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Description
The anthropogenic activity resulting from urbanization has significantly contributed to biodiversity loss (Das et al., 2024) and part of this transformation involves buildings, streets, and sidewalks. Urban biodiversity studies frequently investigate the relationship between the degree of urbanization and its effects on species (Yang et al., 2023). Particular attention has been given to the role of green spaces in maintaining biodiversity within cities (Winardi et al., 2023), as well as to the ways birds respond to various landscape features in urban contexts (Cristaldi et al., 2023). However, the influence of other urban elements, such as the built environment itself, remains less understood.
There remains a lack of understanding regarding the specific effects of urban characteristics, such as building typologies, age, or façade composition, on biodiversity. While some studies have broadly examined the relationship between urbanization and species diversity, they often overlook the finer-scale attributes of urban environments that may play a critical role in shaping biodiversity patterns. Moreover, the spatial arrangement and connectivity of these urban features may determine the availability of nesting sites and feeding options. Previous studies have yet to comprehensively assess how different urban configurations—beyond generalized classifications of urban and non-urban spaces—affect the capacity of cities to sustain and promote flora and fauna (Flégeau et al., 2021).
This study highlights the importance of incorporating biodiversity considerations into urban planning, examining how diverse urban structures can support bird populations and contribute to the resilience of urban ecosystems. Specifically, it investigates whether significant differences exist in species richness and individual abundance across three urban configurations: historic centres, open blocks, and closed blocks. The research was conducted in Valencia, Spain, utilizing urban composition data from open-access platforms and bird data from a citizen science program.
By emphasizing the ecological implications of urban development and advocating for biodiversity-friendly measures, this study contributes to the understanding of how urban planning can promote conservation and mitigate biodiversity loss in urban landscapes. It provides critical insights into how specific urban configurations, such as historic centres with their unique architectural elements, as well as open block and closed block layouts, differ in their capacity to support avian biodiversity. The findings highlight not only the role of urban structures in providing habitat opportunities but also their potential to foster ecological resilience in cities facing increasing pressures from urban expansion.
References
-Cristaldi, M.A., Godoy, I.N. and Leveau, L.M. (2023) Responses of Urban Bird Assemblages to Land-Sparing and Land-Sharing Development Styles in Two Argentinian Cities. Animals, 13(5), pp. 1-23.
-Das, M., Inácio, M., Das, A., Barcelo, D. and Pereira, P. (2024) Mapping and assessment of ecosystem health in the Vilnius functional zone (Lithuania). Science of the Total Environment, 912, pp. 1-14
-Flégeau, M., Soubelet, H., Carré, S., Barot, S., Lagurgue, X., Bognon, S. and Clergeau, P. (2021) What evidence exists on the possible effects of urban forms on terrestrial biodiversity in western cities? A systematic map protocol. Environmental Evidence, 10(1), pp.1-11.
-Winarni, N.L., Nuruliawati, N., Anugra, B.G., Junaid, A.R., Widayanti, S., Aslan, A. and Wulandari, Y. (2023) Can cities provide butterfly-friendly habitats? Biodiversitas Journal of Biological Diversity, 24(4). pp. 2334-2341.
-Yang, M., Gao, X., Siddique, K.H., Wu, P. and Zhao, X. (2023) Spatiotemporal exploration of ecosystem service, urbanization, and their interactive coercing relationship in the Yellow River Basin over the past 40 years. Science of the Total Environment, 858. pp. 1-13.
| Keywords | biodiversity; urban birds, landscape, urbanization, citizen science. |
|---|---|
| Best Congress Paper Award | Yes |
