Biological diversity of the front gardens in Petrova Street Zagreb

Petrova ulica vodi od centra grada prema istoku, a obilježavaju ju stare kuće s predvrtovima koje sve više zamjenjuju nove stambene zgrade. Zelenilo u gradovima ima veliku važnost za biološku raznolikost, a odabir biljnih vrsta i njihovo održavanje usklađeno je s klimom i reljefom određenog područja; te s potrebama, vremenom i financijskim mogućnostima vlasnika vrtova. Premda se uređenjem predvrtova znatno utječe na sliku grada, ne postoje nikakvi propisi kojima bi se odredio njihov izgled. Cilj rada je odrediti veličinu i funkciju predvrtova, inventarizirati hortikulturnu floru, odrediti taksonomsku pripadnost, životne oblike, trajanje života, porijeklo i invazivnost, ocijeniti uređenost predvrtova, predložiti mjere očuvanja, starih gradskih vrtova te povećanje njihove biološke raznolikosti. Istraživanje je provedeno na 123 predvrta koji se nalaze sa sjeverne i južne strane Petrove ulice. Vrtovi su podijeljeni u tri skupine: Tip 1- predvrtovi starijih kuća u nizu (1910.-1945.), Tip 2- predvrtovi novijih kuća u nizu (1945.-1990.), Tip 3- predvrtovi samostojećih kuća. Od ožujka do kraja lipnja 2016. invenrtarizacijom je uočena veća brojnost biljnih svojti u predvrtovima Tip 2 na sjevernoj strani i u predvrtovima Tipa 2 na južnoj strani. Kod Tipa 2 na sjevernoj strani prevladala je najveća brojnost trajnica i geofita, a kod Tipa 2 na južnoj strani prevladala je najveća brojnost grmlja, drveća i drvenastih penjačica. Najveća zelena površina je na sjevernoj strani u predvrtovima Tipa 1, a najmanja je na južnoj strani u predvrtovima Tipa 1. Najveća popločenost nalazi se na južnoj strani u predvrtovima Tipa 1, a najmanja je na sjevernoj strani u predvrtovima Tipa 3.Petrova Street leads from the city center towards east. The street is known for its old town houses and their front gardens. However, in the recent years, the houses have been replaced with the new apartment buildings. The greenery in cities is of a big importance for the biological diversity. Plant groups and their landscape are chosen by the climate, landscape of the area, and also by the needs, time and finances of the front garden owners. Although, the landscaping of the front gardens is of a big importance for the city image, there aren't any defined regulations for it. The purpose of this thesis is to define the size and the function of the front gardens, to name the horticulture flora, to specify the classification of the plants, life forms and their life expectancy, the origin, and invasion of the plants. Furthermore, the purpose is to evaluate the landscape of the gardens, to recommend the measures for its preservation and how to increase its biological diversity. The research was made on 123 front gardens, that are placed on the North and South side of the Petrova Street. The gardens are divided into three groups: Type 1 - front gardens of the older row houses (1910.-1945.), Type 2 - front gardens of the newer row houses (1945.-1990.), Type 3 - front gardens of the detached houses. The research was made from March 2016. until the end of June 2016., and it showed that there is a greater number of plant groups in Type 2 front gardens on the North and South side of the Petrova Street. On the North side of the Type 2 gardens prevailed the perennial plants and geophytes, while on the Southside bushes, trees and wooden climbing plants have prevailed. The largest arable land was found on the North side of the Type 1 gardens and the smallest on its South side. The largest paved surface was found on the South side of the Type 1 gardens, and the smallest paved surface was found on the North side of Type 3 front gardens