Routledge Handbook of Urban Biodiversity

by Charles H. Nilon (Editor), Myla F.J. Aronson (Editor)

Overview

This handbook provides a state-of-the-art, comprehensive overview of the expanding field of urban biodiversity.

The field of urban biodiversity has emerged from within the broad discipline of urban ecology in the past two decades and is now a significant field in its own right. In view of this, the Routledge Handbook of Urban Biodiversity presents a thorough treatment of this field detailing the history of urban biodiversity, theoretical foundations, current state of knowledge, and application of that knowledge. The handbook is split into four parts:

• Part I: Setting the Stage for Urban Biodiversity Research and Practice
• Part II: Foundational Concepts and Theory in Urban Biodiversity Research
• Part III: Population and Community Ecology of Key Urban Taxa
• Part IV: Urban Biodiversity Practice: Management, Planning, and Design for Healthy Communities

This volume contains interdisciplinary and global contributions from established and early career academics as well as professionals and practitioners, addressing two key fields in urban biodiversity: fundamental research focused on answering questions about the mechanisms explaining the distribution of species among and within cities; and applied research and work by practitioners to address concerns about urban biodiversity conservation, restoration, planning, design, and public involvement.

This handbook is essential reading for students, academics, and professionals interested and working in the fields of urban biodiversity, ecology, nature conservation, urban planning, and landscape architecture.

Chapters 15 and 22 of this book are freely available as a downloadable Open Access PDF at http://www.taylorfrancis.com under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives (CC-BY-NC-ND) 4.0 license.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780367444549
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	10/16/2023
Series:	Routledge Environment and Sustainability Handbooks
Pages:	468
Product dimensions:	6.88(w) x 9.69(h) x (d)

About the Author

Charles H. Nilon is a professor in the School of Natural Resources at the University of Missouri. His research and teaching focus on urban wildlife conservation, urban ecology, and the human dimensions of wildlife conservation. Dr. Nilon is a co-director of three urban biodiversity synthesis projects, including the "Urban Biodiversity Research Coordination Network" (UrBioNet), and is co-president of the International Urban Biodiversity and Design Network (URBIO).

Myla F.J. Aronson is an assistant professor in the Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Natural Resources, at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. Her research and teaching focuses on the patterns, drivers, and management of biodiversity in human dominated landscapes, particularly plant population and community dynamics in urban areas. Dr. Aronson is co-director of three urban biodiversity synthesis projects, including the "Urban Biodiversity Research Coordination Network" (UrBioNet), and serves on the Advisory Board for the International Urban Biodiversity and Design Network (URBIO).

Table of Contents

1. Introduction to the Routledge Handbook of Urban Biodiversity

Charles H. Nilon and Myla F.J. Aronson

PART 1: Setting the stage for urban biodiversity research and practice

2. History of urban biodiversity research and practice

Charles H. Nilon

3. Comparative urban ecology and the gradient approach: extending knowledge by acknowledging the diversity of cities around the world

Amy K. Hahs

4. Urban climate and the biophysical environment

Peter Ibsen, Dion Kucera, Stephanie Piper, and G. Darrel Jenerette

5. Understanding land use, land cover, and landscape patterns of the world’s cities for sustainable biodiversity planning

Cynnamon Dobbs, Dagmar Haase, and Ulla Mörtberg

PART 2: Foundational concepts and theory in urban biodiversity research

6. The application of landscape ecology and biogeography in the study of urban biodiversity

Christopher A. Lepczyk and Frank A. La Sorte

7. Community assembly and filtering of urban ecosystems

Myla F.J. Aronson, Christopher A. Lepczyk, and Karl L. Evans

8. From filters to feedbacks: how do people influence biodiversity across scales?

Riley Andrade, Paige S. Warren, and Sarel S. Cilliers

9. People’s decisions shape urban habitats

Dave Kendal, Emily Minor, and Monika Egerer

10. Scaling-up the management and conservation of urban biodiversity

Susannah B. Lerman, Josep Padullés Cubino, and Mark A. Goddard

11. Connecting biodiversity and human wellbeing

Jessica C. Fisher, Maximilian Nawrath, Martin Dallimer, Katherine N. Irvine, and Zoe G. Davies

12. Multidimensionality of biodiversity in urban social-ecological soil systems

Loren B. Byrne and Katalin Szlavecz

13. Plant invasions in cities: patterns, processes, consequences, and management

Mirijam Gaertner and Ingo Kowarik

14. The importance of citizen science for understanding urban biodiversity

Christopher A. Lepczyk and Timothy Vargo

PART 3: Population and community ecology of key urban taxa

15. Patterns and drivers of plant biodiversity in urban and urbanizing landscapes

Sonja Knapp and Wayne Zipperer

16. Urbanization shapes insect diversity

Emily K. Meineke, Elsa Youngsteadt, Mia K. Lippey, and Katherine C.R. Baldock

17. Birds in an urban world: community patterns across cities

Christine Rega-Brodsky and Ian MacGregor-Fors

18. A cross-continental synthesis of urban insectivorous bat research and future directions

Caragh G. Threlfall and Kirsten Jung

19. Impacts of urbanization on amphibians and opportunities for their conservation in cities

Kirsten M. Parris

20. Freshwater biodiversity in urban ecosystems

Augustin C. Engman and Allison H. Roy

PART 4: Urban biodiversity practice: management, planning, and design for healthy communities

21. Urban green infrastructure, biodiversity, poverty, and equity

Charlie M. Shackleton

22. Managing vegetation for urban biodiversity

Jun Yang, Sonja Knapp, and Wayne Zipperer

23. The role of engineered green infrastructure in supporting urban biodiversity

J. Scott MacIvor, Nicholas S.G. Williams, and Jeremy Lundholm

24. Global biodiversity requires integrating social and ecological goals for urban biodiversity: insights from ecological restoration

Lea R. Johnson

25. Cities are planning for biodiversity: a global survey of city plans

Karen M. O’Neill, Myla F.J. Aronson, Charles H. Nilon, Sarel S. Cilliers, Cynnamon Dobbs, Laren J. Frazee, Mark A. Goddard, Debra Roberts, Emilie K. Stander, Peter Werner, and Ken P. Yocom

26. Development and evolution of urban biodiversity indicators and assessment tools

Yuta Uchiyama and Ryo Kohsaka

27. Urban biodiversity: opportunities and challenges in the Paris Region

Marc Barra

28. Regeneration of urban nature: from planning to action

Diana Wiesner

29. Design for urban biodiversity: applying research on biodiversity of urban lawns into landscape design practice

Maria Ignatieva

Editorial Reviews

"The earliest roots of urban ecology lie in the study of wild and domestic organisms in cities. Nilon and Aronson show the depth and rigor of this research tradition, illustrate its crucial application to conservation of global biodiversity, point to the continued need and creative future for urban biodiversity studies."

Steward T.A. Pickett, Distinguished Senior Scientist, Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Millbrook, New York, USA

"Old concepts of cities and nature being two separate worlds have been overturned. Studies of the close interplay of urban conditions and high biodiversity are yielding a new understanding of the structure of urban nature and its importance to the human experience. This book sets a new standard for explaining the ecological foundations of urban nature, the current state of knowledge, the role of human actions and management on city species, and a path forward for new research and new collaborations. Cities are expanding rapidly across the globe; this Handbook will be a guide to incorporating modern ecological perspectives to the design of healthier, more resilient urban landscapes and improving conservation of the rich urban biodiversity."

Steven N. Handel, Distinguished Professor of Ecology, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA

From the Publisher