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Natural Transformation of Post-industrial Lands: Liberty State Park in Jersey City, NJ (USA)

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Urban Wastelands

Part of the book series: Cities and Nature ((CITIES))

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Abstract

Abandoned post-industrial or wasteland landscapes present an interesting paradox. Do the ecological benefits of these naturally assembled systems present an “attractive nuisance” due to the potential for contaminate transfer or do they provide valuable ecosystem services and functions? This case study presents data from a former railyard that since its abandonment in the 1960s has developed into a mix of urban forest shrubland and meadow. The heterogeneous structure and the legacy metal contaminants have been characterized. The diversity of the naturally assembled plant community is also well documented, as are its successional trajectories. The ecological risk associated with contaminant transfer has been examined at the primary, secondary, and tertiary trophic levels. In general, the findings indicate that while the plant communities are a novel mix of old and new world species and do not follow traditional trajectories, they are providing significant ecosystem functions. In addition, and most significantly, the risk associated with contaminant transfer throughout the food web appears to be minimal. After 30 years of investigations, researchers have concluded that this wasteland provides valuable ecosystem services.

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Acknowledgements

Over the past several decades, there have been many researchers who have added to our understanding of the undeveloped portion of Liberty State Park. Most are cited here. They have all helped to shape a new understanding of urban ecology.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Landscape Architecture, Rutgers - The State University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA

    Frank J. Gallagher

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  1. Frank J. Gallagher
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Correspondence to Frank J. Gallagher .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Tours, Tours, France

    Francesca Di Pietro

  2. University of Tours, Tours, France

    Amélie Robert

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Gallagher, F.J. (2021). Natural Transformation of Post-industrial Lands: Liberty State Park in Jersey City, NJ (USA). In: Di Pietro, F., Robert, A. (eds) Urban Wastelands. Cities and Nature. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-74882-1_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-74882-1_2

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-74881-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-74882-1

  • eBook Packages: HistoryHistory (R0)

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