Urban ecology

Urban ecology is a subfield of ecology which deals with the interaction between organisms in an urban or urbanized community, and their interaction with that community. Urban ecologists study the trees, rivers, wildlife and open spaces found in cities to understand the extent of those resources and the way they are affected by pollution, overdevelopment and other pressures.[1] Urban ecology is most concerned with the interaction of human beings and the environment with regard to ecosystem services in the urban setting. Analysis of urban settings in the context of ecosystem ecology (looking at the cycling of matter and the flow of energy through the ecosystem) may ultimately help us to design healthier, better managed communities, by understanding what threats the urban environment brings to humans. There is an emphasis on planning communities with an ecological design, by using alternative building materials and methods. This is in order to promote a healthy and biodiverse urban ecosystem.