Comparative ecology of cities and towns: Past, present and future

Abstract

Introduction: Comparative studies can be simply described as the systematic assessment of similarities and differences between diverse entities, philosophies and styles. To conduct such studies requires similar data that can be compared and an appropriate method or scheme of comparison. For example, comparisons can range from a simple assessment of the morphological traits of different species of plants to a comparison of the political and economic systems of different cities. Such studies have provided important new understandings about the evolutionary relationships between plants as well as the factors that influence the creation and dynamics of political and economic systems around the w..