Article
Plant Sciences
David Hohl, Teodora Stoycheva, R. Julia Kilgour, Elsa C. Anderson, Jalene M. LaMontagne
Summary: In urban ecosystems, tree cavities are influenced by tree health, management, and cavity excavators, and their formation and persistence are affected by changes in vegetation structure, human use patterns, and the built environment. Highly-managed parks and residential habitats have lower abundance of decayed trees and therefore fewer cavities compared to forests, while stability of cavity abundance over time is observed in managed habitats. The probability of cavity presence is increased with larger tree size and higher levels of tree decay, but this association varies between habitat types and years.
URBAN FORESTRY & URBAN GREENING
(2023)
Review
Microbiology
Catarina Jota Baptista, Paula A. A. Oliveira, Jose M. Gonzalo-Orden, Fernanda Seixas
Summary: Urban fauna refers to animal species that can survive in urban environments. Hedgehogs, such as the western-European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus), have been identified as part of the urban fauna and are permanent residents in parks and gardens across Europe. This study aimed to compare the prevalence of zoonotic diseases in hedgehogs in urban and rural areas. A systematic review and meta-analysis of twelve studies were conducted, revealing differences in the prevalence of zoonotic diseases between urban and rural locations. Further research and standardized monitoring of hedgehog populations are necessary to understand the epidemiology of zoonotic pathogens and prevent disease outbreaks.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Kang Min Ngo, Tetsuro Hosaka, Shinya Numata
Summary: How people relate to biodiversity and their support for conservation programs and policies have significant implications for global and local biodiversity conservation efforts. Childhood experiences of nature are strongly correlated with positive attitudes towards nature and wildlife in adulthood. This study conducted in Singapore, a highly urbanized tropical city, examined the wildlife experiences, attitudes, and willingness to coexist with different animals among residents. The findings suggest that urban development encroaching on forest habitats may create a mismatch between greening policies and people's willingness to coexist with wildlife, emphasizing the importance of preserving forest habitats for exposure to wildlife by young children and adults.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sarah M. Wenner, Melanie A. Murphy, Kathleen S. Delaney, Gregory B. Pauly, Jonathan Q. Richmond, Robert N. Fisher, Jeanne M. Robertson
Summary: This study examines the population genetic structure and functional connectivity of the Blainville's horned lizard in the urbanized landscape of Greater Los Angeles. The results show the importance of both natural and anthropogenic landscape variables in shaping contemporary population genetics, with topography, microclimate, and soil and vegetation types as important predictors of functional connectivity.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Jamie B. Kirkpatrick, Michael M. Driessen, Peter J. Jarman, Lauren Jakob
Summary: This study investigates the impact of urban development on native mammals, and finds that adjacent suburbia, fire regime, and vegetation have an influence on mammal activity in a reserve in Hobart, Tasmania. The results suggest that urban areas can play a significant role in nature conservation, despite or because of their effects on native ecosystems.
Review
Biodiversity Conservation
Eleanor R. Stern, Murray M. Humphries
Summary: The inclusion of local, expert, or Indigenous knowledge in wildlife research can provide valuable insights and support for wildlife conservation decisions. However, integrating experiential wildlife knowledge with systematic observations presents challenges due to the differences in data type and functionality. This systematic review examines studies that incorporate experiential wildlife knowledge into quantitative analyses of terrestrial vertebrate populations and their habitats, highlighting key challenges and solutions.
BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Joana Pais de Faria, Vitor H. Paiva, Sara Verissimo, Ana M. M. Goncalves, Jaime A. Ramos
Summary: The study focuses on the spatial and temporal variations of urban habitat use and human interactions with urban gulls, showing a strong seasonal effect with gulls and human-gull interactions increasing significantly during winter. Adult gulls mainly use habitats with higher urbanization intensity, and conflicts reported by humans peak during the chick-rearing period. Despite this, during winter, adult gulls continue to occupy rooftop nesting grounds and interact with humans, largely due to human feeding behaviors. When designing urban management measures, consideration of seasonal variations in gulls’ behavior and habitat use as well as human activities is crucial.
Article
Ecology
Rajan Prasad Paudel, Rabin Kadariya, Babu Ram Lamichhane, Naresh Subedi, Mariko Sashika, Michito Shimozuru, Toshio Tsubota
Summary: Mammals, including the endangered sloth bear, have experienced a significant decline in populations and geographic ranges worldwide. This study assessed the distribution and habitat use patterns of sloth bears in Chitwan National Park, Nepal. The findings indicate that sloth bears primarily occupy rugged, dry, open, and undisturbed habitats, with higher probabilities of occupancy in areas with termites and fruits. These results highlight the importance of considering the specific habitat requirements of sloth bears in conservation and management efforts.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Monika Egerer, Sascha Buchholz
Summary: The article discusses the normative framing of urban wildlife and how this framing may bias urban conservation efforts. It argues for a holistic approach to urban wildlife inclusive of all life forms for future research, publicity, and policy interventions.
BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION
(2021)
Article
Forestry
Don C. Radcliffe, David M. Hix, Stephen N. Matthews
Summary: The background mortality rates of oak and hickory trees in mature forests were studied over a 23-25 year period in southeastern Ohio. The study found that red oak subgenus trees have higher mortality rates compared to white oak subgenus trees, with factors such as soil type, stand age, and tree species influencing mortality rates. Maintaining oak subgenus diversity is crucial for wildlife diversity in the eastern U.S., and management efforts could focus on favoring red oak subgenus trees in silvicultural treatments.
Article
Ecology
Brianna M. Winkel, Clayton K. Nielsen, Elizabeth M. Hillard, Ronald W. Sutherland, Michelle A. LaRue
Summary: This study modeled potential cougar habitats and dispersal corridors in eastern North America using expert opinions and various habitat quality indicators. The results showed that potential habitats were predominantly forests and shrublands, and dispersal corridors were present throughout the study area.
Review
Biodiversity Conservation
Merri K. Collins, Seth B. Magle, Travis Gallo
Summary: As urbanization continues to expand globally, research on urban wildlife is crucial for creating livable cities for both humans and wildlife. In the past decade, there has been an increase in urban wildlife publications, but significant knowledge gaps still exist, particularly in areas like herptiles, arthropods, and fish.
BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
A. Patricia Mendoza, Sam Shanee, Nancy Cavero, Charlene Lujan-Vega, Yohani Ibanez, Cinthya Rynaby, Mirella Villena, Yovana Murillo, Sarah H. Olson, Alberto Perez, Patricia G. Parker, Marcela M. Uhart, Donald J. Brightsmith
Summary: This study investigated the trade of live wildlife in urban markets in Peru and revealed the common occurrence of illegal trafficking. Cities in the Amazonian region primarily traded local species, while other cities showed significant variation in the proportion of local species. The urban markets formed a structured network, providing consumers with a diverse range of species.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Kaja Wierucka, Chloe E. R. Hatten, Derek Murphy, John A. Allcock, Astrid A. Andersson, Jack W. N. Bojan, Tsz Ching Kong, Jun Kin Kwok, Jack Y. K. Lam, Calvin H. Ma, Sagarika Phalke, Hannah B. Tilley, Rebecca S. Wang, Yifu Wang, Sam J. Webster, Hannah S. Mumby, Caroline Dingle
Summary: Urban areas in Asia undergo rapid land use transformations, leading to frequent human-wildlife interactions. A review of literature on HWI in urban southern and eastern Asia revealed a predominant framing of interactions as conflicting, yet there is also discourse highlighting interspecific coexistence. While invertebrates, mammals, and birds are commonly studied, studies on amphibians, reptiles, and fish are scarce. Our study emphasizes the complexity of HWI in Asia and the importance of considering these interactions in sustainable urban designs.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Sayantani M. Basak, Md. Sarwar Hossain, Declan T. O'Mahony, Henryk Okarma, El zbieta Widera, Izabela A. Wierzbowska
Summary: Europe is experiencing dynamic land use changes that are leading to an expansion of urban habitat and an increase in human-wildlife conflict. This study conducted a questionnaire survey in Krakow, Poland, in 2010 and 2020 to assess people's attitudes towards urban wildlife and changes in perceptions over a decade. The results showed increased encounters with certain urban wildlife and a significant increase in personal anxiety, property intrusion, and crop destruction as the most frequent responses to conflicts. Respondents preferred nonlethal methods to manage the conflicts.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Xuezheng Zong, Xiaorui Tian, Xianli Wang
Summary: Climate change has caused longer fire seasons and more intense wildfires worldwide, leading to significant economic and environmental impacts. A study conducted in Southwest China evaluated the effectiveness of different fuel treatment designs in mitigating wildfire risk under varying fire severity conditions. The results showed that fuel treatments were effective in reducing risk under low and normal fire severity scenarios, but their effectiveness was limited under high fire severity conditions.
LANDSCAPE AND URBAN PLANNING
(2024)
Article
Ecology
Jian Peng, Xiaoyu Wang, Huining Zheng, Zihan Xu
Summary: This study developed an index system to evaluate the trade-off between grain production service and water purification service in the Dongting Lake Basin. The results showed that converting cropland with high nitrogen output into forest land can minimize this trade-off.
LANDSCAPE AND URBAN PLANNING
(2024)
Article
Ecology
Francois Chiron, Romain Lorrilliere, Carmen Bessa-Gomes, Piotr Tryjanowski, Joan Casanelles-Abella, Lauri Laanisto, Ana Leal, Anskje Van Mensel, Marco Moretti, Babette Muyshondt, Ulo Niinemets, Marta Alos Orti, Pedro Pinho, Roeland Samson, Nicolas Deguines
Summary: In cities, green areas play a crucial role in biodiversity conservation, and the heterogeneity of land cover is an important factor. The relationship between area and heterogeneity affects the richness of bird species in urban green areas, with urban avoider species benefiting from large and heterogeneous patches.
