Urban ecology

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Urban ecology is the subfield of ecology which deals with the interaction of plants, animals and humans with each other and with their environment in urban or urbanizing settings. Analysis of urban settings in the context of ecosystem ecology (looking at the cycling of matter and the flow of energy through the ecosystem) can result in healthier, better managed communities. Studying the factors which allow wild plants and animals to survive (and sometimes thrive) in built environments can also create more livable spaces. It allows people to adapt to the changing environment while preserving the resources.

Urban ecology also involves the study of the effects of urban development patterns on ecological conditions. Emphasis is also placed on planning communities with environmentally sustainable methods via design and building materials in order to promote a healthy and biodiverse urban ecosystem.

[edit] See Also

• Urban planning

[edit] External links

• Urban Ecology Agency of Barcelona
• Baltimore Ecosystem Study
• Central Arizona - Phoenix LTER
• Principles of Ecological Design- book
• Ecological Urban Design - Archinode Studio
• ARCUE Australian Research Centre for Urban Ecology
• Urban Ecology Center in Milwaukee, WI
• Urban Ecology Research Laboratory at the University of Washington
• Los Angeles: A History of the Future
• Urban Ecology Institute (Newton, MA)
• Center for Urban Restoration Ecology
• BioCity@UniSA research centre