Urban Ecology [Hardcover]

An overview of our current understanding of how people influence, and are influenced by, the 'green' component of urban environments.Exploring examples from urban settlements around the world, this book provides an overview of the essentials of urban ecology. It explores how species respond to urbanisation and illustrates the intimate links between people and ecological pattern and process in urban areas.Exploring examples from urban settlements around the world, this book provides an overview of the essentials of urban ecology. It explores how species respond to urbanisation and illustrates the intimate links between people and ecological pattern and process in urban areas.This is the urban century in which, for the first time, the majority of people live in towns and cities. Understanding how people influence, and are influenced by, the green' component of these environments is therefore of enormous significance. Providing an overview of the essentials of urban ecology, the book begins by covering the vital background concepts of the urbanisation process and the effect that it can have on ecosystem functions and services. Later sections are devoted to examining how species respond to urbanisation, the many facets of human-ecology interactions, and the issues surrounding urban planning and the provision of urban green spaces. Drawing on examples from urban settlements around the world, it highlights the progress to date in this burgeoning field, as well as the challenges that lie ahead.List of contributors; Preface; Acknowledgements; 1. Urban ecology Kevin J. Gaston; 2. Urbanisation Kevin J. Gaston; 3. Urban environments and ecosystem functions Kevin J. Gaston, Zoe G. Davies and Jill L. Edmondson; 4. Individual species and urbanisation Karl L. Evans; 5. Species diversity and urbanisation: patterns, drivers and implications Gary W. Luck and Lisa T. Smallbone; 6. Urbanisation and alien invasion Stefan Klotz and Ingolf K?hn; 7. Interactions between people and nature l3!