An Introduction to Urban Ecology

What is urban ecology? It is not altogether new, but it is a relatively recent and refreshing change in perception of the relationship between human landscapes and natural ecosystems. It can be defined as the study of ecosystems that include humans living in cities and urbanizing landscapes aiming to understand how human and ecological processes can coexist in human-dominated systems and help societies with their efforts to become more sustainable (Marzluff et al., 2008)

Previously, studies in ecology and in social sciences have been separated, analyzed as individual components. But clearly, humans live within and are dependent on the natural systems of the earth. Therefore, we need to view society and ecosystems as interrelated. We must ask the question of how human and ecological patterns emerge from the interactions between socioeconomic and biophysical processes (Alberti et al., 2008). Practitioners of urban ecology propose this form of paradigm shift, to break free from what is called a reductionist approach, or studying only the individual components of systems, and shift into a more integrative approach to understanding the complexity of human relationships with nature.

There are, at least initially, two levels of how studies of urban ecology can influence our existence on this planet. The first is where the theoretical paradigm shift is actually beginning to take hold: in the research and papers of academia. The second is the application: using the shift in understanding in the practical realm where planners, architects, developers, and policy makers can learn how to utilize different methods of development while preserving the natural systems. Sustainable development is the overarching need, and urban ecology is proving to be a basis for the methods and policies needed.

In the realm of academia, urban ecology is approached as a multi-disciplinary study in order to fully integrate humans into ecosystem science. Therefore a new conceptual model (fig. 1) has been proposed that links human and biophysical drivers, patterns, process, and effects. The model can help us understand how human and ecological processes interact over time and space; and it can “help establish (a) what forces drive patterns of urban development, (b) what the emerging patterns are for natural and developed land, (c) how theses patterns influence ecosystem function and human behavior, and (d) how ecosystem and human processes operate as feedback mechanisms” (Alberti et al., 2008).

The disciplines collaborating together include forestry, urban planning, geography, landscape architecture, engineering, political science, sociology, economics, and others. The reason for the interdisciplinary nature is its ability to broaden the experience of both study and application, increase flexibility, team building, and improve skills in communication and synthesis. Part of the reason, however, that the interdisciplinary nature is so effective is because the people involved, such as the planners, engineers, geographers, etc, are all coming from a strong basis of a single discipline. That is important because it means these professionals are trained according to the principles and applications of each discipline. The knowledge of the discipline is then brought to the table to be shared with the people of other disciplines and synthesized into a broader spectrum of knowledge and understanding, which allows for a greater diversity of practical uses in design, planning, and implementation of all things urban.

The transfer of information from the theoretical to the applied is the biggest challenge for those of us interested in sustainable development. Cities are growing and changing rapidly. It is estimated that currently, slightly less than half the world's population reside in cities, but that is projected to change to about 60% in the next 30 years. Developed cities have a higher percentage, with, for example, nearly 80% of the US population living in urban areas (Pickett et al., 2008). It is well known that cities have long been major sources for pollution, environmental degradation, and often poor standards of living. Today's cities are sustained by a global socioeconomic infrastructure, which means that the ecologically productive area needed to support an urban area can be 100 to 300 times larger than the urban region itself (Alberti et al., 2008).

In order to make the concepts of urban ecology effective, the knowledge must be shared with the people who are involved in the formation of our cities. There must be incentives for wanting to preserve intact ecosystems while simultaneously continuing the growth of the cities. As stated by the Urban Ecology Institute, “The health of the physical environment in our cities is closely connected to the physical, social, and mental well-being of urban residents.” The truth of this is obvious. Urban areas that have natural, healthy functioning environments with which people can interact invariably increases quality of life. Only through proper management can we ensure that cities will remain reasonable places to live in the future (Pickett et al., 2008).

This paper is just a beginning of the discussion of urban ecology and how the knowledge generated from this kind of research can help improve the life of our cities. The biggest question that remains is how do we influence the developers and policy makers of our cities to change the way things are designed, built, maintained, and destroyed? We are forced to address the reality of carrying capacity, or the idea that the physical environment has limits of how many organisms (applying to humans, animals, plants, etc) it can sustain in a defined area. It is an important topic, one that I will discuss in a later paper. The healthier the environment, generally the higher the carrying capacity. Through preserving ecosystems in urban areas, we are preserving the cities themselves and thus realizing a part of what it means to be sustainable.

Sources:

Alberti, Marina, John M. Marzluff, Eric Shulenberger, Gordon Bradley, Clare Ryan, and Craig Zumbrunnen. (2008). “Integrating Humans into Ecology: Opportunities and Challenges for Studying Urban Ecosystems.” John M. Marzluff, Eric Shulenberger, Wilfried Endlicher, Marina Alberti, Gordon Bradley, Clare Ryan, Ute Simon, and Craig Zumbrunnen (eds.). Urban Ecology: An International Perspetctive on the Interaction Between Humans and Nature. Springer; New York.

Marzluff, John M., Eric Shulenberger, Wilfried Endlicher, Marina Alberti, Gordon Bradley, Clare Ryan, Ute Simon, and Craig Zumbrunnen (eds.). (2008) “Introduction.” Urban Ecology: An International Perspetctive on the Interaction Between Humans and Nature. Springer; New York.

Pickett, S.T.A., M.L. Cadenasso, J.M. Grove, C.H. Nilon, R.V Pouyat, W.C. Zipperer, and R. Costanza. (2008). “Urban Ecological Systems: Linking Terrestrial Ecological, Physical, and Socioeconomic Components of Metropolitan Areas.” John M. Marzluff, Eric Shulenberger, Wilfried Endlicher, Marina Alberti, Gordon Bradley, Clare Ryan, Ute Simon, and Craig Zumbrunnen (eds.). Urban Ecology: An International Perspetctive on the Interaction Between Humans and Nature. Springer; New York.

Urban Ecology Institute. (2008). http://www.urbaneco.org