The Biological Deserts Fallacy: Cities in Their Landscapes Contribute More than We Think to Regional Biodiversity

BioScience, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 71(2), P. 148 - 160

Published: Nov. 23, 2020

Cities are both embedded within and ecologically linked to their surrounding landscapes. Although urbanization poses a substantial threat biodiversity, cities also support many species, some of which have larger populations, faster growth rates, higher productivity in than outside them. Despite this fact, surprisingly little attention has been paid the potentially beneficial links between surroundings. We identify five pathways by can benefit regional ecosystems releasing species from threats landscape, increasing habitat heterogeneity genetic diversity, acting as migratory stopovers, preadapting climate change, enhancing public engagement environmental stewardship. Increasing recognition these could help effective strategies for supporting biodiversity conservation provide science-based platform incorporating alongside other urban greening goals.

Language: Английский

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A Research Agenda for Urban Biodiversity in the Global Extinction Crisis

BioScience, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 71(3), P. 268 - 279

Published: Oct. 20, 2020

Abstract Rapid urbanization and the global loss of biodiversity necessitate development a research agenda that addresses knowledge gaps in urban ecology will inform policy, management, conservation. To advance this goal, we present six topics to pursue research: socioeconomic social–ecological drivers versus gain biodiversity; response technological change; biodiversity–ecosystem service relationships; areas as refugia for spatiotemporal dynamics species, community changes, underlying processes; ecological networks. We discuss overarching considerations offer set questions inspire support research. In parallel, advocate communication collaboration across many fields disciplines order build capacity research, education, practice. Taken together note play an important role addressing extinction crisis.

Language: Английский

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Interactive effects of rising temperatures and urbanisation on birds across different climate zones: A mechanistic perspective

Global Change Biology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 29(9), P. 2399 - 2420

Published: March 13, 2023

Abstract Climate change and urbanisation are among the most pervasive rapidly growing threats to biodiversity worldwide. However, their impacts usually considered in isolation, interactions rarely examined. Predicting species' responses combined effects of climate urbanisation, therefore, represents a pressing challenge global biology. Birds important model taxa for exploring both behaviour physiology have been well studied urban non‐urban systems. This understanding should allow interactive rising temperatures be inferred, yet considerations these almost entirely lacking from empirical research. Here, we synthesise our current potential mechanisms that could affect how species respond with focus on avian taxa. We discuss motivate future in‐depth research this critically important, overlooked, aspect Increased pronounced consequence (through heat island effect) change. The biological impact warming systems will likely differ magnitude direction when interacting other factors typically vary between habitats, such as resource availability (e.g. water, food microsites) pollution levels. Furthermore, nature may cities situated different types, example, tropical, arid, temperate, continental polar. Within article, highlight drivers mechanistic birds, identify knowledge gaps propose promising avenues. A deeper behavioural physiological mediating provide novel insights into ecology evolution under help better predict population responses.

Language: Английский

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Biodiversity in residential gardens: a review of the evidence base

Biodiversity and Conservation, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 32(13), P. 4155 - 4179

Published: Aug. 19, 2023

Abstract Residential gardens are a principal component of urban green infrastructure throughout the world and their potential positive contributions to biodiversity increasingly recognised. But characteristics reflect needs, values interests individual households. The present review summarises evidence from studies garden published in scientific literature, describes major themes identifies important knowledge gaps. A search Web Science database identified 408 articles on residential (1981–2022), with numbers increasing over time strong bias towards Europe (32.1%) North America (23.8%). Plants invertebrates were most frequently studied, species diversity was often correlated size habitat complexity. Botanic composition vegetation cover positively associated abundance fauna. Non-native plants contributed substantially plant some indicated benefits other linked functional attributes. Intensive management including frequent lawn mowing, fertiliser pesticide application, more formal, ‘neater’ appearance reduced biodiversity. However, results varied amongst studies, for example relation impacts mowing frequency diversity. There general paucity experimental different regimes few replicated tests recommended ‘wildlife-friendly practices’. Several importance connectivity infra-structure dispersal ecosystem functioning. Emerging threats include replacement by development, conversion hard surfaces declining plot sizes. Managing these challenges maximising value requires greater engagement policymakers planners, partnerships between public bodies private households co-ordinate local initiatives.

Language: Английский

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Promoting urban ecological resilience through the lens of avian biodiversity

Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 12

Published: March 14, 2024

The significance of urban landscapes in safeguarding biodiversity is often disregarded, even though a considerable amount conservation focus directed toward hotspots where land conversion happening at the fastest pace. Maintaining areas not only benefits environment, but along with social, economic, and technological factors can increase stability systems to disturbance, concept known as “urban resilience”. In this synthesis paper, we explore ecological dimension resilience specifically on avian because birds are easy observe, relatively abundant, serve an indicator overall health environments. We first examine discuss role environmental stressors associated urbanization ongoing crisis. then provide overview characteristics environment that may promote birds, associations between social economic resilience. Finally, recommendations future research regarding strategies improve thus, whole, intersections ecology, ecosystem justice, planning. Since 68% world’s population projected live by 2050, it imperative scientists, planners, civil engineers, architects, others consider both cities natural anthropogenic stressors.

