BIOD54H3 Lecture 3: Urban Conservation
27 Feb 2018
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Document Summary
People are the defining and most obvious feature of a city. The ways in which we manipulate the landscape, both terrestrial and aquatic, indicate urbanization. By measuring these different factors, we can elucidate the idea of a gradient. Average 40 to 50% of land, 60% of core. Creates mix of green space of varying habitat quality. Toronto, but if you move just a kilometer or two into the city, the surface is almost 50% impervious. High productivity in parks, gardens, allotment plots, cultivated areas. Intentional and unintentional availability of food for certain animals. Disturbance, radical soil changes, noise and litter: changes in the nutrient inputs around the city. Light levels: artificial light is used for safety, circulation, transportation, etc, artificial lights have a negative impact on different species, some insect species are nocturnal and positively phototrophic, meaning that they move towards the light. Moths, for example, search for mates through lighting cues.
