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For nonhuman primates living in anthropogenic areas, predation by larger predators is relatively rare. However, smaller predators, such as free-ranging as well as domesticated dogs, can shape the socioecology of urban nonhuman primates, either directly by attacking and killing them or indirectly by modifying their activity patterns. Here, we describe three (two probably fatal) cases of dog attacks on adult rhesus macaques inhabiting an anthropogenic landscape in Northern India and the circumstances surrounding these incidents. We discuss the importance of considering human presence and intervention in dog-nonhuman primate relationships while studying nonhuman primate populations across anthropogenic gradients, and its potential influences on group social dynamics and transmission of zoonotic agents.

Wildlife faces many challenges living alongside humans, but certain species can overcome these obstacles and succeed even in urban areas. Boldness and neophobia are 2 potential aspects of animal personality that could affect urban adaptation and, if correlated, may form a behavioral syndrome. If urban individuals are bolder and less neophobic than rural individuals, they may be able to exploit anthropogenic landscapes more fully. We tested this idea by conducting flight initiation distance and novel object experiments with 10 urban and 10 rural Northern Cardinals (Cardinalis cardinalis). Urban birds had shorter flight initiation distances and foraged near novel objects more readily than rural birds, and both behaviors were highly repeatable within individuals, suggestive of personality. We found a positive correlation wherein bolder individuals were also less neophobic, but only in the rural population. Thus, the urban environment may impose selective pressures that result in population-level differences in these 2 behaviors, while also decoupling them such that urban individuals can fine tune their behaviors in response to novel conditions. In contrast, the existence of a behavioral syndrome in rural birds may be an adaptive response to a more consistent environment. In total, these results help explain how Northern Cardinals can modify their behaviors, either plastically or via genetic evolution, to thrive in urban areas. Received 20 October 2023. Accepted 17 June 2024. Key words: behavioral syndrome, flight initiation distance, personality, urban adaptation, urban ecology. (Spanish)--La vida silvestre enfrenta muchos retos al coexistir con humanos, pero ciertas especies pueden superar esos obstaculos y tener exito aun en areas urbanas. Atrevimiento y neofobia son 2 aspectos potenciales de personalidad animal que pueden afectar la adaptacion urbana y, si estan correlacionadas, pueden formar un sindrome de comportamiento. Si los individuos urbanos son mas atrevidos y menos neofobicos que los individuos rurales, pueden ser capaces de aprovechar los paisajes antropogenicos completamente. Probamos la idea haciendo experimentos de distancia de vuelo de iniciacion y y de objetos nuevos con 10 cardenales Cardinalis cardinalis urbanos y 10 rurales. Las aves urbanas tenian distancias mas cortas de vuelo inicial y forrajeaban objetos nuevos cercanos mas rapidamente que las aves rurales, y ambos comportamientos eran altamente repetibles en un individuo, lo que sugiere personalidad. Encontramos una correlacion positiva en la que individuos mas audaces eran menos neofobicos, pero solo en poblaciones rurales. Por lo tanto, el ambiente urbano puede imponer presiones selectivas que resulten en diferencias poblacionales en estos dos comportamientos, a la vez que se desacoplan en medios urbanos de manera que los individuos urbanos pueden tener un ajuste fino de estos comportamientos en respuesta a las condiciones nuevas. En contraste, la existencia de un sindrome de comportamiento en aves rurales puede ser una respuesta adaptativa a un ambiente mas consistente. En total, estos resultados ayudan a explicar como los cardenales pueden modificar su comportamiento, ya sea de manera plastica o por evolucion genetica, para prosperar en areas urbanas. Palabras clave: adaptacion urbana, distancia de vuelo de iniciacion, ecologia urbana, personalidad, sindrome de comportamiento., Urbanization negatively affects many wildlife species, including birds. Most species cannot readily coexist with humans in urban areas, and as a result, urbanization typically decreases avian diversity (Aronson et al. [...]

Green infrastructure (GI) plays a crucial role in sustainable urban development, but effective mapping and analysis of such features requires a detailed understanding of the materials and state-of-the-art methods. This review presents the current landscape of green infrastructure mapping, focusing on the various sensors and image data, as well as the application of machine learning and deep learning techniques for classification or segmentation tasks. After finding articles with relevant keywords, the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyzes) method was used as a general workflow, but some parts were automated (e.g., screening) by using natural language processing and large language models. In total, this review analyzed 55 papers that included keywords related to GI mapping and provided materials and learning methods (i.e., machine or deep learning) essential for effective green infrastructure mapping. A shift towards deep learning methods can be observed in the mapping of GIs as 33 articles use various deep learning methods, while 22 articles use machine learning methods. In addition, this article presents a novel methodology for automated verification methods, demonstrating their potential effectiveness and highlighting areas for improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban expansion has triggered significant changes in soil organic carbon (SOC), profoundly affecting the global carbon cycle. The accurate prediction of the global distribution of urban SOC and assessment of the impact of future urban expansion on SOC are essential for urban soil carbon management. By using data from 377 urban locations, this study estimated the global distribution of urban SOC and projected future SOC changes under two socioeconomic scenarios: SSP126 and SSP585. The results showed that compared with the urban SOC density in 2000 (64.75 Mg C ha− 1), the global urban SOC density by 2100 decreased by 1.19% and 4.72% under the SSP126 and SSP585 scenarios, respectively. However, urban SOC stocks increased by 66.13% and 178.75% by 2100 under SSP126 and SSP585, respectively, reflecting a "carbon transfer" from natural ecosystems to urban land use. This study provides critical insights into the dynamics of urban SOC and underscores the necessity to balance urban expansion with ecosystem protection to reduce carbon loss and stabilise the global carbon balance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Greenhouse gas emissions are primary drivers of climate change, and the intensification of extreme heat and urban heat island effects poses serious threats to urban ecosystems, public health, and energy consumption. This study systematically evaluated the carbon reduction potential of 369 urban parks in Jinan during extreme heat events using land surface temperature (LST) retrieval, combined