Bird song diversity influences young people's appreciation of urban landscapes

Hedblom, Marcus; Heyman, Erik; Antonsson, Henrik; Gunnarsson, Bengt

doi:10.1016/j.ufug.2014.04.002

Cited by 123 publications

(89 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…Following previous studies (Fuller et al 2007;Shwartz et al 2014;Carrus et al 2015) we focused on the vegetation as a major part of biodiversity being perceived by people. In addition, songbirds were monitored because they can have a great influence on perception of urban sites (Hedblom et al 2014). We also included bumblebees because they are highly conspicous invertebrates that are noticed by the public (Bjerke and Østdahl 2004).…”

Section: Study Sitesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, few investigations have examined in detail how natural sounds are perceived. Among natural sounds in cities singing by birds has been found to enhance positive feelings and to be associated with relaxation (Björk 1986;Viollon et al 2002;Ratcliffe et al 2013;Hedblom et al 2014). In fact, birdsong influenced the visual perception of urban sites in an experiment with young urban people (Hedblom et al 2014).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…Among natural sounds in cities singing by birds has been found to enhance positive feelings and to be associated with relaxation (Björk 1986;Viollon et al 2002;Ratcliffe et al 2013;Hedblom et al 2014). In fact, birdsong influenced the visual perception of urban sites in an experiment with young urban people (Hedblom et al 2014). In another experimental study, Annerstedt et al (2013) suggested that there is an enhanced stress recovery through sounds of nature, by comparing recovery in a virtual nature environment with and without sounds of nature.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Viollon et al 2002;Irvine et al 2009). These approaches were employed because our previous studies have shown that environment-related attitudes and natural sounds influence perception Thorsson 2006, 2008;Hedblom et al 2014). Here we investigate the effects of, and interactions between, these factors regarding perception of urban green space.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Other studies have indicated that urban areas with a high level of both plant and animal biodiversity contribute to the well-being, or positive emotions, of city inhabitants (e.g. Luck et al 2011;Hedblom et al 2014;Carrus et al 2015) but it is unknown whether the participants based their judgements on actual biodiversity. Thus, there is uncertainty about the congruence between Bobjectively^measured and Bsubjectively^perceived biodiversity in urban green space.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Effects of biodiversity and environment-related attitude on perception of urban green space

et al. 2016

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Green space in cities contributes to the quality of life for city dwellers, e.g., by increasing the opportunity for recreation. However, perception of urban green space is influenced by multiple factors. We investigated effects of biodiversity and environment-related attitudes on visual and auditory perceptions of urban green space. Field measurements of biodiversity were conducted in six sites across an urban gradient in Gothenburg, Sweden, and three categories of biodiversity-high, medium, low-were established. Households were sent a survey on aesthetic perception of urban green space, sound perception and the importance of trees and plants for the perception of bird species. Each respondent focused on the site that was located nearby. The environment-related attitudes comprised BNature-oriented^and BUrban-oriented^persons and were based on participants' own attitude estimations. It was shown that participants' Bsubjective^aesthetic and sound-related perception of urban greenery were in line with the Bobjectively^measured subdivisions of high, medium and low biodiversity. So also were their estimations of the importance of trees and plants for perception of bird species in urban greenery, although differing only between high and medium/ low biodiversity conditions. Persons rating themselves as highly nature-oriented were shown to give higher scores to urban green space aesthetics and to value greenery-related sounds higher, and to attach greater importance to trees and plants in their perception of bird species in urban greenery, than less nature-oriented persons. Highly urban-oriented persons compared to less urban-oriented persons did the same, but only regarding urban greenery-related aesthetics and sounds of nature. We conclude that environment-related attitudes influence perceptions of green space. Moreover, our findings support the idea that biodiversity per se also influences perceptions; people value green space significantly more with high than with low measured biodiversity. Urban planning needs to provide city inhabitants with green spaces that are species-rich, lush, varied and rich with natural sounds.

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Section: Study Sitesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Effects of biodiversity and environment-related attitude on perception of urban green space

et al. 2016

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Assessing the impact of revegetation and weed control on urban sensitive bird species

Archibald

McKinney

Mustin

et al. 2017

Ecology and Evolution

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Nature in cities is concentrated in urban green spaces, which are key areas for urban biodiversity and also important areas to connect people with nature. To conserve urban biodiversity within these natural refugia, habitat restoration such as weed control and revegetation is often implemented. These actions are expected to benefit biodiversity, although species known to be affected by urbanization may not be interacting with restoration in the ways we anticipate. In this study, we use a case study to explore how urban restoration activities impact different bird species. Birds were grouped into urban sensitivity categories and species abundance, and richness was then calculated using a hierarchical species community model for individual species responses, with "urban class" used as the hierarchical parameter. We highlight variable responses of birds to revegetation and weed control based on their level of urban sensitivity. Revegetation of open grassy areas delivers significant bird conservation outcomes, but the effects of weed control are neutral or in some cases negative. Specifically, the species most reliant on remnant vegetation in cities seem to remain stable or decline in abundance in areas with weed control, which we suspect is the result of a simplification of the understorey.The literature reports mixed benefits of weed control between taxa and between locations. We recommend, in our case study site, that weed control be implemented in concert with replanting of native vegetation to provide the understory structure preferred by urban sensitive birds. Understanding the impacts of revegetation and weed control on different bird species is important information for practitioners to make restoration decisions about the allocation of funds for conservation action. This new knowledge can be used both for threatened species and invasive species management. K E Y W O R D SBayesian, hierarchical community model, urban conservation, urban restoration, urban sensitive species

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Can avian functional traits predict cultural ecosystem services?

et al. 2019

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The functional trait diversity of species assemblages can predict the provision of ecosystem services such as pollination and carbon sequestration, but it is unclear whether the same trait‐based framework can be applied to identify the factors that underpin cultural ecosystem services and disservices. To explore the relationship between traits and the contribution of species to cultural ecosystem services and disservices, we conducted 404 questionnaire surveys with birdwatchers and local residents in Guanacaste, Costa Rica. We used an information–theoretic approach to identify which of 20 functional traits for 199 Costa Rican bird species best predicted their cultural ecosystem service scores related to birdwatching, acoustic aesthetics, education and local identity, as well as disservices (e.g. harm to crops). We found that diet was the most important variable explaining perceptions of cultural ecosystem service and disservice providers. Aesthetic traits such as plumage colour and pattern were important in explaining birdwatching scores. We also found people have a high affinity for forest‐affiliated birds. The insight that functional traits can explain variation among cultural perspectives on values derived from birds offers a first step towards a trait‐based system for understanding the species attributes that underpin cultural ecosystem services and disservices.

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Bird song diversity influences young people's appreciation of urban landscapes

Cited by 123 publications

References 30 publications

Effects of biodiversity and environment-related attitude on perception of urban green space

Effects of biodiversity and environment-related attitude on perception of urban green space

Assessing the impact of revegetation and weed control on urban sensitive bird species

Can avian functional traits predict cultural ecosystem services?

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