The use of gradient analysis studies in advancing our understanding of the ecology of urbanizing landscapes: current status and future directions

McDonnell, Mark J.; Hahs, Amy K.

doi:10.1007/s10980-008-9253-4

Cited by 420 publications

(347 citation statements)

References 82 publications

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“…Studies of larger cities clearly demonstrate that in areas outside the city centre urbanization has a negative impact on the richness and biodiversity of small mammal species and even green areas located on the outskirts of a city (where urban species richness and diversity were relatively high) differed significantly from rural areas (Cavia et al 2009;Łopucki et al 2013;Gortat et al 2014). Such observations are consistent with the predictive curves presented in the review by McDonnell and Hahs (2008) showing a Bnegative response^of urban biodiversity along the urban-rural gradient. In Chełm we did not observe this phenomenon and the reactions of small mammals to gradients of urbanization are of a rather Bpunctuated^nature (sensu McDonnell and Hahs 2008).…”

Section: Small City Outskirts and Green Corridorssupporting

confidence: 81%

“…The effects of urbanisation on biotic communities have commonly been studied across urban-rural gradients (McDonnell and Pickett 1990;McDonnell and Hahs 2008;McKinney 2008;Niemelä and Kotze 2009;Cavia et al 2009;Vergnes et al 2014). This approach has the advantages of being intuitive and easily measured.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This approach has the advantages of being intuitive and easily measured. In their review of urban-rural gradient analyses, McDonnell and Hahs (2008) noted that the concept of urbanization gradients is based on the well-established application of gradient analysis tools in order to understand the ecology and distribution of organisms in response to various changes to the environment. They also pointed out that typically, the most intense 'urban' environmental conditions occur in the older, more man-modified centres of cities, with decreasing 'urban' effects further away from city centres.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Comparative analysis of studies that had explicitly taken a gradient approach showed that the relationship between biodiversity and the urban-rural gradient follows a wide range of predictive curves, depending mainly on the taxa studied, e.g. negative response, positive response, punctuated response, intermediate response, bimodal response and no response (McDonnell and Hahs 2008). Apart from urbanization gradient analysis, there are other ecological frameworks that are also useful in understanding the ecology of urbanized landscapes, e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Apart from urbanization gradient analysis, there are other ecological frameworks that are also useful in understanding the ecology of urbanized landscapes, e.g. patch dynamics or meta-analysis (McDonnell and Hahs 2008;Beninde et al 2015).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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How small cities affect the biodiversity of ground-dwelling mammals and the relevance of this knowledge in planning urban land expansion in terms of urban wildlife

Łopucki

Kitowski

2017

Urban Ecosyst

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Fundamental principles regarding urban biodiversity are based on studies conducted in large cities. However we cannot know whether the same phenomena occur in smaller cities or how small cities affect biodiversity. Small cities are an inherent element of urbanization and in the future, most global urban growth is expected to take place in small and mediumsized cities. Understanding the effects of small cities on biodiversity will be an important aspect in planning urban land expansion. Our study examined the effects of a small city on communities of small ground-dwelling mammals on 41 sites arranged in a four step gradient of urbanization. In 6700 trapdays, we caught 2333 individuals comprising 15 species. In the downtown area the same phenomena as those described for large cities were observed: a reduction in species richness and diversity, a decline in the abundance of urban sensitive species and an increase in synurbic species. However, in contrast to large city studies, green areas outside the downtown area did not differ from rural sites in small mammal population parameters. This phenomenon of relatively unchanged fauna outside the downtown area shows that small cities have the potential to maintain a high level of diversity of small grounddwelling mammals if appropriate planning of further building expansion is implemented. More studies of small cities are needed to better assess their impact on biodiversity. This knowledge can then be applied in better planning for urban wildlife. Generalizations based solely on large city studies are inadequate and may lead to incomplete or inappropriate conservation strategies for small cities.

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Section: Small City Outskirts and Green Corridorssupporting

confidence: 81%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

How small cities affect the biodiversity of ground-dwelling mammals and the relevance of this knowledge in planning urban land expansion in terms of urban wildlife

Łopucki

Kitowski

2017

Urban Ecosyst

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Spatiotemporal organization of cryptic North American Culex species along an urbanization gradient

Arsenault‐Benoit,

Fritz

2023

Ecol Sol and Evidence

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Landscape heterogeneity creates diverse habitat and resources for mosquito vectors of disease. A consequence may be varied distribution and abundance of vector species over space and time dependent on niche requirements. We tested the hypothesis that landscape heterogeneity driven by urbanization influences the distribution and relative abundance of Culex pipiens, Cx. restuans and Cx. quinquefasciatus, three vectors of West Nile virus (WNv) in the eastern North American landscape. We collected 9803 cryptic Culex from urban, suburban and rural sites in metropolitan Washington, District of Columbia, during the months of June–October, 2019–2021. In 2021, we also collected mosquitoes in April and May to measure early season abundance and distribution. Molecular techniques were used to identify a subset of collected Culex to species (n = 2461). Ecological correlates of the spatiotemporal distribution of these cryptic Culex were examined using constrained and unconstrained ordination. Seasonality was not associated with Culex community composition in June–October over 3 years, but introducing April and May data revealed seasonal shifts in community composition in the final year of our study. Culex pipiens were dominant across site types, while Cx. quinquefasciatus were associated with urban environments, and Cx. restuans were associated with rural and suburban sites. All three species rarely coexisted. Our work demonstrates that human‐mediated land‐use changes influence the distribution and relative abundance of Culex vectors of WNv, even on fine geospatial scales. Site classification, per cent impervious surface, distance to city centre and longitude predicted Culex community composition. We documented active Culex months before vector surveillance typically commences in this region, with Culex restuans being most abundant during April and May. Active suppression of Cx. restuans in April and May could reduce early enzootic transmission, delay the seasonal spread of WNv and thereby reduce overall WNv burden. By June, the highest risk of epizootic spillover of WNv to human hosts may be in suburban areas with high human population density and mixed Culex assemblages that can transmit WNv between birds and humans. Focusing management efforts there may further reduce human disease burden.

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Characterizing Biodiversity in Urban Areas Using Remote Sensing

Hedblom

Mörtberg

2011

Urban Remote Sensing

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The use of gradient analysis studies in advancing our understanding of the ecology of urbanizing landscapes: current status and future directions

Cited by 420 publications

References 82 publications

How small cities affect the biodiversity of ground-dwelling mammals and the relevance of this knowledge in planning urban land expansion in terms of urban wildlife

How small cities affect the biodiversity of ground-dwelling mammals and the relevance of this knowledge in planning urban land expansion in terms of urban wildlife

Spatiotemporal organization of cryptic North American Culex species along an urbanization gradient

Characterizing Biodiversity in Urban Areas Using Remote Sensing

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