1. Urbanization and Wildlife

2. Why do we care about urbanization?
One of the consequences of the growth of our human population has been the widespread conversion of natural habitats to urban areas.

3. Urbanization Rapid urban growth over the past ~50 years
Rapid urban growth over the past ~50 years
By 2030, approximately 2/3 of humanity will be urban

4. An Increasing Urban Population
UN site with maps of the world urbanization
Interesting website:

5. Why Are Urban Populations Increasing?
The world’s population is increasing
People are migrating to cities
Developed nations have higher percentage of urban residents than less developed
Old info
Why are people migrating to cities?

6. Urbanization: A Rising Tide
(WRI 1996)
Becoming More
Urban
World Population (Billions)
Sprawling From
Urban Centers

7. Typical location of cities exaggerates impacts, why?:
Normally, human settlements are close to water
Typical location of cities exaggerates impacts, why?:

8. Typical location of cities exaggerates impacts:
Normally, human settlements are close to water
Typical location of cities exaggerates impacts:
coasts, river mouths, lakes, fertile inland areas

9. The World’s Urban Centers
Tokyo > 34 million (greater metro); several others > 20 million (incl. NYC)

10. Puget Trough Ecoregion (2)
8% of the land area of the state - contains over 70% of Washington's human population.
Landscape shaped by glaciers, rivers. Climate is temperate and marine influenced.
Source: Seattle Audubon Society’s BirdWeb

11. Urbanization isn’t just high rises and city centers…
Houses/markets outside Nairobi, Kenya

12. Urban Sprawl A form of urbanization distinguished by
Large areas of single-use development (residential)
Heavy reliance on automobiles
Minimal public open space
Commercial strips
Low density

13. 4% population increase drove 49% increase in developed land
Urban Sprawl: An Example
4% population increase drove 49% increase in developed land

14. Ecological Footprints
Urban Areas Have Large
Ecological Footprints
Ecological Footprint: Amount of land and water area a human population requires to produce the resources it consumes and to absorb its wastes
A larger, more intensively used area is needed to support urban areas

15. Ecological Footprints
Urban Areas Have Large
Ecological Footprints
Urban footprints can be highly dispersed:
Chicago’s famous pizza
Cheese from Wisconsin
Flour from Kansas
Oven from Japan or China

16. Ecological Footprints
Urban Areas Have Large
Ecological Footprints
What is this graph telling us?
Takes the earth 1.5 years to regenerate what we use in 1 year.
Takes longer to turn waste back into something useable than it takes us to make the waste

17. Ecological Footprints
Urban Areas Have Large
Ecological Footprints
What is this graph telling us?
Generating waste quicker than
It can be turned back into
Something useful.
Using more resources than are
renewable
23% too high
Takes the earth 1.5 years to regenerate what we use in 1 year.
Takes longer to turn waste back into something useable than it takes us to make the waste

18. Ecological Footprints
Urban Areas Have Large
Ecological Footprints
How big is your footprint?
23% too high
Takes the earth 1.5 years to regenerate what we use in 1 year.
Takes longer to turn waste back into something useable than it takes us to make the waste

19. urban suburban exurban wildland
The Urban Gradient
urban suburban exurban wildland
Shift in:
Imperviousness (paved)
Forest cover
Exotic species
Biodiversity

20. Why is the number of species detected lower in fully forested areas?
Species Biodiversity
Why is the number of species detected lower in fully forested areas?
Marzluff 2005

21. The Urban Gradient and Temperature
Note gradient on heat island effect as well
Epa initiatives for green development
Urban heat island
Why is it hotter in cities?

22. Urban Areas: Varying Effects on Wildlife
Some benefits:
Some costs:
Reduced predation
Reduced climatic extremes
Available water
Supplemental food
New nest sites, living areas
Increased edge
Increased predation
Reduction in nest sites (& other living areas)
Reduced food
New disturbances
Increased edge

23. Vegetation amount and arrangement

24. Vegetation structure and composition

25. Food supply

26. Photo: Joan Gellatly
(white-faced capuchin photo)

27. Nesting opportunities

28.
(raccoon photo)

29. Suburban v Rural Eastern Screech Owls in Texas:
Nested earlier (urban heat island)
Larger clutches (more food)
More and larger fledglings (food and low predation)
More recruits into population
Higher fitness

30. Predators, competitors and disease!

31. Feral Cats ~77 million pet cats in US Also millions of feral cats
Each year
Cats estimated to kill hundreds of millions of birds and small mammals*
Cats are a threat to urban biodiversity
Can mention that urban coyotes are killing cats
*American Bird Conservancy

32. Controlling Urban Sprawl
Sprawl is a strong driver of the urban footprint
habitat loss/degradation, fragmentation
increases energy use
increases pollution (e.g. from commuting)
Growth Management is needed to control it
Limits most future growth inside Urban Growth Boundary
May just displace the problem if regional planning is not incorporated (leapfrogging)
Urban Growth Boundary

33. Growth Management Act - 1990 King County Comprehensive Plan
the 2012 king county comprehensive plan is 646 pages
The Growth Management Act (GMA), passed by the State Legislature in 1990, requires that counties and cities develop a collaborative set of framework policies to guide development of each jurisdiction's comprehensive plan.

34. Subdivision Planning Which plan is better for maintaining habitat?
standard clustered
Gillham (2002)

35. Subdivision Planning Clustered subdivision: Smaller lots
Higher density of homes
More open space
standard clustered
Gillham (2002)

36. Wildlife Conservation in Urban Areas
Preserve large areas of habitat
The area, numbers, and connectivity of reserves should be maximized
Buffers should be maintained around reserves
The amount of edge and degree of fragmentation within reserves should be minimized
Large scale (consider bioregions)
Marzluff and Ewing (2001)

37. Wildlife Conservation in Urban Areas
Enhance habitat locally (backyard habitat)
Retain as much natural habitat as possible
(especially new housing)
Plant native plants
Retain understory and snags
Minimize lawn cover
National Wildlife Federation

38. Wildlife Conservation in Urban Areas
Backyard Habitat
Provide essential resources:
Food (feeders, vegetation)
Water
Cover/shelter (vegetation)
Place to raise young (nest boxes, etc.)
Provide protection from domestic predators
Control dog and cat behavior

39. Wildlife Conservation in Urban Areas
Reduce accidental mortality:
Roadkill
1 million animals killed/day by cars; many in cities
Birds crashing into windows/hitting buildings, etc.
5+ million birds/yr
Disease from bird feeders (Salmonella)

40. Wildlife Conservation in Urban Areas
Support urban planning initiatives
and education
Clustered development
Growth management
Open space preservation

41. Community gardens Local food Shelter for wildlife
Organic (no chemicals)
Preserve open spaces
More permeable surfaces
Ecological and Environmental Ethic (stewardship)
Beacon hill p-patch

42. Community gardens PLUS: Many socio-economic benefits!

43. Community Garden: Bronx Green-Up
Transforms vacant, abandoned lots to community gardens

44. Community Garden: UW Farm
Seattle P-patch program

45. Green Roofs Rockefeller Center Chicago City Hall
Rockefeller Center
Chicago City Hall
Provide wildlife habitat
Catch rainfall
Help lower urban temperatures
Decrease stress for humans