant habitats, which are crucial biodiversity hotspots, are facing severe threats from urban expansion and infrastructure development. However, the impact of park utilization on plant diversity in these habitats remains underexplored. This study focused on eight urban remnant mountain parks (URMP) in Guiyang City, China, a karst mountain region, and a comprehensive evaluation system for park utilization disturbances was established using 11 indicators across four dimensions. We analyzed plant diversity responses to different disturbance types and intensities, identified dominant disturbance factors, and explored the relationship between habitat patch area and plant diversity. The results indicated that plant diversity in green patches under severe and moderate park utilization disturbance was higher than in areas with slight disturbance. Habitat fragmentation and tourist capacity were the primary disturbance factors. Larger habitat patches were associated with higher plant diversity, showing a clear area effect of habitat patches. Additionally, maintaining plant diversity in URMP had an area threshold effect. The minimum habitat patch area required to maintain plant diversity varied: 1.5 hm2 for community‐level richness, 1.0 hm2 for arbor, shrub, and herb layers, and 0.5 hm2 for the Shannon–Wiener index at all levels and the Simpson index at the arbor layer. Threshold‐driven management strategies should prioritize maintaining core habitats > 1.5 hm2, implementing visitor flow controls during peak periods, and preserving connectivity between habitat patches. This study significantly contributes to the theoretical understanding of the interplay between disturbance and biodiversity and offers valuable insights into the conservation and utilization of urban biodiversity in urban remnant habitats.