LANDSCAPE AND URBAN PLANNING
(2024)
Article
Ecology
Aleksandra Lis, Karolina Zalewska, Pawel Iwankowski, Katarzyna Betkier, Paulina Bilska, Viktoriia Dudar, Aleksandra L. Lagiewka
Summary: Appleton's prospect-refuge theory suggests that the presence of dense vegetation, topography, and people in a park can influence the safety and privacy felt by visitors in different ways. This study aimed to understand the relationship between observation point height, vegetation location, presence of other people, and perceived privacy and safety. The results showed that flat or lower ground without the presence of others was considered the safest, while landscapes higher up with dense vegetation and no other people were rated highest in terms of privacy. The findings have practical implications in terms of providing privacy without compromising safety.
LANDSCAPE AND URBAN PLANNING
(2024)
Article
Ecology
Jianting Zhao, Guibo Sun, Chris Webster
Summary: This study developed a geospatial database to document the locations and urban environments of pandemic-induced street experiments on a global scale, and conducted quantitative analysis based on spatial and temporal visualizations. The study aims to enhance comparability of built environment indicators between cities and provide a robust foundation for future research on tactical urbanism.
LANDSCAPE AND URBAN PLANNING
(2024)
Article
Ecology
Huaqing Wang, Louis G. Tassinary
Summary: This study investigated the influence of urban greenspace spatial morphology on non-communicable diseases and found that neighborhoods with more connected, aggregated, coherent, and complex-shaped greenspace had a lower prevalence of these diseases. Such associations were mediated by air pollution and physical inactivity. The results suggest that the spatial morphology of designed urban greenspace plays a significant role in neighborhood health.
LANDSCAPE AND URBAN PLANNING
(2024)
Article
Ecology
Chiwei Xiao, Yi Wang, Mingyan Yan, Jeffrey Chiwuikem Chiaka
Summary: Regional integration initiatives, such as cross-border transportation corridors, have significant impacts on land use changes and landscape patterns. This study examines the China-Laos Railway as a case study to evaluate the extent and significance of these impacts. Using land-use data and geospatial analysis, the study quantifies and compares the effects of the railway on land use changes within a buffer zone along the corridor.
LANDSCAPE AND URBAN PLANNING
(2024)
Review
Ecology
Astrid Zabel, Mara-Magdalena Hausler
Summary: Developing a green infrastructure is an important environmental policy goal in many countries around the world. Different countries have different requirements on the spatial allocation of conservation sites for green infrastructure. Price-type and procedural instruments are commonly used, but the utilization of incentive mechanisms that internalize the benefit of clustering is relatively low. There is a need for more studies on incentive mechanisms and green infrastructure policies in the global South.
LANDSCAPE AND URBAN PLANNING
(2024)
Article
Ecology
Timothy Fraser, Olivia Feeley, Andres Ridge, Ava Cervini, Vincent Rago, Kelly Gilmore, Gianna Worthington, Ilana Berliavsky
Summary: This study examines the inequality of social infrastructure in Boston, finding significant racial and income disparities in access. These disparities have implications for the health and resilience of neighborhoods.
LANDSCAPE AND URBAN PLANNING
(2024)
Article
Ecology
Yutian Lu, Running Chen, Bin Chen, Jiayu Wu
Summary: The inequitable distribution of urban green spaces has become a significant concern, with variations found between cities in different development stages, and socioeconomic factors playing a crucial role in the spatial equity of urban green spaces.
LANDSCAPE AND URBAN PLANNING
(2024)
Article
Ecology
Di Chen, Jie Yin, Chia-Pin Yu, Shengjing Sun, Charlotte Gabel, John D. Spengler
Summary: Observational and experimental studies have shown that exposure to greenness is beneficial for long-term health and well-being. However, more evidence is needed regarding the short-term health impacts of nearby nature in urban areas. This study used immersive virtual reality technology to investigate how transitions between built and natural environments affect urban residents. Results showed that transitioning from built to natural environments led to reductions in negative mood and transient anxiety, while transitions from natural to built environments had the opposite effect. Additionally, participants showed more emotional responses to nature through physiological measures. The study also highlighted the influence of contextual factors, such as physical health conditions, stress levels, experience with nature, and growth environments, on stress recovery. Overall, this study provides empirical evidence supporting the promotion of nearby nature in urban built environments.
LANDSCAPE AND URBAN PLANNING
(2024)
Article
Ecology
Daniele Codato, Francesca Peroni, Massimo De Marchi
Summary: This study examines climate justice in the Ecuadorian Amazon Region (EAR), highlighting the multiple injustices caused by oil extraction activities. Using spatial analysis, the study shows that the EAR has been a major producer of oil since 1972, leading to environmental impacts such as oil spills and pollution. The results emphasize the need to include these territories in climate justice discussions and promote the rights to a non-toxic environment.
LANDSCAPE AND URBAN PLANNING
(2024)
Article
Ecology
Jingli Yan, Wendy Y. Chen, Zixiao Zhang, Wenxing Zhao, Min Liu, Shan Yin
Summary: Vegetation barriers are an effective strategy in urban planning to mitigate traffic-induced air pollution and reduce exposure. This study uses field measurements and numerical modeling to show that constructing vegetation barriers with short bushes can effectively reduce PM2.5 pollution in open-road environments, while higher coverage of tall bushes may worsen the pollution.
LANDSCAPE AND URBAN PLANNING
(2024)