Urban Biodiversity: Conservation and yManagement

Charles NilonUniversity of MissouriUniversity of MissouriColumbia, MO USA

BiodiversityM t d C tiManagement and ConservationBird Conservation in Midwest U SBird Conservation in Midwest U.S.Managing the Matrix

Urban BiodiversityUrban Biodiversity

Human Impacted Human Dominated

species richness

population densitiespopulation densities

U b Bi di itUrban Biodiversity

Species in Region

Habitats that support viable populations, etc.Habitats that support viable populations, etc.

Processes that maintain those habitats

S d t l 2000Savard et al. 2000

Urban BiodiversityS lScaleLot / PropertyArea of cityCityCityRegion

Different approaches to managementDifferent approaches to managementDifferent groups of managers

Kinzig et al. 2005gFactors Driving Urban Biodiversity

Top-downL l GLocal Government

Planning and Zoning / DesignInfluences patch type

Influences matrix

Influences building, abandonment, redevelopment

Bottom UpBottom UpLandowner / Resident Decision MakingLinked to PreferenceInfluences management decisions

C t t f U b Bi di itContext of Urban Biodiversity

Social (Cilliers 2010)C it ti i tiCommunity participation

Sustainable developmentSustainable development

Poverty reductionPoverty reduction

Context of Urban BiodiversityContext of Urban Biodiversity

Cultural (Millard 2010)

Cultural processes determine urban biodiversity

Urban biodiversity shapes perceptions and culture

A hApproaches

Wildlife Management (Caughley)“Th t d i f l i l i l“The art and science of applying ecological

knowledge in ways that seek a balance between the needs of wildlife and the needs of people.” p p

Conservation Biology (Gibbs et al.)“Maintaining the planets biodiversity FallsMaintaining the planets biodiversity... Falls

within a larger area of natural resource management.?

Marzluff and Rodewald 2008Urban Bird Conservation

Protect natural areas

Plan explicitly for open spaces and naturalPlan explicitly for open spaces and natural habitats

Maintain variety of arrangements of built andMaintain variety of arrangements of built and natural

Improve quality of matrixImprove quality of matrix

Grassland BirdsMidwest U.S.

Many grassland and shrubland speciesshrubland species rare and/or declining

Habitat LossHabitat Loss

Management changeschanges

FireGrazing

Grassland Birds in MidwestGrassland Birds in Midwest

Grassland and shrubland habitatsshrubland habitatsWhere did they occur

SizeLocationLocation

How did habitats function?

Management to gmaintain them?

Grassland BirdsBurhans and Thompson (2006)

Urban parksN t i l f 4Nest survival of 4

speciesManagement

recommendationsVegetation height,

compositionp• Reduce

mowingg• Maintain

burning• Matrix

Management ContextManagement Context

50 ha Semi-natural habitat in urban parkhabitat in urban park

Adjacent residents

Park Managers /Park Managers / Agency Culture

Park UsersPark Users

Bi di it i th M t iBiodiversity in the Matrix

H t l 2006Heynen et. al. 2006

The place where we livelive

The place where we workwork

The place where we playplay

Pl f I t t t R hPlaces of Interest to Researchers

What are patterns of biodiversity?biodiversity?DeGraaf et al. 1970's

Birds

Gaston et al. 2000'sVegetationI tInsectsBirds

Wh t l i ?What are we learning?

Number of species supportedsupported

BUGS ProjectYards and gardensYards and gardens support higher numbers of native andnumbers of native and exotic plant species

Conservation ValueConservation value of matrix habitatsmatrix habitatsMatteson – bee species

Urban yards andUrban yards and community gardens –lowerlowerSuburban yards - high

Urban Neighborhood Types g ypand Birds (Nilon et al. 2010)

Variables Explaining Differences AmongVariables Explaining Differences Among Bird Census Points

Lot-level (UFORE Plot Data)% Building cover Tar Rock vs% Building cover, Tar, Rock vs.% Tree cover, Maintained grass, Unmaintained grassBlock level (100m transects)No. of Housing Units vs.No. of Trees, No. Housing units with trees,No. of Trees, No. Housing units with trees, No. Housing units with shrubsNeighborhood % Tree Cover vs% Tree Cover vs.% Buildings, Other Vegetation

%Bachelor Degree vs.%Black, %Families on Pub Asst;

What about management of the gmatrix?

What people do mattersmatters

Brunet 2006Butterflies in residential

yards

Differences when native plant species present

Differences when more of yard is in flower gardensgardens.

Socioeconomic StatusBird Diversity: Baltimore and PhoenixBird Diversity: Baltimore and Phoenix

16 R2=0.76

131415

s

R 0.76p<0.0001

111213

richn

ess

91011

spec

ies

78

Baltimore (N=50)Phoenix (N=16)R2=0.15

p=0.0056

0 10000 20000 30000 40000 50000 6000Median Family Income

Baltimore (N=50)p

y

Management of the MatrixgGuidelines for Property Owners

Programs in placeB tBut:

In U.S. CitiesEconomic StatusRace and EthnicRace and EthnicHome Ownership

Shape and influenceShape and influence management decisions

Managing the MatrixManaging the MatrixCity and Region

Planning effortsS i l ithSpecial areas with

guidelines for managementmanagement

But often ignore common species andcommon species and built environments

CollaborationsBES Biodiversity GroupBES Biodiversity Group

Neighborhood Nestwatch Brian KaneH iNeighborhood NestwatchPeter MarraSmithsonian Mig Bird Ctr

Brian KaneUMass-Amherst

HungarianNat HistoryMuseum

Watershed 263

HERCULESMary CadenassoMary Cadenasso

Dave CursonMD Audubon

Michel Cavigelli, Beltsville Ag Res Ctr

People Interested in UrbanPeople Interested in Urban Biodiversity

Parks and People’s Green Career Ladder Project Pigeon WatchBird curriculum for Baltimore City Public Schools – C. CarlsonUrban Soils and Worms -Teacher’s WorkshopE h f i ti t dExchange of scientists and students – US Hungary (BCEB NSF UMEB)(BCEB – NSF UMEB)

Urban BiodiversityUrban Biodiversity

What collaborations are necessary to conserve and manage at scales from lot to region?and manage at scales from lot to region?ResidentsPlannersProperty OwnersProperty OwnersEcologists?