ABSTRACT
Suburban habitats are becoming increasingly important to biodiversity conservation as the acquisition of protected areas has plateaued whereas urban growth is expanding exponentially. Species diversity within suburbia is also dependent on the attitudes, motivations, and practices of the urban populace. Non-native plant species add substantially to suburban heterogeneity; but their ubiquitous presence and role as an important component of a ‘sense of place’ for human urbanites makes the management of non-native species complex. The composition and heterogeneity of the suburban mosaic will therefore depend on how urban development has occurred. Suburban trees can broadly be categorized into four land types: street trees, property trees, park trees, and trees found in remnant stands. Suburban golf courses enhance local biodiversity for plants, invertebrates, and vertebrate including threatened avian species and native bee species. The total plant biomass of such suburbs was much less than that of older inner suburban areas with consequently a less varied suburban fauna.
