Josep Vila i Subirós

EXAMINING FLORISTIC BOUNDARIES BETWEEN GARDEN TYPES AT THE GLOBAL SCALE

a ABSTRACT Gardens represent important sources of goods and services for their owners. This functionality translates directly into the types of plants cultivated in a given garden, and terminology has been developed to distinguish each category of garden according to its purpose. The factors explaining the differentiation and distribution of gardens have not previously been explored at the global scale. In this study, the plant lists for 44 sets of gardens from around the world were analyzed to explore their taxonomic similarities and the factors shaping each garden. Several biophysical and socioeconomic variables were examined at the appropriate scale for their roles in garden species distribution. Physical and climatic factors (temperature, rainfall, potential evapotranspiration and distance between settlements) were found to be significantly related with species makeup; all of these factors were less important than GDP per person, a proxy for household income, which was determined to be the primary driver of garden composition. All of the studied socioeconomic factors, such as language similarity among settlements and population density, were significant drivers of species distribution. However, the present analysis omits a number of variables due to data unavailability, such as garden size and owner gender, which have been previously recognized as influences on garden plant composition. The genera cultivated in different gardens were found to be very different from each other, and the definitions of each type are hard to establish from these data alone. Finally, the implications of likely future income variations, such those caused by severe economic crisis, and global climate change on bio-cultural diversity and food security are discussed.

Do water requirements of Mediterranean gardens relate to socio-economic and demographic factors?

Abstract Gardeners can consume a large proportion of total domestic water, depending on their garden type and gardening style. We calculated water requirements of gardens based on species composition and land cover, and determined whether they can be predicted from the socio-economic, demographic and cultural characteristics of households. We recorded the plant species composition, garden cover types, and household characteristics of 258 households in suburbs of the Mediterranean coast of Catalonia. The distribution of the 635 species in these gardens were the input to a cluster analysis, in which semi-natural gardens, vegetable gardens, lawn gardens and ornamental gardens formed strong floristic groups, with ornamental gardens predicted to require the least water inputs and lawn gardens the most. We conclude that only income and a lack of work were related to our water requirement variable, reflecting the expense of water and the propensity of the retired to spend more time in the garden.

Floristic and structural differentiation between gardens of primary and secondary residences in the Costa Brava (Catalonia, Spain)

Urban sprawl along the Mediterranean coast is characterized by single-family houses and domestic gardens. Many new residences are secondary homes for socio-demographically diverse tourists. We explore the differences between the residence types in terms of their garden structures and plant compositions using socioeconomic and legacy attributes. Outdoor areas of 245 primary and secondary homes were investigated to determine plant compositions, land cover and household characteristics. Then, the outdoor land cover was compared between the two residence types. Vector fitting in ordination space assessed the influences of socioeconomic and legacy effects on plant compositions. Finally, generalized linear models (GLMs) assessed the influence of these variables on garden structures. Relevant differences exist in the plant compositions of primary and secondary residences. Furthermore, secondary residences have larger areas of trees, shrubs, flowers and swimming pools, while vegetable gardens are more common at primary residences. Overall, socioeconomic effects appeared to strongly constrain the features of household gardens.Urban sprawl along the Mediterranean coast is characterized by single-family houses and domestic gardens. Many new residences are secondary homes for socio-demographically diverse tourists. We explore the differences between the residence types in terms of their garden structures and plant compositions using socioeconomic and legacy attributes. Outdoor areas of 245 primary and secondary homes were investigated to determine plant compositions, land cover and household characteristics. Then, the outdoor land cover was compared between the two residence types. Vector fitting in ordination space assessed the influences of socioeconomic and legacy effects on plant compositions. Finally, generalized linear models (GLMs) assessed the influence of these variables on garden structures. Relevant differences exist in the plant compositions of primary and secondary residences. Furthermore, secondary residences have larger areas of trees, shrubs, flowers and swimming pools, while vegetable gardens are more common at primary residences. Overall, socioeconomic effects appeared to strongly constrain the features of household gardens.

BOUNDARIES FROM BORDERS: CROSS-BORDER RELATIONSHIPS IN THE CONTEXT OF THE MENTAL PERCEPTION OF A BORDERLINE - EXPERIENCES FROM SPANISH-FRENCH AND POLISH-GERMAN BORDER TWIN TOWNS

Abstract In this paper, the borderlands, in the context of the psychological perception of frontiers, were presented. The common relationships between different nationalities living in border twin towns was a principal point of analysis. During the investigation two main research questions were asked: Is a frontier a barrier or a bridge in the common relationships between nationalities living on both sides of the borderline? and Does the trans-border casual social integration stimulate openness to neighbours? The study was conducted in two double towns: la Jonquera (Els límits) - Le Perthus at the Spanish-French border and Słubice - Frankfurt-am-Oder at the Polish-German border. The data were gathered from surveys by questioning locals and visitors during street polling. The design of the questionnaire included three main groups of questions relating to: 1) the perception of the borderline and the role of the border twin towns, 2) the attitude towards neighbours and identification with the borderlands, and 3) the future of the borderline in the context of the twin towns existence and cross-border linkages. The results showed that the historical circumstances and cultural background play a crucial role in the current bilateral interrelations between nations sharing the common space of the twin towns. These two aspects of the borderland have an influence on the psychological perception of the border that creates mental boundaries in local societies. However, as the results proved, the necessity of living together pushed locals to be more open-minded, which as a consequence supported the establishment of social bonds.

New ways to learn geography - challenges of the 21st century

Abstract The aim of the article is to get a closer overview of the non-instructional methods of the teaching-learning process of geography. To achieve this goal, the results of the international project Borderland: Border Landscapes Across Europe (undertaken in 2012 and 2013, within the framework of LLP-Erasmus Programme) was presented. Special attention was paid on the innovative approach to learning methods, namely learning by doing (LBD) that was experienced in a multinational environment during the project’s implementation.

Anàlisi de la flora de jardins privats del litoral de l’Alt Empordà = Analysis of the flora of private gardens on the coast of the Alt Empordà

Aquest treball ha estat possible gracies al financament del Ministeri Espanyol d’Economia i Competitivitat (CSO2010-17488; FPI BES-2011-046475).