with CatBoost + SHAP machine learning methods. Results indicate that the LST in Jinan ranged from 1.77 °C to 59.44 °C, and 278 parks exhibited significant cooling effects, collectively saving 2943 tons of CO2 per day—offsetting 11.28% of the city's fossil fuel emissions. Small parks, such as community parks, demonstrated higher carbon-saving efficiency (CSE), while large ecological parks showed greater carbon-saving intensity (CSI). CSE was strongly correlated with vegetation coverage and surrounding population density, with efficiency increasing when the vegetation index was within 0.3–0.7 and population density ranged 0–5000 or 15,000–22,500 people. CSI was influenced by evapotranspiration and park geometric form, increasing significantly when the park area exceeded 250 hectares or evapotranspiration ranged 2.5–6.0. However, elevation and albedo negatively impacted both metrics, with the lowest CSI observed when elevation exceeded 150 m or albedo surpassed 18%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban green spaces provide many benefits, including to human wellbeing, ecosystem services, and urban wildlife. Thus, there are many reasons to green up urban spaces, especially by using native species. Furthermore, urban green spaces are suited to enhancing biodiversity without negatively impacting food or fiber production. Municipalities and private landowners invest substantially in landscaping and its maintenance. However, much of that outlay supports non-native plants that may be less adapted to local conditions such as rainfall patterns and temperature ranges, thus having greater resource requirements, as well as being less supportive of native wildlife and possessing a greater potential of becoming invasive. Here, we explore ways to increase the use of native plant species in urban settings to reduce the need for watering or chemical application, enhance the support of native species, and reduce the risk of invasion to urban and ex-urban habitats. We identify three main impediments: the perception of native species as less aesthetically pleasing, the availability of native plants in the nursery industry, and the willingness of policymakers to take supportive measures. We propose methods to address all three, providing successful examples from a number of US localities and a case study that demonstrates what drivers might exist and what actions remain to be taken. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper delves into the concept of eco-structure construction, particularly in India's rapidly growing population and urbanisation. It addresses the substantial energy consumption of buildings, which accounts for up to forty per cent of total energy usage, emphasizing the urgency to create sustainable environments. The study explores sustainable building practices, focusing on resource efficiency, waste reduction, and improved living conditions. It discusses the benefits of sustainable architecture, including improved indoor environment quality, water conservation, enhanced health outcomes, and reduced strain on shared resources. Additionally, the paper outlines the scope of environmental sustainability and the components of sustainable and green building design, highlighting the holistic approach required for effective environmental conservation and human well-being. Also, this research advocates for a paradigm shift towards eco-friendly building materials and methods to create a healthier and more sustainable future. Low-carbon and recycled materials: Using recycled aggregates, fly ash, and low-carbon concrete reduces greenhouse emissions and enhances durability in residential buildings. Biodegradable and bio-based materials: Materials like bamboo, hemp Crete, and mycelium offer renewable, biodegradable options with strong insulation properties, suitable for non-load-bearing applications. Energy-efficient insulation: Phase Change Materials (PCMs) and Insulating Concrete Forms (ICFs) provide superior thermal comfort, reducing energy needs for heating and cooling. Locally sourced and earth-based materials: Region-specific materials, like rammed earth and adobe, minimize transport emissions and naturally regulate indoor temperatures. Green roofing and vegetation integration: Green roofs and walls enhance insulation, support biodiversity, and manage stormwater, creating a sustainable urban ecosystem. Lifecycle Assessment (LCA): Lifecycle analysis tools identify low-impact materials, guiding sustainable choices based on overall environmental cost and durability. Innovative materials: Grapheme-enhanced concrete and 3D-printed materials reduce resource use while improving strength, insulation, and waste minimization in residential structures. Major Findings: These findings emphasize a shift toward materials that balance environmental impact with performance in residential construction. Sustainable construction materials focus on reducing carbon emissions, increasing energy efficiency, and ensuring longevity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sampling soils in urban areas presents challenges arising from high soil variation and limited access caused by sealing and land ownership. Here, we review the sampling methodologies of 161 recent studies that were conducted in 209 cities. We found considerable diversity in the way that soils of urban ecosystems were sampled, and that there was little research in urban soils of the southern hemisphere, in cold regions, and tropical regions. Impervious surfaces cover about 60% of urban areas, and sealed soils are not well-studied. Numerous studies have assessed soil contamination or carbon storage in parks, lawns, roadsides, and urban food production systems such as community gardens. Sampling approaches at the site level (i.e., selection of a park) were well-explained, with sites mostly chosen using stratification, expert knowledge, or grids and transects. At the plot level (i.e., selection of sampling locations within a site) about one-quarter of studies used randomization or predefined rules, whereas about half had undefined sampling designs. Samples were often taken at single fixed depths and less than 10% of studies sampled soils by horizon. Most sampling in urban soils occurred within the upper 30 cm, and rarely below 100 cm. Composite sampling was used in half of the studies and some studies used proximal soil sensors to increase sample density. We conclude with some considerations for soil sampling in urban areas that include details on site selection criteria, site characteristics, and documentation of challenges and limitations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study describes the natural history and multitrophic interactions of the highly restricted Andean butterfly species Catasticta truncata (Lathy & Rosenberg, 1912) from the urban and surrounding areas of Loja in southern Ecuador. The immature stages of the butterfly are described and illustrated, and the host plant is identified as Phoradendron nervosum Oliv. (Viscaceae), an aerial-stem hemiparasitic shrub that parasitizes trees of Salix humboldtiana (Willd) (Salicaceae). Multitrophic interactions that this species maintains in the urban ecosystem are described. One interaction includes a predator, Ambastus villosus Stal, 1872 (Reduvidae). In addition, and for