Urban size effect on biodiversity: The need for a conceptual framework for the implementation of urban policy for small cities

Łopucki, Rafał; Klich, Daniel; Kitowski, Ignacy; Kiersztyn, Adam

doi:10.1016/j.cities.2019.102590

Cited by 17 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 49 publications

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“…The city has an area of 35.5 km 2 , a population of 65,643, 160 km of paved roads, and over 55,000 registered vehicles (in 2018–2020) [ 24 ]. Small cities are much more common than large cities (in number and total occupied area), and almost half of the world’s urban population lives in small cities [ 25 , 26 ].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

How Is Wildlife Affected by the COVID-19 Pandemic? Lockdown Effect on the Road Mortality of Hedgehogs

Łopucki

Kitowski

Perlińska-Teresiak

et al. 2021

Animals

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Globally, wildlife is affected by unprecedented changes related to the COVID-19 pandemic. In this paper, the lockdown effect on the traffic-related mortality in hedgehogs in an urban area was studied. Comparing the pre-pandemic (2018 and 2019) and pandemic (2020) years, we showed that hedgehog roadkill levels during the lockdown period were over 50% lower (which means a decrease greater than the decrease in road traffic in the same period measured by the number of accidents or the average number of vehicles per day). Based on literature data, we showed that this may mean at least tens of thousands of hedgehogs have survived on a national scale. We report the need to start intensive research on the possible demographic and genetic effects of this unique phenomenon. We also ask how stable the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic will be on wildlife and whether the lockdown (which is an anthropause) may reverse the negative trends in the decline in the number of wild species, including hedgehogs.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

How Is Wildlife Affected by the COVID-19 Pandemic? Lockdown Effect on the Road Mortality of Hedgehogs

Łopucki

Kitowski

Perlińska-Teresiak

et al. 2021

Animals

Self Cite

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“…The process of urbanization has led to the alteration and destruction of the natural habitat and a decrease in species abundance and richness [1]. As a result [2,3], only a few species are able to successfully adapt to this new urban environment. Although habitat loss is a major consequence of the conversion from native to non-native habitats, habitat fragmentation does have distinct and sometimes influential effects (e.g., [4]).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Colonization of Urban Habitats: Tawny Owl Abundance Is Conditioned by Urbanization Structure

Pagaldai

Arizaga

Jiménez‐Franco

et al. 2021

Animals

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Natural habitats are being altered and destroyed worldwide due to urbanization, leading to a decrease in species abundance and richness. Nevertheless, some species, including tawny owls, have successfully colonized this novel habitat. Consequences at the population level have not been described; thus, our main objective was to describe the effects that urban structure have on the tawny owl population at local and landscape levels. Data were obtained from 527 survey points over 7 months in a large-scale owl survey in the Basque Country (northern Spain) in 2018. At the local scale, the interaction between forest and urban cover affected tawny owl abundance, the optimum being in medium forested areas. The interaction between urban cover and clumpiness index (urban patch distribution) showed a generally negative effect. At the landscape scale, its abundance decreased in complex-shaped urban patches and when distance between them was greater. In conclusion, at the local scale, when a minimal forest structure is present in urbanized areas, the species can exploit it. At the landscape scale, it prefers smaller urban towns to cities. Thinking ahead, the current tendency toward “green capitals” should benefit tawny owl populations.

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“…This evidence raises a number of concerns, as there is very little appropriate habitat or food sources available for echidnas in these environments and proximity to densely populated areas increases their risk of being hit by vehicles. Unlike common ring-tailed possums or koalas and in some cases even platypuses, echidnas have not previously been considered an “urban” native species, but our findings indicate that there is a need to consider echidnas when establishing policies surrounding biodiversity in cities ( 54 , 55 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 67%

EchidnaCSI: Engaging the public in research and conservation of the short-beaked echidna

Perry

Stenhouse

Wilson

et al. 2022

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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The short-beaked echidna is an iconic Australian animal and the most-widespread native mammal, inhabiting diverse environments. The cryptic nature of echidnas has limited research into their ecology in most areas; however, from the well-researched and endangered Kangaroo Island echidna population, we understand that the threats include habitat loss, roads, and invasive species. To obtain more information about echidnas Australia-wide, we established the Echidna Conservation Science Initiative (EchidnaCSI) citizen science project. EchidnaCSI calls on members of the public to submit photographs of wild echidnas and learn to identify and collect echidna scats for molecular analysis. To facilitate participation, we developed a smartphone application as well as ongoing social and traditional media activities and community events. In 3 y, more than 9,000 members of the public have downloaded the EchidnaCSI app, collecting 400 scats and submitting over 8,000 sightings of echidnas from across Australia. A subset of submitted scat samples were subjected to DNA extraction and PCR, which validated the approach of using citizen science for scat collection and viability for molecular analysis. To assess the impact of the project through public participation, we surveyed our participants (n = 944) to understand their demographics and motivations for engagement. Survey results also revealed that EchidnaCSI served as a gateway into citizen science more generally for many participants. EchidnaCSI demonstrates the potential for using citizen science approaches to collect high-quality data and material from a cryptic species over a very large geographic area and the considerable engagement value of citizen science research.

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Urban size effect on biodiversity: The need for a conceptual framework for the implementation of urban policy for small cities

Cited by 17 publications

References 49 publications

How Is Wildlife Affected by the COVID-19 Pandemic? Lockdown Effect on the Road Mortality of Hedgehogs

How Is Wildlife Affected by the COVID-19 Pandemic? Lockdown Effect on the Road Mortality of Hedgehogs

Colonization of Urban Habitats: Tawny Owl Abundance Is Conditioned by Urbanization Structure

EchidnaCSI: Engaging the public in research and conservation of the short-beaked echidna

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