Biodiversity in the City: Fundamental Questions for Understanding the Ecology of Urban Green Spaces for Biodiversity Conservation

BioScience, Journal Year: 2017, Volume and Issue: 67(9), P. 799 - 807

Published: June 23, 2017

As urban areas expand, understanding how ecological processes function in cities has become increasingly important for conserving biodiversity. Urban green spaces are critical habitats to support biodiversity, but we still have a limited of their ecology and they conserve biodiversity at local landscape scales across multiple taxa. Given this view, discuss five key questions that need be addressed advance the conservation restoration. Specifically, research understand space size, connectedness, type influence community, population, life-history dynamics taxa cities. A framework based metapopulation will allow greater thus planning management aid restoration activities.

Language: Английский

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Ecology in an anthropogenic biosphere

Ecological Monographs, Journal Year: 2015, Volume and Issue: 85(3), P. 287 - 331

Published: March 12, 2015

Humans, unlike any other multicellular species in Earth's history, have emerged as a global force that is transforming the ecology of an entire planet. It no longer possible to understand, predict, or successfully manage ecological pattern, process, change without understanding why and how humans reshape these over long term. Here, general causal theory presented explain human societies gained capacity globally alter patterns, processes, dynamics anthropogenic alterations unfold time space themselves generational time. Building on existing theories ecosystem engineering, niche construction, inclusive inheritance, cultural evolution, ultrasociality, social change, this anthroecological holds sociocultural evolution subsistence regimes based specialization, non‐kin exchange, “sociocultural construction,” main cause both long‐term upscaling their unprecedented transformation biosphere. Human construction can explain, where classic cannot, sustained transformative effects biogeography, succession, patterns processes landscapes, biomes, Anthroecology generates empirically testable hypotheses forms trajectories significant theoretical practical implications across subdisciplines conservation. Though still at early stage development, anthroecology aligns with integrates established frameworks including social–ecological systems, metabolism, countryside novel ecosystems, anthromes. The “fluxes nature” are fast becoming “cultures nature.” To investigate, address ultimate causes not just consequences, must become much part practice biological geophysical now. Strategies for achieving goal advancing science conservation increasingly biosphere presented.

Language: Английский

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Advances in restoration ecology: rising to the challenges of the coming decades

Ecosphere, Journal Year: 2015, Volume and Issue: 6(8), P. 1 - 25

Published: Aug. 1, 2015

Simultaneous environmental changes challenge biodiversity persistence and human wellbeing. The science practice of restoration ecology, in collaboration with other disciplines, can contribute to overcoming these challenges. This endeavor requires a solid conceptual foundation based empirical research which confronts, tests influences theoretical developments. We review developments ecology over the last 30 years. frame our context changing goals reflect increased societal awareness scale degradation recognition that inter‐disciplinary approaches are needed tackle problems. Restoration now encompasses facilitative interactions network dynamics, trophic cascades, above‐ belowground linkages. It operates non‐equilibrium, alternative states framework, at landscape scale, response environmental, economic social conditions. Progress has been marked by advances fields trait‐environment relationships, community assembly, understanding links between ecosystem functioning. Conceptual practical have enhanced applying evolving technologies, including treatments increase seed germination overcome recruitment bottlenecks, high throughput DNA sequencing elucidate soil structure function, satellite technology GPS tracking monitor habitat use. synthesis technologies systematic reviews dependencies success, model analyses consideration complex socio‐ecological systems will allow generalizations inform evidence interventions. Ongoing challenges include setting realistic, socially acceptable for under conditions, prioritizing actions an increasingly space‐competitive world. Ethical questions also surround use genetically modified material, translocations, taxon substitutions, de‐extinction, ecology. Addressing issues, as Ecological Society America looks its next century, require current future generations researchers practitioners, economists, engineers, philosophers, architects, scientists ecologists, work together communities governments rise coming decades.

