🌿Abandoned spaces with intact pavement create a specific environment for plants to thrive.
🌵Succulent plants and even cacti can be found in these artificial rocky habitats.
🌾Invasive species like Sedum and Artemisia have adapted to the dry microclimates created by the pavement.
🌍Cyanobacteria are slowly reclaiming cracks in the pavement and contributing to the degradation.
🌱Echinacea seeds are being introduced in the cracks, potentially establishing new populations.
What kind of plants can be found in abandoned spaces like the Floyd Bennett Field?
—Plants like succulents, cacti, Sedum, Artemisia, and even cyanobacteria can be found in these spaces.
Why do plants thrive in abandoned spaces with intact pavement?
—Intact pavement creates a specific environment with optimal growing conditions for plants that can tolerate dry microclimates.
How are invasive species like Sedum and Artemisia able to adapt to the dry microclimate?
—Invasive species have evolved to tolerate and thrive in environments with limited moisture, allowing them to colonize abandoned spaces.
What role do cyanobacteria play in the degradation of the pavement?
—Cyanobacteria help in the breakdown of the pavement by contributing to the process of frost wedging and root growth.
What potential impact can introducing echinacea seeds have in the cracks of the pavement?
—Introducing echinacea seeds in the cracks can potentially lead to the establishment of new populations of this native plant species.
00:00The Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn is an abandoned airstrip that has been slowly overtaken by plants.
01:22The intact pavement in the area has created a specific environment for plant growth.
03:12Plants like succulents, cacti, Sedum, and Artemisia have adapted to the dry microclimate created by the pavement.
06:05Cyanobacteria play a role in the degradation of the pavement through frost wedging and root growth.
09:45Introducing echinacea seeds in the cracks of the pavement can potentially establish new populations of this native plant species.
