Urban Ecosystems Understanding the Human Environment

With over half of the global human population living in urban regions, urban ecosystems may now represent the contemporary and future human environment. Consisting of green space and the built environment, theyharbour a wide range of species, yet are not well understood. This book aims to review what is currently known about urban ecosystems in a short and approachable text that will serve as a key resource for teaching and learning related to the urban environment. It covers both physical and biotic components of urban ecosystems, key ecological processes, and the management of ecological resources, includingbiodiversity conservation. All chapters incorporate case studies, boxes and questions for stimulating discussions in the learning environment.

Preface 1. An Introduction to Urban Ecology and Urban Ecosystems 2. Urban Form, Structure and Dynamics 3. The UrbanEcosystem: An Overview 4. Ecosystems within Urban Regions – Green Space 5. Ecosystems within Urban Regions– The Built Environment 6. Urban Species 7. Nature Conservation in Urban Regions 8. Incorporating Ecology in Urban Planning and Design 9. The Future of Urban Ecosystems References Index

Robert Francis is Senior Lecturer in Ecology at King's CollegeLondon, UK. Michael Chadwick is a Lecturer in Freshwater & Estuarine Ecology at King's College London, UK.