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

BioScience, Год журнала: 2017, Номер 67(9), С. 799 - 807

Опубликована: Июнь 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.

Язык: Английский

---

Generalists are the most urban‐tolerant of birds: a phylogenetically controlled analysis of ecological and life history traits using a novel continuous measure of bird responses to urbanization

Oikos, Год журнала: 2019, Номер 128(6), С. 845 - 858

Опубликована: Янв. 14, 2019

Identifying which ecological and life history traits influence a species’ tolerance to urbanization is critical understanding the trajectory of biodiversity in an increasingly urbanizing world. There evidence for wide array contrasting patterns single trait associations with urbanization. In continental‐scale analysis, incorporating 477 species >5 000 bird observations, we developed novel scalable methodology that evaluated most adaptability persist urban environments. Specifically, assigned species‐specific scores based on continuous measures response urbanization, using VIIRS night‐time light values (i.e. radiance) as proxy We identified generalized, phylogenetically controlled patterns: are generalists large niche breadth), clutch size, residual brain size among urban‐tolerant species. Conversely, specialized feeding strategies insectivores granivores) were negatively associated Enhancement persistence avian environments probably relies protecting, maintaining restoring diverse habitats serving range strategies.

Язык: Английский

---

Green Roofs and Green Walls for Biodiversity Conservation: A Contribution to Urban Connectivity?

Sustainability, Год журнала: 2018, Номер 10(4), С. 985 - 985

Опубликована: Март 27, 2018

Green roofs and walls have recently emerged as conservation tools, they offer promising additional opportunities to enhance biodiversity in cities. However, their ecological conditions remain poorly considered when planning wildlife corridors. To discuss the role of vegetated buildings landscape connectivity, we reviewed technical specificities green light key factors concerning urban (patch size, quality, abundance, isolation). show limited patch sizes, distinct habitat quality at building scale, redundancy within landscape. We also highlight that abundance roof wall patches is often low. Future research needed establish if can be vertical corridors for wildlife, thereby reducing isolation roofs. argue creating 3D connectivity city requires substantial modifications design maintenance existing systems. suggest integrate biotic abiotic characteristics make them more closely resemble those open spaces.

Язык: Английский

---

The evolutionary consequences of human–wildlife conflict in cities

Evolutionary Applications, Год журнала: 2020, Номер 14(1), С. 178 - 197

Опубликована: Сен. 17, 2020

Human-wildlife interactions, including human-wildlife conflict, are increasingly common as expanding urbanization worldwide creates more opportunities for people to encounter wildlife. Wildlife-vehicle collisions, zoonotic disease transmission, property damage, and physical attacks or their pets have negative consequences both wildlife, underscoring the need comprehensive strategies that mitigate prevent conflict altogether. Management techniques often aim deter, relocate, remove individual organisms, all of which may present a significant selective force in urban nonurban systems. Management-induced selection significantly affect adaptive nonadaptive evolutionary processes populations, yet few studies explicate links among wildlife management, evolution. Moreover, intensity management can vary considerably by taxon, public perception, policy, religious cultural beliefs, geographic region, underscores complexity developing flexible tools reduce conflict. Here, we cross-disciplinary perspective integrates evolution address how social-ecological drive adaptation cities. We emphasize variance implemented actions shapes strength rate phenotypic change. also consider specific either promote genetic plastic changes, leveraging those biological inferences could help optimize while minimizing Investigating an phenomenon provide insights into arises plays critical role shaping phenotypes.

Язык: Английский

---

The phylogenetic and functional diversity of regional breeding bird assemblages is reduced and constricted through urbanization

Diversity and Distributions, Год журнала: 2018, Номер 24(7), С. 928 - 938

Опубликована: Март 15, 2018

Abstract Aim Urbanization broadly affects the phylogenetic and functional diversity of natural communities through a variety processes including habitat loss introduction non‐native species. Due to challenge acquiring direct measurements, these effects have been studied primarily using “space‐for‐time” substitution where spatial urbanization gradients are used infer consequences occurring across time. The ability alternative sampling designs replicate findings derived space‐for‐time has not tested. Location Global. Methods We contrasted breeding bird assemblages in 58 cities worldwide with corresponding regional estimated geographic range maps. Results Compared assemblages, urban contained lower diversity, beta reduction least evolutionary distinct species most evolutionarily found no evidence that were related presence Urban fewer aquatic foraging distribution body size narrowed for at both tails distribution, especially large bodied distributed greater proportion classified as passerines, doves or pigeons; identified granivores; forage within vegetation air; more generalized associations strata. Main conclusions is associated overall constriction results largely those generated substitution, increasing our confidence quality combined inferences. When measurements unavailable, emphasize value developing independent methods broaden reinforce understanding ecological implications urbanization.

