To do this within 220 pages seems impossible to me. The preface as well remarks that "the study of urban ecosystems and the field of urban ecology are growing at a fast rate, and it is difficult to keep up with the amount of published research around the world." The editors also explain, an "introductory book cannot be comprehensive," but is "synthesized from 600 sources."
Chapter one is an overview of the field and offers some key terms, explaining for the reader how to approach the book and the rate at which the fiel is growing. In the case of the term "ecology," the breadth of interpretations can result in some confusion at the best of times. The authors explain how the term urban ecology came to be defined as a biotic community that can encompass both an entire city and specific parks within the city as well. To make things more complicated, this introductory text points out that different places have entirely different definitions of what is "urban" s well. To emphasize this serious challenge in standardizing studies, there is a chart showing different countries around the globe and their different definitions of the actual term "urban." These variations also make standardization difficult, bringing the authors to emphasize how those new to the science must look at specific cases to define the particular ecosystem involved. As the book points out, context must be highlighted in every scientific study, but particularly that of urban ecology. The authors remark that context distinctions are essential when defining urban ecosystems functioning within a high proportion of built environments, or within a high population density. They also emphasize the need for drawing spatial distinctions between areas. The fluid identity of the city is another special character of urban places that requires studies to explain context and spatial areas clearly, the authors remarking that shifting urbanization is a study in itself.
The book then goes on to elicit intrigue in those new to urban ecology studies, stating how underexplored the science of urban ecology still is and how each city is ecologically novel from the next and ever-changing. Diversity of species is also mentioned early in the book as a key issue conservationist researchers find vital to their studies. "Ecological novelty is also reflected in the types and diversities of species found within" any urban area of study. That these can exhibit "new ecologies and novel species assemblages," as well as "a 'recombinant' or 'mixo-ecology' that has not been seen before and which may be particularly dynamic and changeable," (p 14) makes urban ecological research all the more critical. Urban ecology is an environmental touchstone to species adaptation and supplies information about the mitigation of human impact that no other science can.
Chapter two and three talks about three dimensional structures of urban environments, inviting rewders to see them in all their dimensions, rather than simply the model on an architect's table without life. Form, structure and dynamics of both regions and landscapes define every urban environment. Essentially, the book tells us, urban ecology shapes and is shaped. Chapter four focusses on green space, including urban rivers. It was my favorite chapter. Urban rivers are often undergound, or buried by development, but they must not vanish from our awareness or our whole understanding of an urban place is in peril. Rivers are life. Paths and homes are often established along river routes first, as are animal dens and places that animals frequent, and these are creetures we share our world with. Chapter five introduces the importance of built environments, their impact, their success stories and their potential future design. Chapter six, urban species, and "assemblages," which is a term you will see used a lot in urban ecology, describes both those creatures that are well-studied in urban science, as well as those that hide well or are less observed by the human eye. Chapter seven, presenting issues involving the nature conservation of urban species, also presents the ideas involved in the science of urban "reconciliation ecology." Citizen science is also discussed, as in any city there is an army of potential observers and note-takers capable of studying ecological features of their immediate surroundings.
In chapter eight, urban and environmental engineering in urban regions is addressed. This is an interesting topic, if only because humans are often trying to manage the environment in ways that csn create significant changes to a pre-existing natural balance in an area. Chapter nine, a useful point of reflection towards the future studies we might see in the field of urban ecology, summarizes likely trends. I am very satified that the authors who set out on the difficult task of writing a key resource for interested future students of urban edology, have succeeded in their endeavour. The book is thorough and level-handed. It must not have been an easy task to compose such an in-depth book in such a short number of pages, and I beleive the authors have done a commendable job of presenting urban ecology to the public in a way that inspires potential new students to the science as well.
Francis, R. A., & Chadwick, M. A. (2013). Urban ecosystems: Understanding the human environment. Routledge.
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