Language: Английский

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Killing with kindness: Does widespread generalised provisioning of wildlife help or hinder biodiversity conservation efforts?

Biological Conservation, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 261, P. 109295 - 109295

Published: Aug. 18, 2021

Language: Английский

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Responses of avian assemblages to spatiotemporal landscape dynamics in urban ecosystems

Landscape Ecology, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 38(1), P. 293 - 305

Published: Nov. 9, 2022

Abstract Context Urbanization and its associated impacts on biodiversity are increasing globally. There is a need to enhance our understanding of species responses inform strategies for sustainable urbanization. Objectives Three extensive bird monitoring campaigns took place over the last three decades in city Naples, Italy, providing comprehensive longitudinal dataset analyse occurrence trends urban birds. We aimed assess both species-specific assemblage-level changes birds according land cover dynamics. Methods extracted data periods 1990–95, 2000–05, 2014–18, explored spatial temporal relationships between presence/avian assemblage composition, variation. Results The richness breeding remained stable time, despite notable turnover, influenced by species’ key classes. Species with forest tended colonise area, while those dependent abandoned cultivated areas decreased or went locally extinct. Birds changed their degree dependence upon habitat type as from marginal open types needed larger amounts persist within showed an opposite trend. Conclusions Habitat-driven avian assemblages landscape led increase forest-associated species, decrease declining types. Our findings may planning promote more wildlife-friendly cities, which study area should prioritise habitats.

Language: Английский

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Avian behaviour changes in response to human activity during the COVID-19 lockdown in the United Kingdom

Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 289(1983)

Published: Sept. 20, 2022

Human activities may impact animal habitat and resource use, potentially influencing contemporary evolution in animals. In the United Kingdom, COVID-19 lockdown restrictions resulted sudden, drastic alterations to human activity. We hypothesized that short-term daily long-term seasonal changes mobility might result bird depending on type (home, parks grocery) extent of change. Using Google data 872 850 observations, we determined during lockdown, altered use 80% (20/25) our focal species. When humans spent more time at home, over half affected species had lower counts, perhaps resulting from disturbance birds garden habitats. Bird counts some (e.g. rooks gulls) increased short term as parks, possibly due human-sourced food resources picnic refuse), while other tits sparrows) decreased. All when less grocery services. Avian rapidly adjusted novel environmental conditions demonstrated behavioural plasticity, but with diverse responses, reflecting different interactions pressures caused by

Language: Английский

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Arthropod abundance modulates bird community responses to urbanization

Diversity and Distributions, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 27(1), P. 34 - 49

Published: Oct. 2, 2020

Abstract Aim We analysed the role of species interactions in wildlife community responses to urbanization. Specifically, we investigated non‐trophic associations within a bird and trophic urbanization gradient. Location City‐state Berlin, Central Europe. Methods Arthropod abundances were sampled across study area using hierarchical joint distribution models (JSDMs). Urbanization gradient was defined by environmental predictors reflecting anthropogenic disturbances, for example noise level human population density, as well nature‐like features, tree cover open green area. Relevant each group relevant spatial resolution selected priori AICc. modelled sampling transects included additional predictor variable model. In this model, used traits 66 breeding response variables. Results Bird captured interaction between invertebrate abundance predictors. identified three groups birds: urban (12 species) showed no decrease along not related arthropods abundance; woodland (18 positively arthropod abundance, also areas with high disturbance; nature (36 but decreased sharply increasing disturbance. All found positive. Main conclusions clearly modulated birds’ most species. Especially at moderate levels disturbance, is key occurrence areas. To maintain diversity areas, management measures should focus on maintaining abundance.

Language: Английский

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Effects of supplementary feeding on interspecific dominance hierarchies in garden birds

PLoS ONE, Journal Year: 2018, Volume and Issue: 13(9), P. e0202152 - e0202152

Published: Sept. 5, 2018

Individuals often differ in competitive ability, which can lead to the formation of a dominance hierarchy that governs differential access resources. Previous studies have predominently focussed on within-species interactions, while drivers between-species hierarchies are poorly understood. The increasing prevalence predictable anthropogenic food subsidies, such as provided by garden bird feeders, is likely intensify competition. However, consequences for resource acquisition await detailed study, and particular, whether interactions influenced quality not known. Here, we examine amongst ten passerine species birds utilising supplementary sources differing quality. We show rank strongly predicted body mass across species. Socially dominant, heavier monopolised had relatively short handling time (sunflower hearts), spent longer pecked at lower rates. In contrast subordinate, lighter were constrained feed long seeds with hull intact). Our findings suggest differences may result place heaviest greatest control feeding sites, gaining superior higher value foods. This important implications use conservation tool.

Language: Английский

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