the first time for the genus Catasticta Butler, 1870, the presence of an endoparasitoid wasp (Ichneumonidae) and a hyperparasitoid (secondary parasitoid) wasp Pediobius sp. (Eulophidae), both potentially undescribed species, are documented. Flowers from plants in the Asteraceae family are visited by adults of C. truncata.This new information highlights the ecological roles of these butterflies in the green areas within the city of Loja. Finally, due to the highly restricted distribution of this species within Loja's green areas and the striking beauty of adults, along with this butterfly being a component within 4 trophic levels in the urban ecological network, this butterfly could be a flagship for the city of Loja. Local actions that help the conservation of this species should positively affect the organisms that interact with it and positively influence the well-being of the city's inhabitants in general. Resumen: Este estudio describe la historia natural e interacciones multitroficas de la especie de mariposa andina altamente restringida Catasticta truncata (Lathy & Rosenberg, 1912), de las áreas urbanas y circundantes de Loja en el sur de Ecuador. Se describen e ilustran los estados inmaduros de la mariposa, y se identifica la planta hospedera como Phoradendron nervosum Oliv. (Viscaceae), un arbusto hemiparásito de tallo aéreo que parasita árboles de Salix humboldtiana (Willd) (Salicaceae). Se describen las interacciones multitroficas que esta especie mantiene en el ecosistema urbano. Una de las interacciones incluye un depredador, Ambastus villosus Stal, 1872 (Reduvidae). Además, y por primera vez para el género Catasticta Butler, 1870, se documenta la presencia de una avispa endoparasitoide (Ichneumonidae), y una avispa hiperparasitoide (parasitoides secundarios) Pediobius sp. (Eulophidae), ambas especies potencialmente no descritas. Los adultos de C. truncata visitan las flores de plantas de la familia Asteraceae. Esta nueva información resalta la importancia ecológica de estas mariposas en las áreas verdes dentro de la ciudad de Loja. Finalmente, debido a su distribución altamente restringida en las áreas verdes de Loja, y la belleza llamativa de los adultos, junto con su papel importante dentro de cuatro niveles tróficos en la red ecológica urbana, esta mariposa podría ser un símbolo de conservación para la ciudad de Loja. En donde las acciones locales que ayuden a su conservación deberían afectar positivamente al resto de los organismos que interactúan con ella, e influirá positivamente en el bienestar de los habitantes de la ciudad en general. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Today all domains of life are affected by development of digital technologies. They are seen as shaping the future of transportation as well. This paper aims to identify the development directions of urban air mobility (UAM) applications as driven by sustainability criteria as well as resulting from development of digitalisation, information and communication technologies as well as smart-city related trends. Design/methodology/approach: Sustainability was assumed as key indicator standing behind perceived attractiveness of UAM. For defined sustainability – consisting of economic, environmental and social components, the base sustainability level of UAM was analysed. Then the potential for increase of sustainability was examined as resulted from UAM applications taking advantage from smart-city concept. Findings: Development of digital technologies can support development of UAM as driving its integration within external systems especially transport systems. Deployment of information and communication technologies creates new opportunities for UAM in terms of multitask applications, shared platforms solutions leading to significant increase level of sustainability of UAM. Practical implications: Results of this paper can be directly used by researchers as well as industry. They indicate both the trends related to development of UAM as integrated component of transport system as well as directly describe new, more sustainable UAM applications contributing to the successful implementation of UAM in urban conditions as well as efficient development of smart-city concepts consolidating UAM valuable functionalities. Originality/value: Research results cover UAM sustainability definition, description of new, more sustainable UAM applications as well as revolutionary meaning of digital technologies especially in the context of climate neutrality and operational efficiency improvement in four-dimensional urban transport ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The health of urban innovation ecosystems is crucial for smart and modern city construction. Considering the characteristics and formation mechanism of urban innovation ecosystems, an index system of health evaluation for smart cities is established. The combined DEMATEL-TOPSIS method was used to comprehensively evaluate the health of the innovation ecosystem in Wuhan from 2012 to 2020. Moreover, the cause-and-effect relationships among the indicators and the key impact factors are analyzed. The results show that per capita GDP, the number of users with fixed Internet broadband access, and road area per capita are the critical factors influencing the health status of urban innovation ecosystems. The centrality degrees are 1.640, 1.406, and 1.326, respectively, and the causality degrees are 1.264, 0.934, and 0.808, respectively. Through the analysis of closeness coefficients, it can be concluded that the health status of the innovation ecosystem in Wuhan is good and steadily increasing. Finally, policy recommendations for the health development of Wuhan's innovation ecosystem are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding how animals navigate novel heterogeneous landscapes is key to predicting species responses to land-use change. Roads are pervasive features of human-altered landscapes, known to alter movement patterns and habitat connectivity of vertebrates like small mammals and amphibians. However, less is known about how roads influence movement of insects, a knowledge gap that is especially glaring in light of recent investments in habitat plantings for insect pollinators along roads verges and medians. In this study, we experimentally investigate behavioral avoidance of roads by a solitary bee and explore whether landscape factors are associated with bee movement in urban Massachusetts, USA. Using mark–recapture surveys, we tracked individual solitary bee (Agapostemon virescens) foraging movements among floral patches separated by roads or grass lawn. We found that roads acted as partial barriers to movements of foraging bees, with road crossings nearly half as likely as along-road movements (36% vs. 64%). Movement probabilities were negatively associated with distance and the proportion of roadway between patches, and positively associated with higher floral resource density at the destination patch. Importantly, our findings also suggest that while roads impede bee movement, they are not complete barriers to dispersal of bees and/or transfer of pollen in urban landscapes. In the context of green space design, our findings suggest that prioritizing contiguous habitat and ensuring higher floral densities along road edges may enhance