Chasing Bats and Tracking Rats: Urban Ecology, Community Science, and How We Share Our Cities
To my parents who helped a Black city kid grow up with a deep love of nature I hope this book helps other melanated kids do the same C G
Introduction Living in the Urban Jungle There are more than seven billion people on earth Over half of these people around 55 percent live in cities That’s a lot And guess what That number keeps going up Cities may make life easier for many humans by bringing us closer to things like grocery stores jobs and hospitals but they make it much harder for most wildlife Think about it to build our cities we destroy the natural spaces that are homes for insects plants and animals We make roadways that split forests into smaller pieces We mow fields so we have parks to play in Sometimes we even get rid of everything when we pave over the ground to create parking lots These changes are too much for many plants and animals to handle Without the right type of habitat many species can’t survive in cities This means there is often less biodiversity or different types of plants and animals in cities compared to natural spaces But guess what Some creatures seem to do okay in cities In fact some species do better in cities than in their natural habitats There is still a lot we don’t know about urban wildlife but scientists are learning more every day As cities continue to grow and expand it’s important that we understand how city living may be changing the behavior of these species and how living so close to them may be affecting us The scientists who study how different species interact with each other and their environments are called ecologists When most people think of these wildlife scientists they think of people adventuring in far-off places Perhaps you’ve even seen ecologists like these on TV diving in the ocean or exploring in rainforests But there is a whole group of ecologists who study the animals and plants living in cities Ecologists like me Hi My name is Cylita and I’m one of the many urban ecologists around the world helping us understand nature in our cities introduction 1
Have you ever wondered how far rats scurrying out of dumpsters might travel in the city Or how many bird species are in your local park What about the ways that plants can fight climate change in urban areas From bats to bees and microplastics to trees this book will introduce you to urban ecologists who answer questions like these ones And because science requires teamwork all of the urban ecologists you’ll meet are people that I know and have worked with You’ll also learn about the wacky ways we do our science in urban environments environments like riding a science bike Cities are complicated and busy places filled with lots of different challenges to doing research As urban ecologists we have to come up with creative approaches to get our data and build cool tools to help answer our questions Some of my urban ecologist friends even get everyday people like you to help them collect their data We want to help you understand why nature is so important in our cities Humans get a lot of benefits or ecosystem services from nature but we also have a responsibility to keep our environments healthy and protect the species living in them We also want you to explore your own local biodiversity so keep an eye out for urban ecology challenges at the end of each chapter Who knows while you’re out adventuring in your neighborhood you might even meet one of us or your own friendly neighborhood urban ecologist Urban Ecology Challenge Each scientist in this book has created a challenge just for you These challenges will get you thinking like an urban ecologist and will show you how to be a protector of your local biodiversity Before you start make sure you have a small notebook and pencil No explorer adventurer or scientist goes anywhere without their trusty field notebook Look but don’t touch and please don’t feed Throughout this book you’re going to hear stories from scientists who catch and handle wildlife for a living These scientists me included have had years of training and wear special equipment to keep them and the animals they handle safe When you go out to enjoy the species in your neighborhood please don’t try to touch any of the animals you meet And don’t share your food with them Although lots of animals beg for human treats this food can make them sick later 2
Talk like an urban ecologist Key Terms Here are a few special terms we urban ecologists use in our work terms that will pop up in many chapters in this book If you’re reading and aren’t sure what a word means flip back to this page Urban Also known as cities urban areas are places where lots of people live and work together Suburban As you move toward the outskirts of cities homes and people usually become more spread out These are called suburban areas Rural Outside of cities people may live in small groups surrounded by farmland and natural areas These are rural communities Wilderness These are natural areas that haven’t been changed by humans or where human activity is minimal Ecosystem services The benefits humans receive from natural environments and the species inhabiting them For example animals and insects pollinate our crops trees and other plants provide building materials not to mention the air we breathe and wetlands help to filter and purify water key terms 3
