Ecological Restoration (BIO 409) Dr. McEwan Urban Ecology

1
Ecological Restoration (BIO 409)Dr.
McEwanUrban Ecology
2
Why urban ecology?
3
Why urban ecology? To some extent it is
simplehuman domination of the Earth is nearly
complete. We rely on ecosystems for services,
urban ecosystems are often wrecked. Thus, as the
Human Enterprise expands, so does our need to do
ecological restoration in urban areas.
4
Storm flow In (many) urban areas one of the
most important environmental issues is managing
storm flow. You dont want floods washing
people, and cars and things, out into the river.
Storm flow can damage property and can wreck the
sewer system,..which major problem
Green spaces do good things for cities
5
Green spaces do good things for cities
As urban areas expand. Parking lots expand,
cement covers the landscape. Rain events are
concentrated . Relatively minor events in
natural ecosystems can be concentrated to create
floods. Greenspaces including vegetation/soil
allows for rainwater to penetrate to sub-surface
aquifers. Standing surface accumulation is
reduced, transport is greatly slowed.
Absorption, Interception
6
Urban ecosystems do good things for cities
Urban heat island
About half the worlds population3 billion
peoplenow live in cities. In a couple decades,
its going to be 5 billion people. In developing
countries, people often migrate to cities because
of crop failures, natural disasters, or armed
conflicts, not because cities have robust
economies capable of supporting more people. In
the coming decades, many new city dwellers will
be desperately poor. With little access to air
conditioning, refrigeration, or medical care, the
worlds urban poor will be particularly
vulnerable to heat wave health hazards.
http//earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/GreenRoo
f/printall.php
7
E.O. Wilson. Genius, Crusader for Biodiversity,
and all round good guy.
Biophilia Hypothesis Humans are healthier and
saner when exposed to natural conditions
8
Biophilia Hypothesis Humans heal faster if
they can see a tree from their lhopital
window. http//margaret.tarampi.com/Ulrich_1984.pd
f
9
Biophilia Hypothesis Humans recover from
stress more quickly if they see natural
environments http//www.uns.ethz.ch/edu/teach/mas
ters/ebcdm/readings/Ulrich_R_1991.pdf
10
Biophilia Hypothesis Children have better self
discipline when they can see natural
environments from their house http//web.mac.com/w
csulliv/William_Sullivan/Publications_files/Taylor
,20Kuo,20Sullivan202002.pdf
11
Biophilia Hypothesis Even brief encounters
with nature improves ones mood http//sfrc.ufl.edu
/urbanforestry/Resources/PDF20downloads/Hull_1992
.pdf
12
Biophilia Hypothesis Overall, humans have
better lives if they have access to natural
environments
13
Greenspaces do good things for cities
Oh by the way Green spaces absorb particular
matter. Beautify Provide habitat for critters
people like to watch. .
Reduce noise. Clean water. Encourage outdoor
activity healthier populous. Give kids a place
to play Buffer wind
14
Greenspaces do good things for cities
So can we agree that green spaces in cities are
useful to humans?
15
Greenspaces do good things for cities
Beyond that though.
16
Is this an ecosystem?
17
http//www.beslter.org/
18

• Some urban ecology questions
• How much cooling can be created by adding green
  space.
• Carbon storage by urban system.
• Stormwater mitigation associated with increasing
  green space.

19

• Some urban ecology questions
• Socioecology.

20
(No Transcript)
21

• Restoration in an urban setting?
• How do you define reference conditions?
• (natural, unnatural, what works?)
• -How do you manage the social setting?
• -How do you manage the anthropogenic influences
  (salt, nitrogen, people walking round)

22
Reconciliation Ecology The idea that we do not
have natural areas enough to preserve what must
be preserved. We have to integrate ecological
preservation/restoration into the human
enterprise.