resource access for pollinators and mitigate the risk of ecological traps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Societal Impact Statement: The strangler fig is known for its hemiepiphytic growth form and conspicuous strangling behavior in the tropics worldwide. It also plays an important role in providing ecological functions in tropical urban ecosystems. This study reveals strangler figs tend to colonize large trees with suitable microsites in a large tropical botanical garden and cause some negative effects on their hosts. We advocate balanced management strategies considering ecological functions, potential risks, and overall values of stranglers and their hosts. These results provide a scientific basis for us to develop better practices for plant management in urban green spaces (especially botanical gardens with high plant biodiversity) in tropical urban ecosystems. Summary: Strangler figs colonize trees in tropical cities, which contribute to a unique urban ecology and enrich local ecological functions. Understanding ecological associations between strangler figs and their host trees can improve green space management in tropical urban ecosystems.We investigated 9282 trees growing in the Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden and then analyzed the diversity, characteristics, and network of strangler figs and their host trees.We found 13 strangler fig species (319 individuals) widely colonized 67 host species, with palm hosts bearing 52% of all strangler individuals. Strangler figs had a high colonization rate in large trees with appropriate microsites (e.g., persistent palm petioles and the fork of mature trees with rough trunks). Leaf nitrogen and phosphorus content of hosts decreased significantly after strangler figs' aerial roots had entered the ground. The strangler–host network was characterized by relatively high specialization and low nestedness, and simulated management of strangler figs on large hosts and palm hosts could simplify the strangler–host network.Strangler fig colonization can be managed. Planting trees with large diameters at breast height and rough bark can increase the colonization of stranglers, while cutting off aerial roots can inhibit their establishment. The epiphytic stage is the best time to manage strangler figs. We recommend taking into consideration the trade‐offs among ecological functioning, human safety, and the multifaceted value of strangler figs and their host trees and thereby implementing comprehensive management strategies tailored to different contexts for improving green space management in the tropics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The multifaceted threats to global freshwater ecosystems, especially in urban environments, impact hydrological cycles, flora and fauna, habitats and ecosystem processes. While these ecosystems can potentially offer important services to the urban populations by providing natural areas inside cities, the constraints imposed by urbanisation and a high population density may result in the loss of those benefits. Thus, it is important to adopt a quantitative approach to assess the value of urban freshwater ecosystem services in order to enable strategic urban planning that balances urban development with the protection of these ecosystems. We have therefore performed a systematic review of Scopus database publications from 2006 to 2022 that focused on provisioning, regulating and maintenance, as well as cultural services, provided by urban river ecosystems. The screening identified 118 papers, 43% of which focused on urban stream ecosystems (stream and/or riparian area). For provisioning services, indicators were related to water and food supply, while regulation indicators were linked to water quality and flood mitigation; cultural services were mainly related to physical interactions with the ecosystems, education and aesthetic experiences. The economic valuation of urban river ecosystem services is the subject of study in 19% of the identified articles, mainly in relation to potential river restoration. Finally, 18% of articles incorporated public opinions of stakeholders and citizens, underlining the significant role of their input in understanding and managing urban river ecosystems. More studies on urban streams are needed, and standardising indicators and promoting greater citizen involvement in the evaluation of ecosystem services are challenges that remain to be overcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ko Yo, situated at the mouth of Songkhla Lagoon, is an urban ecosystem renowned as one of the active areas of Songkhla Province. Numerous anthropogenic activities occur in this area, including homestay tourism, aquaculture, fishing, and the operation of restaurants, all of which generate significant environmental waste. Microplastics represent a widespread pollutant and have been widely recognized as a critical environmental concern. However, they have received little attention among the general public. Therefore, this study investigated the type and quantity of microplastic accumulation in the water bodies surrounding Ko Yo, Songkhla Province. Water sampling stations were established along the coastline and 1 km into the subtidal area, and sampling was conducted for a year. Microplastics in the water samples were recorded and categorized using a modified size and color sorting protocol. Samples were analyzed via Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy to identify microplastic polymers. The results revealed the accumulation of 6 types of microplastics around Ko Yo: Cotton polyester blend, polyester, alkyd, polypropylene, polyvinylchloride, and low-density polyethylene. These polymers most frequently occurred during the summer and the northeastern monsoon season. Cotton polyester blend, a synthetic fiber commonly used in clothing, furniture, ropes, nets, and cages, was found in the highest quantities across all months and stations. This update on microplastic contamination in natural environments near household areas could lead the idea of the microplastic status around Ko Yo and provide vital insights into the environmental and health implications of microplastics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global demand for coastal urbanization is rising with the increasing population. Alas, living close to the ocean threatens human endeavors with high currents, waves, and increasing storm frequency. Accordingly, the need for more coastal defense structures (CDSs) rises. Structures built from complex units meant to prevent and/or mitigate coastal erosion and floods, additionally providing wave protection or wave attenuation, are constructed on and near natural habitats where they alter local ecosystems. Traditional CDSs mostly fail to harbor diverse and abundant communities. However, this can be changed by eco-friendly methodologies and designs that are being tested and implemented to improve CDSs' ecological value. Some of these can be implemented during the construction period, while others can fit on existing structures, such as wave breakers and seawalls. Effective methods include augmenting surface rugosity through strategic perforations, integrating artificial panels for increased complexity, implementing soft (naturally based) engineering