Anthropogenic activity and natural successional processes negatively affected native plant species diversity in Pelham Bay Park,
New York City. From 1947 to 1994, 25.5% of the native species were extirpated from this urban park, a rate of 2.9 species lost per
year. Native species of the flora declined from 71.7% in 1947 to 59.6% in 1994–98. Native herbaceous species were significantly more
likely to be extirpated than native woody species. Native species of meadow-type habitats were significantly more likely to be extirpated
than species found in woodlands. By comparison, the number of non-native species found increased by 39.7% since 1947.
Each of the different habitats in the park had a greater proportion of alien species in 1994–1998 than in 1946–1947. The key element
in creating support for preserving the extant biodiversity of Pelham Bay Park is conservation education that stresses the importance
of the city’s biological heritage.
2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.