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Managing Urban Environments for Wildlife
Robert A. McCleery1, Chistopher E2. Moorman, Mark C. Wallace3 and David Drake4 1University of Florida 2North Carolina State University 3Texas Tech University 4University of Wisconsin
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INTRODUCTION 50% of the human population lives in urban and suburban areas. Urban settings have implications for human health, quality of life, education, and esthetics Wildlife ecologists have become increasingly engaged in and around urban areas because of the potential impact of working in these environments Urban areas are fundamentally different than rural and wild areas
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Most human-wildlife interactions occur in urban/suburban areas
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Ecological Processes, Soils and Hydrology
Energy minimal net-primary production energy comes from fossil fuels food resources are available to wildlife Climate increased temperatures humidity is lower, precipitation is greater Disturbance suppression of large scale disturbances increased anthropogenic disturbances Evolution selective pressures caused by humans are pronounced in urban areas Socioeconomics features of urbanization are tied to social, economic, and political realities Soils compacted, sealed, and impervious poor water retention Hydrology increased surface runoff, channel size, water temperatures, nitrogen, phosphorus, heavy metals, and pesticides Reduced biodiversity
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Urban Vegetation Three Categories : Remnant Colonizing Planted
native vegetative surrounded by development Colonizing invasive, exotic, and early successional plants Planted managed communities of nonnative grasses and planted shrubs, trees, and ground cover General Characteristics simplified with increasing urbanization widely spaced plantings of few species nonnative plants dominate the core areas snags and downed woody debris occur in low densities increased risk of drought because of the runoff from impervious surfaces
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The abundance of snags and downed logs is low in the built environment, efforts should be focused on conserving these critical habitat elements
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Wildlife Communities and Urbanization
Three Categories : Avoiders sensitive to human activities and not able to use the anthropogenic resources Adapters edge species well adapted to the typical suburban, backyard, forest–park matrix Exploiters homogenous group of species that are often not native to the region and highly adapted to urban environment General Patterns urbanization causes extinction and local extirpation of native vertebrate invasive nonnative species have replaced native wildlife, filling the ecological vacuum densities and biomass of wildlife are high diversity generally decreases but may increase with low-level of urbanization Diversity decreases in city center
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Demographic, Physiology and Behavior
Demographics higher densities, fecundity and survival rates anthropogenic causes of mortality Physiology larger individuals reduced health Behaviors reduced responses to humans altered diets reduced migration use of structures loader vocalizations altered activity patterns
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What is Urban Urban wildlife research is not restricted to cities and their surrounding suburbs or to natural areas within them. Urban wildlife research also includes investigations of wildlife in and around concentrated human developments of varying sizes, and in areas and communities connected to cities through transportation, utilities, or the flow of materials. Urban wildlife is an inherently interdisciplinary field. We cannot truly understand how patterns of human development influence wildlife without integrating social sciences into ecological research.
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Urban Study Design compare wildlife populations in urban areas to less developed areas. gradient approach using landscape and patch metrics hypothesize what features are influencing wildlife and relate them to measured changes Account for scale Use multiple scales
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Research Logistics meet with stakeholder groups engage local residents
gain permission for access to study sites handle animals away from the public’s eye beware of theft and vandalism don’t let access bias your study
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Managing in the Urban Environment -Practitioners
Wildlife management is people management diversity of landowners urban human–wildlife conflicts public unsure of whom to contact for help Promoting programs direct contact with stakeholders build community support outreach, involvement and interpretation provide incentives
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Management of Wildlife in Exurban, Suburban, and Urban Areas
Size of habitat Exurban Suburban and urban Small habitat extents Protection through development ordinances, conservation subdivisions; collaborative backyard activity; appropriate park and open space management Protection through development ordinances, conservation subdivisions; collaborative backyard habitats; appropriate park and open space management Large habitat extents Protection through zoning and development ordinances, conservation subdivisions, collaborative backyard activity; appropriate park and open space management Limited options; corridors or stepping stones to help wildlife move through
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Habitat Conservation and Management
Focus on restoring degraded sites Conservation efforts should be directed by specific landowner Work collaboratively with urban planners and landscape architects Educate local governments & participate in public hearings Map of potential conservation lands during planning process
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Managing Landscapes Conserving landscapes 60% of the landscape
Connectivity corridors stepping Stones Zoning Development ordinances Acceptable land use Development patterns integrate open space into built environment consolidate open areas city center deign transit orient development Conservation incentives density bonuses transferrable development rights tax credits
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Open-spaces and Green Developments
Invasive plant removal Recreational effects close sensitive areas leash laws Early successional Habitats need disturbance fire and timber regulations can be restrictive Green Developments green neighborhoods conservation subdivisions During construction protect trees silt fences During post construction use native plants use water, pesticides and fertilizers sparingly keep pets indoors
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Open Spaces Within Urban Areas
Riparian Buffers stabilize stream banks reduce pollution larger buffers provide wildlife habitat Greenways and trails wider greenways (>100 m) are better breeding birds avoid cutting vegetation next to paths Impoundments construction irregular shorelines sloping banks include islands Water management periodic drawdowns
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Greenways are multipurpose, linear, protected open spaces
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Home Lot Management Landscaping native plants fruit bearing plants
brush piles layer landscaping retain snags and deadwood Nest boxes surrogates for natural cavities Feeders promotes seed eating species clean feeder regularly Reducing collisions place feeders close to windows do not reflect vegetation in windows use awnings
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Bird Collisions Reducing collisions place feeders close to windows
angle window downward remove reflective vegetation from window install awnings Millions of birds die each year from collisions with windows
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Nest boxes can should be designed and located as is appropriate for target wildlife species
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Road Management impact from roads may exceed hundreds of meters
Management approaches underpasses overpasses fences strategic road placement
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Attracting Wildlife Birds Mammals Reptiles and amphibians Butterflies
water feeders houses cats indoors Mammals brush piles bat houses Reptiles and amphibians piled rocks cover ponds Butterflies sun water caterpillar-host plants colorful flowers
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Damage in Urban/Suburban Areas
Economic, health-related, and natural resource damage 8 billion $ to manage wildlife in US greatest damage from mice, rats raccoons moles pigeons starlings Overabundant species Often edge-oriented and habitat generalists. Many of the interactions suburban and urban residents have with wildlife are often perceived to be negative.
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Groups of Canada geese (Branta canadensis) are often viewed as pests because of the mess their dropping make and the damage they can cause to residential lawns, golf courses, and ornamental plants
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Wildlife Damage Management
Identify the problem Use animal’s life history, ecology and behavior can be used to resolve the problem. trap placement bait timing behavioral deterrents Controlling nuisance animals Nonlethal more accepted by the public not always effects moves animal to new location Lethal can eliminate a nuisance animal not always accepted Reproductive controls
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Wildlife, like these once endangered brown pelicans (Pelecanus occidentalis), can easily habituate to people. Eliminating hand outs and the random implementation of diverse harassment techniques can help combat habituation
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Methods for Managing Wildlife Damage
Take an integrated approach diverse techniques Randomness of times and locations Be proactive before the problem occurs Have a knowledge of state and federal laws Make ethical considerations
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FUTURE DIRECTIONS There will continue to be growing opportunities for practitioners and researchers in urban systems The future of urban wildlife ecology and management depends upon the new cohort of biologists, and it will be what they make of it.
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