solutions such as geotextiles, replacing industrial concrete mixtures for CDS construction with "green concrete" and ecologically friendly mixtures, and using alternative, eco-friendly units in CDS erections. In this mini review, we suggest that by integrating sustainable practices into coastal development, we can significantly mitigate the ecological damage caused by traditional CDSs and promote more harmonious relationships between human construction and the marine environment. This shift towards environmentally conscious coastal defenses is essential and a responsibility for ensuring the long-term sustainability of our coastal communities and the health of our oceans. We present current methodologies used on breakwaters worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Urban topsoil is not only an essential part of the urban ecosystem, but also a powerful carrier of pollutants in the urban environment. In this paper, 130 topsoil samples from urban area of Xinyang in central-eastern China were selected, the aim is to quantitatively investigate the concentrations, pollution levels, and sources apportionment of 8 heavy metals (HMs, encompassing arsenic (As), cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), chromium (Cr), lead (Pb), nickel (Ni), vanadium (V), and zinc (Zn)) via geochemical method. The main conclusions are as follows. (1) The eight HMs in the topsoil have been artificially enriched to varying degrees, which are lower than the street dust levels sampled in pairs. (2) Cu, Zn, and Pb were significantly contaminated, and As, Co, Ni, Cr, and V were relatively low levels of contamination. Overall, comprehensive pollution levels were particularly severe, with 30.0%, 39.2%, and 30.8% for slight, moderate, and serious pollution, respectively. (3) Co, Ni, V, and Cr predominantly originated from natural sources, the percentage contribution of which is 6.3%; Pb, As, Cu, and Zn were predominantly derived from traffic-derived sources, with a percentage contribution of 93.7%. Thus, the first-order source of HMs in the topsoil originates from traffic-induced activities, similar to the case of street dust. Our findings can be beneficial in providing local governments with a reference to formulate environmental pollution controls, and also provide a case study for environmental pollution control in the other livable cities in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Globally, with the continuous increase in human populations, unprecedented changes in land use are taking place. Little is known about how African reptiles respond to this rapid land use change. Objectives: We used sightings to establish if Nile monitors (Varanus niloticus) are persisting in a mosaic of human population densities and land use types in KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa. Methods: We collected sighting data throughout KwaZulu-Natal between April 2022 and July 2023, using three main methods, namely urban sightings obtained from reptile relocation groups and collaborations with reptile relocators; sightings obtained from personal encounters and citizen scientist observations using social media,s posters, newspaper articles and interviews; and sightings from iNaturalist observations. Results: We obtained and used 419 sightings and then identified two hotspot areas in the province on which we chose to focus. Site A was dominated by natural habitat, and anthropogenic land use types dominated site B. We found a significant relative selection strength for most tested land covers over anthropogenic cover in site A, whereas most were insignificant in site B. Our results suggest that the use of anthropogenic land use types by Nile monitors in KwaZulu-Natal may be driven by habitat transformation and loss. Nile monitors were found persisting in urban mosaic landscapes and, when compared with available cover, were found in increasingly wooded (natural and urban vegetation) areas with increased human populations. Furthermore, they used small anthropogenic water bodies (e.g., swimming pools and storm drains), making them less reliant on rivers in urban environments. Their population demographics were similar in low and high human population density, but there appeared to be a skew towards smaller and younger individuals in medium human population density areas. Reproduction was occurring successfully in urban environments, but the detection of larger monitors by potential wild and domestic predators and negative human interactions pose risks. Our study outlined the importance of natural and managed (e.g., gardens, parks, golf courses) green spaces in urban mosaic landscapes for wildlife persistence, specifically Nile monitors, and supporting human well-being as well as reptile conservation. There is an overall need for more research on this highly exploited yet understudied reptilian urban adapter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Bulletin of the Ecological Society of America published an article detailing the proceedings of the ESA Summer 2024 Council Meeting held in Long Beach, CA. The meeting included introductions, a review of past business, and discussions on governance guidelines, financial health, and diversity initiatives within the organization. Key highlights included the implementation of a strategic plan, financial overview, and discussions on increasing section/chapter dues to support smaller groups. The meeting also focused on addressing diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice concerns within the organization, with various discussions and action items aimed at fostering a more inclusive and proactive environment. [Extracted from the article]

Today, environmental hazards and consequently environmental insecurity are the most common global challenges in cities. In Iran, cities are involved with environmental challenges such as air pollution, micro dust storms, water stress, land subsidence, soil pollution, and most importantly the challenge of environmental mismanagement. According to the studies, Ahvaz, a strategic metropolis in Iran, is one of such cities that faces the intense challenge of environmental insecurity. The aim of this research is to extract the effective indicators of environmental insecurity by thematic evaluation of these factors and indicators in the city of Ahvaz. In this study, 41 effective indicators have been extracted by analysing the records and opinions of 30 experts (academics and urban-regional managers). The selected indicators were modelled based on the opinions of 20 experts in the Best & Worst technique. Finally, the most important factors and indicators affecting environmental insecurity in Ahvaz were identified, categorized, and prioritized. According to B&W, among the 41 investigated indicators, the indices of hazardous hospital waste (I21) with value of .077, dust storm (I1) with value of .076, and Oil flares (I4) with value of .076 had the highest impact on the insecurity of the urban ecosystem of Ahvaz. Also, the results of this study have shown that among the five mega factors of air, water and soil pollution, environmental behavior, and environmental management, the indicators of air pollution have the highest effect on the environmental insecurity of Ahvaz city. