1. Explore – Foundations of Wildlife and Urban Spaces
In this section, we lay the groundwork for understanding the intricate relationship between urban environments and natural ecosystems. While cities are often perceived as separate from nature, they are, in fact, complex ecosystems where human activities profoundly impact local biodiversity.
1.2 What are the key concepts of Urban Ecology?
The field of urban ecology studies these interactions, focusing on how plants, animals, and microorganisms adapt to, thrive in, or are displaced by cities (Wu, 2014).
- Biodiversity: Refers to the variety of plant and animal life in the world or in a particular habitat. The variety of life in an ecosystem – is not limited to pristine natural areas; it also exists within cities, in parks, gardens, riversides, and even on buildings.
- Habitat Loss & Fragmentation: The destruction and division of natural habitats, often due to urban expansion. The rapid urbanization leads to significant habitat loss and fragmentation, posing major threats to species survival (Marzluff, 2008).
- Human-Wildlife Conflict: Negative interactions between people and wildlife, often arising from shared or overlapping spaces. The destruction and division of natural habitats, often due to urban expansion can result in human-wildlife conflict, where interactions between humans and urban animals lead to negative consequences for one or both parties, such as property damage or injury (Frank et al., 2017).
- Green Infrastructure: A network of green spaces and natural elements designed to provide environmental benefits. To mitigate these challenges, the concept of green infrastructure is vital. This refers to a strategically planned network of natural and semi-natural areas, designed to deliver a wide range of ecosystem services – the benefits that humans receive from ecosystems (e.g., clean air and water, pollination, climate regulation).
- Ecosystem Services: The benefits people obtain from ecosystems. Examples include green roofs, permeable pavements, urban forests, and wildlife corridors (Tzoulas et al., 2007). These elements are not just aesthetic; they are functional components that support urban biodiversity and improve the quality of life for human residents.