Study on the Ecological Functions of Sixty-five Garden Species in Wuhan City, China

Garden species are the main component in the construction of ecological garden cities.Quantitative studies on their ecological functions provide an important basis for selection,configuration,and management of garden species.In this study,we estimated water use efficiency (WUE),and the capacities of carbon fixation (W_CO2) and oxygen release (W_O2),temperature reduction (ΔT) and dust detention (W_dust) of 65 garden species in Wuhan City by measuring the diurnal changes of photosynthesis and transpiration,and the crown width and leaf area index.The results showed there were significant differences in WUE,W_CO2,W_O2,ΔT,and W_dust among species,shrubs and trees,and deciduous and evergreen species.Based on the values of these ecological functions,the species studied were divided into five functional groups: low carbon fixation and low dust detention species (26 species),high carbon fixation and high temperature reduction species (8 species),high dust detention and low temperature reduction species (9 species),low water use and high transpiration species (11 species),and high water use species (11 species).