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As rapid urbanization challenges urban ecosystem stability, understanding the relationship between manufacturing agglomeration (MA) and urban ecological resilience (UER) has become increasingly critical. This study examines how MA influences UER in China's Yangtze River Delta region, employing dynamic spatial panel models to analyze prefecture-level panel data from 2003 to 2020. Our findings reveal an inverted U-shaped relationship between MA and UER, with significant spatial spillover effects. Specifically, moderate levels of MA enhance UER through improved resource efficiency and technological innovation, while excessive agglomeration leads to environmental degradation. The study also identifies green technological innovation as a critical mediating mechanism in this relationship. These findings contribute to theoretical understanding and policy formulation for sustainable urban development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Urbanization affects landscape structure, functions and local environmental conditions, with major impacts on biodiversity. An evaluation of its effects on biodiversity, including both taxonomic and functional diversity, is thus compelling, with a specific focus on taxonomic groups providing fundamental ecosystem services. Spiders are ideal biological models for urban ecology studies because they are renowned bioindicators and can be found abundantly along urbanization gradients. Objectives: In this work, we aim at evaluating the filtering role exerted by urbanization at landscape scale on foliage-dwelling spider communities both at functional and taxonomic level. Methods: We assessed the response of foliage-dwelling spiders to urbanization in Torino (NW-Italy), by sampling their communities in urban parks along an urbanization gradient and in a control area located in a nearby natural park. We tested their response in terms of taxonomic and functional diversity to urban density and six landscape metrics. Results of statistical models (GLMMs) were used to predict values of the current biodiversity in the city and its values under different future scenarios of urbanization (i.e. 2040, 2050). Results: Spider abundance and species richness decreased in the city compared to the control area and along the urbanization gradient. Variation in the community composition was mostly due to species replacement (67%) within the control area, and to species loss in the urban area (62%). This pattern was mostly due to the loss of specialized foraging guilds, such as pollinator-feeding spiders. Functional dissimilarity among samples within the urban area was mostly explained by functional loss (69%), suggesting an environmental filter favoring species preadapted to urban conditions. By projecting biodiversity measures in two “greener city” scenarios, we identified 8 priority areas in the city where management actions should be implemented. Conclusions: Our findings underscore the role of urbanization in shaping spider communities, favoring generalist species and specific functional traits. The prediction on future scenarios proved to be useful to identify areas where increasing the surface of urban parks may contribute most effectively to spider biodiversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Understanding drivers of biodiversity in cities can be mutually beneficial for ecosystems and people. Crowd-sourced bird observations provide an opportunity to assess how patterns of bird diversity change across observation scales and suggest driving processes. Objectives: We assessed the scale dependence of bird diversity within a 128 × 128 km extent over London’s urban–rural gradient to suggest scales at which key drivers may be operating. Methods: We quantified scale variance of bird diversity across scales from 500 m to 64,000 m for three groups of species (All, Passeriformes, and Anseriformes and Charadriiformes combined). We estimated diversity by aggregating observations into a series of grids and computed comparable diversity estimates within each cell using interpolation and rarefaction. We calculated the variance explained by each scale for common diversity metrics. Results: The results show that bird diversity patterns around London vary by scale, and that the location of high variance shifts across the study area depending on both scale and species group. The variance of Passeriformes diversity gradually shifted from the urban core to the periphery, while variance of Anseriformes and Charadriiformes diversity occurred near water features. Conclusions: The results suggest that the urban–rural gradient and location of water are two properties of the study extent around London influencing the scale dependance of bird diversity that could be used to ground scale considerations of further modeling efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite their relevance in building stock modeling, building lifetimes are poorly understood and tend to form the weakest link in forecasting energy use, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, waste generation, and resource use. Here, we develop a methodology to trace building lifetimes for cohorts in two central areas built up after fires in the 1840s. Using Geographical Information System (GIS) data of the current building stock and archival material, we determined yearly hazard rates for buildings within the cohort 1841–1845 in the historical center of Trondheim, Norway. We find that hazard rates are very sensitive to events ranging from global to hyperlocal scales and that demolition rates have slowed down significantly since the 1980s when municipal preservation policies came into effect. In contrast, age‐based lifetime approaches fail to capture the effects of such events as they only account for the delay between construction and demolition. We discuss the use and limitations of hazard rates to better reflect changes in demolition that are not correlated with building age. Our study underscores that building lifetimes are a property of a wider system rather than an attribute of individual structures. In that sense, hazard rates are a more suitable approach to capture spatiotemporal changes of building stocks and could be further used in scenarios in dynamic models. This article met the requirements for a gold‐gold JIE data openness badge described at http://jie.click/badges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Addressing the need to harmonize environment conservation and sustainable economic development within the Yellow River Basin (YRB) requires a profound comprehension of the spatiotemporal dynamics of urban ecosystem resilience. This study developed an index system utilizing the resistance-adaptability-recovery framework to measure these dynamics. By applying the advanced multi-attribute boundary area comparison method and a spatial autocorrelation model, we investigated the spatiotemporal variations and spatial correlation patterns of urban ecological resilience across the YRB. The results of this study indicated that: (1) from 2011 to 2020, the value of urban ecological resilience index (UERI) in the YRB consistently ranged between 0.43 and 0.83, and the resilience degree of the urban ecosystem in the YRB progressively improved, with notably higher resilience in the southeast compared to the northwest; (2) the