Developing a complementary framework for urban ecology

Abstract

Cities are characterised by dynamic interactions between socioeconomic and biophysical forces. Currently more than half of the global population reside in cities which influence the global biogeochemical cycles and climate change, substantially exacerbating pressures on urban pollution, water quality and food security, as well as operating costs for infrastructure development. Goods and services such as aesthetic values, water purification, nutrient recycling, and biological diversity, that urban ecosystems generate for the society, are critical to sustain. Urban planners are increasingly facing the considerable challenges of management issues for urban ecosystems. Poor understanding of the complementary roles of urban ecology in urban infrastructure, and the functioning of ecosystems and ecological resilience of a complex human-dominated landscape has impeded effective urban planning over time, resulting in social disharmony. Here a complementary framework for urban ecology is proposed, in which ecosystems interact with land use, architecture and urban design-"E-LAUD"affecting ecosystem and human health, and building on the concept that land uses in urban green areas, road-strips, wetlands, 'habitat islands' and urban architecture could synergistically benefit when clustered together in different combinations of urban landscapes. It is proposed that incorporation of the E-LAUD framework in urban planning forms the context of a new interdisciplinary research programme on ecological resilience for urban ecosystems and helps promote ecosystem services.

A century-scale, human-induced ecohydrological evolution of wetlands of two large river basins in Australia (Murray) and China (Yangtze)

“…Increased nitrogen deposition has been reported to have a great effect on diversity and ecosystem functioning of wetlands, leading to collapse of food chains and ecosystems (Hooper et al, 2012). This collapse may lead to crises to higher trophic levels including the humans, with conflicting demands placed on natural resources and increasingly poor public health issues of the local community (Kattel et al, 2013). Such water problems in large river basins are due to increasingly interconnected multisector developments such as agriculture, energy, industry, transportation, and communication.…”

Urban Systems: A Socio-Ecological System Perspective

“…4,12,16 As emphasized by Grimm et al 17 "Urban areas are hot spots that drive environmental change at multiple scales". Hence, these areas are a central nexus for the long-term functioning of societies and ecosystems.…”

Simulation and Analysis of the Buffer Function of Freeway Greening on Out-of-Control Vehicles

“…Another functional benefit is that greening improves the ecological environment. Kattel [4] mentioned that urban green areas could help achieve effective urban ecosystem management and promote ecological resilience. Moreover, greening also has some impact on the climate.…”