A semantic model for assessing the experience of urban biodiversity

Biodiversity is a significant element of our everyday experience of urban environments, though it is generally only perceived subconsciously. Thus, there is a need to develop a method for defining and measuring experienced biodiversity. As a first step towards such a method, a semantic test was presented to a group of 102 participants. The test consisted of a form containing words/expressions selected as possible components of biodiversity. The participants rated the words on a five-grade scale, and the form was completed at six different study sites. Statistical analyses indicated that words with biological content were strongly correlated with biodiversity, as were words associated with wilderness and variation. Correlations with words of preference were less strong. Following factor analysis, a biodiversity experience index was calculated based on the factor loadings of words strongly correlated with biological diversity. The index was then calculated for all six sites. It was suggested that the index, by measuring words/expressions with higher linguistic codability, offers a valuable tool for assessing experienced biodiversity. It was further concluded that areas containing spontaneous vegetation and water obtained higher biodiversity index scores than did areas characterized by a short-cut lawn and more uniform vegetation.