Язык: Английский

---

The effects of local and landscape habitat attributes on bird diversity in urban greenspaces

Ecosphere, Год журнала: 2018, Номер 9(7)

Опубликована: Июль 1, 2018

Abstract Contrasting trajectories of biodiversity loss and urban expansion make it imperative to understand persistence in cities. Size‐, local‐, landscape‐level habitat factors greenspaces cities may be critical for future design management conserving bird biodiversity. Most current understanding communities has come from disparate analyses single cities, over relatively short time periods, producing limited processes characteristics patterns improved the world's We analyzed 112 51 across eight countries, using eB ird, a broadscale citizen science project. Species richness Shannon diversity were used as response variables, while percent tree cover, water vegetation index predictor variables at both landscape (5 25 km radius) local‐scale level (specific an individual greenspace) modeling process, retrieved Google Earth Engine. Area greenspace was most important biodiversity, underlining importance area factor increasing mitigating urbanization. Surprisingly, distance city center coast not significantly related Landscape‐scale predictors less than predictors. Ultimately, could mitigated by protecting developing large with varied

Язык: Английский

---

The importance of street trees to urban avifauna

Ecological Applications, Год журнала: 2020, Номер 30(7)

Опубликована: Апрель 27, 2020

Street trees are public resources planted in a municipality's right-of-way and considerable component of urban forests throughout the world. provide numerous benefits to people. However, many metropolitan areas have poor understanding value street wildlife, which presents gap our knowledge conservation ecosystems. Greater Los Angeles (LA) is global city harboring one most diverse extensive on planet. The vast majority forest nonnative geographic origin, LA following influx irrigated water early 1900s. In addition its forest, home high diversity birds, utilize metropolis annual cycle. cover likely trees, varies dramatically across socioeconomic gradient. it unknown how this variability influences avian communities. To understand importance avifauna, we documented foraging behavior by birds native gradient LA. Affluent communities harbored unique composition including denser larger than lower-income communities, turn, attracted nearly five times density feeding birds. Foraging strongly preferred two street-tree species as substrates, coast live oak (Quercus agrifolia) California sycamore (Platanus racemosa), handful tree species, Chinese elm (Ulmus parvifolia), carrotwood (Cupaniopsis anacardioides), southern virginiana), greater proportion their availability cityscape (two three availability). Eighty-three percent (n = 108, total) were used lower all origin. Our findings highlight positive influence avifauna. particular, results suggest that improved management would positively benefit Further, study provides support for select important habitat

Язык: Английский

---

Heterogeneous urban green areas are bird diversity hotspots: insights using continental-scale citizen science data

Landscape Ecology, Год журнала: 2019, Номер 34(6), С. 1231 - 1246

Опубликована: Июнь 1, 2019

Язык: Английский

---

Impacts of Urban Areas and Their Characteristics on Avian Functional Diversity

Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, Год журнала: 2017, Номер 5

Опубликована: Июль 28, 2017

Urban development is rapidly expanding across the globe and a major driver of environmental change. Despite considerable improvements in our understanding how species richness responds to urbanisation, there still insufficient knowledge other measures assemblage composition structure respond urban development. Functional diversity metrics provide useful approach for quantifying ecological function. We compare avian functional 25 areas, located globe, with paired non-urban assemblages using database 27 traits that capture variation resource use (amount type resources they are acquired) 529 occurring these assemblages. Using three standard (FD, MNTD convex hull) we quantify observed and, standardized effect sizes, this diverges from expected under random community assembly null models. regression trees investigate whether human population density, amount vegetation city size (spatial extent land), bio-region semi-natural or agricultural as baseline modulate urbanisation on diversity. Our analyses suggest not consistently different After accounting higher cities than areas habitat. This creates paradox responses determined by their traits, which should generate clustered within narrow range trait space. Greater habitat compared dominated single may enhance explain paradox. Regression further smaller lower densities increased all areas. A city's attributes can thus influence its biological assemblages, associated functions. has important implications debate regarding grow world's whilst maintaining

Язык: Английский

---

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

Global Change Biology, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 29(9), С. 2399 - 2420

Опубликована: Март 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.

Язык: Английский

---