Journal article
Existing ecological theory applies to urban environments
KM Parris
Landscape and Ecological Engineering | SPRINGER JAPAN KK | Published : 2018
Abstract
There is a prominent view within urban ecology that existing ecological theory is insufficient to understand the ecology of urban environments. However, many ecological theories, hypotheses and paradigms have been shown to apply to cities just as they do to other types of ecosystems. Here, I identify 16 ecological theories that have been applied to urban environments, with examples. I also illustrate the utility of metapopulation theory in cities with a case study on pond-breeding frogs in Melbourne, Australia.
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Funding Acknowledgements
I thank Michael McCarthy, Sarah Bekessy, Tom Browning, Jeannie Campbell, Terry Coates, Alexander Dalton, Lauren Edwards, Jane Elith, Amy Hahs, Michael Harper, Mark McDonnell, Nick O'Brien, Jenny Porter, Rodney van der Ree, Emma Seager, James Seager, Ollie Sherlock, Nick Williams, Brendan Wintle and Cassie Wright for assistance with fieldwork. I also thank Michael McCarthy for assistance with statistical analysis. This study was approved by the University of Melbourne Animal Experimentation Ethics Committee (register no. 00128), and conducted under research permit no. 10001422 issued by the Victorian Department of Natural Resources and Environment. It was supported by Australian Research Centre for Urban Ecology and the Australian Government through the National Environmental Science Program's Research Hub for Clean Air and Urban Landscapes.