resilience degree of the urban ecosystem in the YRB was non-equilibrium in space. Spatial analysis indicates significant disparities in resilience levels across different areas within the YRB, marked by considerable fluctuations in the global Moran's I index and significant changes in local autocorrelation clustering patterns; and (3) key factors such as wastewater discharge volume, sewage treatment rate, and the rate of non-hazardous treatment of domestic waste were identified as critical determinants of the overall ecological resilience. This research not only deepens our understanding of the factors driving urban ecological resilience but also aids in the formulation of strategic regional policy for sustainable development across the YRB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Animal-transmitted diseases such as rabies represent a barrier to successful rewilding and threaten continued human-wildlife co-existence. In North America, population growth and human settlement expansion lead to encounters with wild mammals which have the potential to transmit rabies to domestic dogs and humans. The recent development of gene drives mediated by CRISPR-Cas9 allows for ecosystem engineering at unprecedented scales given the potential to spread new traits through wild populations with biased inheritance exceeding the pattern of classical Mendelian dominant genes. This study of a possible red fox rabies immunity gene drive project contributes a novel proposal to the existing academic conversation about suitable applications of gene drive technology in wild animal populations, such as projects to fight malaria and Lyme disease. Noting the unique characteristics of rabies, such as the dire mortality rate in humans once symptoms arise, as well as the tendency for rabid wild animals to lose their fear of humans, it appears to be a suitable target for eventual eradication via gene drive to spread immunity through wild mammal reservoir populations. Introducing heritable rabies immunity into North American red fox populations through gene drive represents a strategy to both battle rabies and adjust the ecology of (sub)urban environments. Given this review of the project's possible implementation and expected outcomes, providing inherited rabies immunity to wild red fox populations in North America via gene drive appears both feasible and sensible. Similar projects may be used to eradicate comparable infectious diseases from other wild animal populations, with likely benefits to human patients, wildlife and ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Precipitation that moves through tree canopies entrains carbon and nutrients from leaf and bark surfaces. In natural ecosystems, these biogeochemical subsidies to the water cycle are processed by watershed soils before conveyance to fluvial networks. In urban landscapes, however, these subsides of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus may bypass watershed soils and instead drip to impervious surfaces and become part of stormwater flows. In this way, urban throughfall may contribute to the carbon and nutrient loads of urban stormwater, with consequences for receiving waters and potential to contribute to eutrophication. Throughfall from urban landscapes is understudied, but the argument is made here that quantifying and characterizing urban throughfall and how it can be contextualized within the urban water cycle are crucial avenues for new research. This paper presents the hypothesis that as in natural ecosystems, throughfall in urban ecosystems is (1) a source of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus; (2) will vary in concentration and chemical composition depending on climate, tree species, canopy morphology, and seasonality; and (3) will have impacts on urban ecosystems that have not been investigated. New research should focus on the role of throughfall in constraining urban carbon and nutrient budgets, as well as new research on how throughfall from urban trees contributes to the chemistry of receiving waters. Highlights: Throughfall is water that moves through tree canopies, and as it does so, it becomes enriched in carbon and nutrients from tree leaves and bark. The fate of carbon and nutrient fate from throughfall has been well studied in forested ecosystems but is understudied in urban landscapes. Throughfall from the urban tree canopy increases the level of nutrients in urban runoff, which may impair urban water quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The editorial discusses the interconnectedness between trees and humans, emphasizing the importance of understanding and protecting trees in natural and urban ecosystems amidst environmental pressures. The virtual issue explores themes such as climate resilience, forest restoration, cultural significance, ecosystem engineering, and technological advances in conservation. The articles highlight the role of trees in providing ecosystem services, supporting biodiversity, and contributing to cultural identity, while also addressing threats like deforestation and climate change. The research underscores the need for sustainable and resilient ecosystems that benefit both the environment and society. [Extracted from the article]

Rapid urbanization poses significant challenges to ecosystem services and environmental integrity. This study presents an integrated geospatial approach to analyze Land Use Land Cover (LULC) changes and their impact on Ecosystem Service Value (ESV) in Nashik, India, from 2017 to 2023. It employs open-source ESRI LULC datasets developed from Sentinel-2 satellite imagery to accurately map built-up areas, forests, agricultural lands, water bodies, and barren lands. ESV estimation utilized the Benefit Transfer Method (BTM) with specific coefficients tailored to different LULC types. Further, an elasticity analysis was conducted to evaluate the responsiveness of ESV to LULC changes, while sensitivity analysis tested the reliability of ESV estimates. From 2017 to 2023, Nashik experienced notable LULC changes: built-up areas expanded by 17.8%, barren lands by 20.1%, and forest cover increased by 59.4%. Meanwhile, agricultural land decreased by 20.1%, and water bodies by 6.5%. These changes resulted in an overall 9.6% decline in ESV, from $3.02 million/ha/year to $2.73 million/ha/year. ESV of water bodies fell from 1.705 to 1.600, forest ESV rose from 0.098 to 0.156, and agricultural ESV declined from 1.215 to 0.971. Elasticity analysis revealed that ESV changes were most sensitive to the expansion of built-up areas and the reduction of agricultural land, while the sensitivity analysis confirmed the robustness of the results, indicating low sensitivity to changes in coefficient values. These results underscore the loss of blue-green spaces and biodiversity due to urban expansion, highlighting the need for regular LULC and ESV assessments for sustainable urban planning and focussed conservation efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This systematic literature review explores the intersection of AI-driven digital twins and IoT in creating a sustainable building environment. A comprehensive analysis of 125 papers focuses on four major themes. First, digital twins are examined in construction, facility management, and their role in fostering