Author
Per Bolund
Bio: Per Bolund is an academic researcher from Stockholm University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Ecosystem & Ecosystem health. The author has an hindex of 1, co-authored 1 publications receiving 2138 citations.
Topics: Ecosystem, Ecosystem health, Urban climate, Urban ecosystem, Urban area
Papers
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TL;DR: In this article, the authors analyzed the ecosystem services generated by ecosystems within the urban area and concluded that the locally generated ecosystem services have a substantial impact on the quality of life in urban areas and should be addressed in land-use planning.
2,399 citations
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TL;DR: The most consistent and pervasive effect is an increase in impervious surface cover within urban catchments, which alters the hydrology and geomorphology of streams as discussed by the authors, which results in predictable changes in stream habitat.
Abstract: The world’s population is concentrated in urban areas. This change in demography has brought landscape transformations that have a number of documented effects on stream ecosystems. The most consistent and pervasive effect is an increase in impervious surface cover within urban catchments, which alters the hydrology and geomorphology of streams. This results in predictable changes in stream habitat. In addition to imperviousness, runoff from urbanized surfaces as well as municipal and industrial discharges result in increased loading of nutrients, metals, pesticides, and other contaminants to streams. These changes result in consistent declines in the richness of algal, invertebrate, and fish communities in urban streams. Although understudied in urban streams, ecosystem processes are also affected by urbanization. Urban streams represent opportunities for ecologists interested in studying disturbance and contributing to more effective landscape management.
3,007 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a conceptual framework of associations between urban green space and ecosystem and human health is proposed, which highlights many dynamic factors, and their complex interactions, affecting ecosystem health and human Health in urban areas.
2,151 citations
TL;DR: 105 studies on the effects of urbanization on the species richness of non-avian species: mammals, reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates and plants are reviewed, including the importance of nonnative species importation, spatial heterogeneity, intermediate disturbance and scale as major factors influencing species richness.
Abstract: Many studies have described the effects of urbanization on species richness. These studies indicate that urbanization can increase or decrease species richness, depending on several variables. Some of these variables include: taxonomic group, spatial scale of analysis, and intensity of urbanization. Recent reviews of birds (the most-studied group) indicate that species richness decreases with increasing urbanization in most cases but produces no change or even increases richness in some studies. Here I expand beyond the bird studies by reviewing 105 studies on the effects of urbanization on the species richness of non-avian species: mammals, reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates and plants. For all groups, species richness tends to be reduced in areas with extreme urbanization (i.e., central urban core areas). However, the effects of moderate levels of urbanization (i.e., suburban areas) vary significantly among groups. Most of the plant studies (about 65%) indicate increasing species richness with moderate urbanization whereas only a minority of invertebrate studies (about 30%) and a very small minority of non-avian vertebrate studies (about 12%) show increasing species richness. Possible explanations for these results are discussed, including the importance of nonnative species importation, spatial heterogeneity, intermediate disturbance and scale as major factors influencing species richness.
1,897 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors synthesize knowledge and methods to classify and value ecosystem services for urban planning and identify analytical challenges for valuation to inform urban planning in the face of high heterogeneity and fragmentation characterizing urban ecosystems.
1,264 citations
TL;DR: Development of urban forest management alternatives that mitigate pollution should consider scale, contexts, heterogeneity, management intensities and other social and economic co-benefits, tradeoffs, and costs affecting stakeholders and urban sustainability goals.
794 citations