1st Edition

Routledge Handbook of Urban Biodiversity

Edited By Charles H. Nilon, Myla F.J. Aronson Copyright 2024
    468 Pages 61 B/W Illustrations
    by Routledge

    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.

    1. Introduction to the Routledge Handbook of Urban Biodiversity
    2. Charles H. Nilon and Myla F.J. Aronson

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

    3. History of urban biodiversity research and practice
    4. Charles H. Nilon

    5. Comparative urban ecology and the gradient approach: extending knowledge by acknowledging the diversity of cities around the world
    6. Amy K. Hahs

    7. Urban climate and the biophysical environment
    8. Peter Ibsen, Dion Kucera, Stephanie Piper, and G. Darrel Jenerette

    9. Understanding land use, land cover, and landscape patterns of the world’s cities for sustainable biodiversity planning
    10. Cynnamon Dobbs, Dagmar Haase, and Ulla Mörtberg

      PART 2: Foundational concepts and theory in urban biodiversity research

    11. The application of landscape ecology and biogeography in the study of urban biodiversity
    12. Christopher A. Lepczyk and Frank A. La Sorte

    13. Community assembly and filtering of urban ecosystems
    14. Myla F.J. Aronson, Christopher A. Lepczyk, and Karl L. Evans

    15. From filters to feedbacks: how do people influence biodiversity across scales?
    16. Riley Andrade, Paige S. Warren, and Sarel S. Cilliers

    17. People’s decisions shape urban habitats
    18. Dave Kendal, Emily Minor, and Monika Egerer

    19. Scaling-up the management and conservation of urban biodiversity
    20. Susannah B. Lerman, Josep Padullés Cubino, and Mark A. Goddard

    21. Connecting biodiversity and human wellbeing
    22. Jessica C. Fisher, Maximilian Nawrath, Martin Dallimer, Katherine N. Irvine, and Zoe G. Davies

    23. Multidimensionality of biodiversity in urban social-ecological soil systems
    24. Loren B. Byrne and Katalin Szlavecz

    25. Plant invasions in cities: patterns, processes, consequences, and management
    26. Mirijam Gaertner and Ingo Kowarik

    27. The importance of citizen science for understanding urban biodiversity
    28. Christopher A. Lepczyk and Timothy Vargo

      PART 3: Population and community ecology of key urban taxa

    29. Patterns and drivers of plant biodiversity in urban and urbanizing landscapes
    30. Sonja Knapp and Wayne Zipperer

    31. Urbanization shapes insect diversity
    32. Emily K. Meineke, Elsa Youngsteadt, Mia K. Lippey, and Katherine C.R. Baldock

    33. Birds in an urban world: community patterns across cities
    34. Christine Rega-Brodsky and Ian MacGregor-Fors

    35. A cross-continental synthesis of urban insectivorous bat research and future directions
    36. Caragh G. Threlfall and Kirsten Jung

    37. Impacts of urbanization on amphibians and opportunities for their conservation in cities
    38. Kirsten M. Parris

    39. Freshwater biodiversity in urban ecosystems
    40. Augustin C. Engman and Allison H. Roy

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

    41. Urban green infrastructure, biodiversity, poverty, and equity
    42. Charlie M. Shackleton

    43. Managing vegetation for urban biodiversity
    44. Jun Yang, Sonja Knapp, and Wayne Zipperer

    45. The role of engineered green infrastructure in supporting urban biodiversity
    46. J. Scott MacIvor, Nicholas S.G. Williams, and Jeremy Lundholm

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

    48. Lea R. Johnson

    49. Cities are planning for biodiversity: a global survey of city plans
    50. 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

    51. Development and evolution of urban biodiversity indicators and assessment tools
    52. Yuta Uchiyama and Ryo Kohsaka

    53. Urban biodiversity: opportunities and challenges in the Paris Region
    54. Marc Barra

    55. Regeneration of urban nature: from planning to action
    56. Diana Wiesner

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

    Maria Ignatieva

    Biography

    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).

    “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, and 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

     

    “This is a blockbuster book for the urban century. From the fundamentals, science and theory of

    urban biodiversity to practical management issues, Nilon and Aronson have produced a must-have

    that should be on the bookshelf of every urban professional.”

    Karen C. Seto , Frederick C. Hixon Professor of Geography &

    Urbanization Science, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA

     

    “Rapid urbanization at global scale exerts serious threats to urban biodiversity which is of great

    importance for conservation in terms of implementing the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity

    Framework; Urban development can not be successful unless its biodiversity is sustainably

    utilized. The book offers readers opportunities to understand concepts and theory for urban biodiversity

    and learn best practices in using and conserving it.”

    Keping Ma , Vice Chair and Secretary General, Biodiversity Committee,

    Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China

     

    “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