Language: Английский

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Managing the whole landscape: historical, hybrid, and novel ecosystems

Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, Journal Year: 2014, Volume and Issue: 12(10), P. 557 - 564

Published: Dec. 1, 2014

The reality confronting ecosystem managers today is one of heterogeneous, rapidly transforming landscapes, particularly in the areas more affected by urban and agricultural development. A landscape management framework that incorporates all systems, across spectrum degrees alteration, provides a fuller set options for how when to intervene, uses limited resources effectively, increases chances achieving goals. That many ecosystems have departed so substantially from their historical trajectory they defy conventional restoration not dispute. Acknowledging novel need constitute threat existing policy approaches. Rather, development an integrated approach interventions can provide are tune with current rapid change.

Language: Английский

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Eco-evolutionary dynamics in an urbanizing planet

Trends in Ecology & Evolution, Journal Year: 2014, Volume and Issue: 30(2), P. 114 - 126

Published: Dec. 12, 2014

Language: Английский

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Adaptation and Adaptedness of Organisms to Urban Environments

Annual Review of Ecology Evolution and Systematics, Journal Year: 2015, Volume and Issue: 46(1), P. 261 - 280

Published: Oct. 7, 2015

Around the world development and growth of cities towns are having a significant impact on local global biodiversity. There is growing interest in adaptation nonhuman organisms to urban environments, we distinguish between concepts adaptedness. Most these studies have focused animals, especially birds. Commonly recorded responses environments include regulatory acclimatory involving changes behavior, communication, physiology. Developmental tend be morphological nature but can also involve cultural learning. evidence microevolutionary associated with adaptive environments. This review highlights urgent need refine terminology currently used describe order improve scientific understanding more effectively identify communicate actions required create biodiversity- adaptation-friendly for future.

Language: Английский

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Assessing habitat quality in relation to the spatial distribution of protected areas in Italy

Journal of Environmental Management, Journal Year: 2017, Volume and Issue: 201, P. 129 - 137

Published: June 24, 2017

Language: Английский

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Non-native species in urban environments: patterns, processes, impacts and challenges

Biological Invasions, Journal Year: 2017, Volume and Issue: 19(12), P. 3461 - 3469

Published: Oct. 24, 2017

Language: Английский

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Biological Flora of the British Isles: Robinia pseudoacacia

Journal of Ecology, Journal Year: 2013, Volume and Issue: 101(6), P. 1623 - 1640

Published: Oct. 3, 2013

Summary This account presents information on all aspects of the biology R obinia pseudoacacia L. that are relevant to understanding its ecological characteristics and behaviour. The main topics presented within standard framework B iological F lora ritish I sles : distribution, habitat, communities, responses biotic factors, environment, structure physiology, phenology, floral seed characters, herbivores disease, history conservation. , false acacia or black locust, is a deciduous, broad‐leaved tree native N orth A merica. medium‐sized, fast‐growing armed with spines, extensively suckering. It has become naturalized in grassland, semi‐natural woodlands urban habitats. common south many other regions E urope. light‐demanding pioneer species, which occurs primarily disturbed sites fertile poor soils. does not tolerate wet compacted In contrast range, where it rapidly colonizes forest gaps replaced after 15–30 years by more competitive populations secondary range can persist for longer time, probably due release from natural enemies. reproduces sexually, asexually underground runners. Disturbance favours clonal growth leads an increase number ramets. Mechanical stem damage fires also lead increased recruitment. benefits di‐nitrogen fixation associated symbiotic rhizobia root nodules. Estimated nitrogen rates widely 23 300 kg ha −1 year . becomes available plants mainly rapid decay nitrogen‐rich leaves. host wide fungi both introduced ranges. Megaherbivores minor significance urope but browsing ungulates range. Among insects, merican locust gall midge ( O bolodiplosis robiniae ) specific spreading throughout parts urope, considered invasive non‐indigenous plant controlled. Negative impacts include shading changes soil conditions as result fixation.

Language: Английский

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Perceptions of parks and urban derelict land by landscape planners and residents

Urban forestry & urban greening, Journal Year: 2012, Volume and Issue: 11(3), P. 303 - 312

Published: Jan. 1, 2012

Language: Английский

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