sustainability and smart cities. The integration of IoT and AI with digital twins and energy optimization for zero-energy buildings is discussed. Second, the application of AI and automation in manufacturing, particularly in Industry 4.0 and cyber-physical systems, is evaluated. Third, emerging technologies in urban development, including blockchain, cybersecurity, and EEG-driven systems for sustainable buildings, are highlighted. The study underscores the role of data-driven approaches in flood resilience and urban digital ecosystems. This review contributes to sustainability by identifying how digital technologies and AI can optimize energy use and enhance resilience in both urban and industrial contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The positive relationship between species richness and area is a fundamental principle in ecology. However, this pattern deviates on small islands, where species richness either changes independently of area or increases at a slower rate—a phenomenon known as the Small-Island Effect (SIE). While the SIE has been well documented in natural ecosystem, its presence in highly fragmented and disturbed urban ecosystem remains unexplored, posing challenges for urban vegetation conservation. Urban remnant vegetation, isolated by surrounding infrastructures, preserves intact zonal vegetation characteristics, serves as a benchmark for restoring near-natural habitats and offers ideal conditions to test the existence of the SIE in urban area landscapes. In this study, we surveyed 17 remnant vegetation patches in Qingdao City, China. A total of 331 plants attributed to 255 genera in 81 families have been recorded. Firstly, by using six species–area relationship regression models testing the SIE for remnant vegetation with different plant life forms, we found the SIE in only woody plants, with the land surface area threshold ranging from 6.38 ha (tree) to 11.91 ha (shrub). Our finding revealed that the drivers of the SIE in shrubs were landscape shape index, perimeter–area ratio, and the proportion of sealed surfaces within the patch. For trees, the SIE was influenced by the distance to the source of species, GDP, night light intensity, and perimeter–area ratio. This finding justifies that conservation in urban planning, construction, and development should focus not only on protecting large areas but also on maintaining and promoting diverse habitats within these areas. At the same time, reducing anthropogenic disturbance and enhancing the connectivity of green spaces are important for the persistence of metacommunities and can contribute to the local species pool, thus potentially improving the ecological resilience of urban environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urbanisation is one of the most severe land use changes with significant negative impacts on several biological groups. However, the response of arthropods to this process is still unclear, especially in cities located in arid regions, which represent an important part of global urban ecosystems. Here, we examined variations in abundance, richness, diversity and taxonomic composition of the tree crown‐dwelling arthropods in 10 Brazilian cities of semiarid climate located in the dry forest region (Caatinga), taking into account temperature gradients and number of street trees along the cities. We expected that cooler (in a hot range of temperature) and more forested cities would present richer, more abundant and distinct communities than warmer cities. This hypothesis is supported by the large amount of evidence showing the negative effects of temperature on the local structuring of biological communities. We used the method of the arboreal arthropod collector to sample the arthropod community inhabiting trees crowns up to 10 m in height. We collected a total of 22,911 arthropod specimens belonging to two classes (Insecta and Arachnida) and 24 orders. As expected, temperature (min 21.7°C, max 26.8°C) proved to be a significant predictor of arthropod diversity in semiarid cities. Cities with higher temperatures reduce taxonomic unit richness (0D) by 33% and diversity (1D and 2D) in up to 75% and affect composition of arthropod orders composition. On the other hand, the effect of tree numbers showed distinct responses among the sampled orders, positively contributing to the abundance of Psocoptera, while exerting a negative effect on the abundance of Thysanoptera. Overall, our findings highlight the importance of temperature and number of trees in determining urban arthropod fauna. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of the impact of urbanization on river ecosystems is an important part of constructing sustainable cities. How to quantitatively study the impact of urbanization on river ecosystems is the difficulty of urban ecological research. This study quantitatively investigated the effects of LULC on water quality and diatom assemblages in urban streams by correlation analysis, multivariate analysis, and path analysis. The results showed that (1) the percentage of LULC type in buffer 600 m of reference stream sites is significantly different from that of urban stream sites. In reference sites, the average percentage of green was 94.2%, barren 3.3%, and impervious surface 2.5%. In urban upstream sites, the average percentage of impervious surface was 63.1%, green 32.8%, water 3.3%, and barren 0.8%. In urban downstream, the average percentage of impervious surface was 59.0%, green 36.5%, water 2.7%, and barren 1.8%. (2) One-way analysis results showed that water quality variables were significantly differences among the sites. The correlation analysis results indicated that LULC had a significant influence on water quality. Green had a significant negative correlation with high concentrations of NO3-N, NH4-N, and Cond. but positively correlated with MSUBST. RDA results showed that the selected water quality variables, MSUBST, and LULC types have a significant impact on the spatial patterns of the diatom assemblages. (3) Path analysis results showed that both LULC types and water quality variables exerted significant effects on diatom assemblages. This study first clarifies the quantitative relationships among LULC types, water quality, and diatom assemblages in the Beijing area. And green land was positively correlated with water quality and river ecosystems. We believed that increasing green space in urban core areas is an effective measure for improving water quality and restoring river ecosystems in the urban area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Air, water, and soil pollution pose significant threats to environmental and human health, particularly in rapidly urbanising regions. This comprehensive review evaluates the scientific literature on plant biomonitoring in the State of São Paulo, Brazil, from 2009 to 2019, aiming to compile data for future research, assess the distribution of biomonitoring studies, and analyse their relationship to human health outcomes. To the extent of our knowledge, a review according to the criteria of this article has not yet been carried out. The review followed the ENTREQ protocol and employed a systematic search methodology, with thematic synthesis and descriptive statistics (percentage). Of the 656 studies identified, only 56 met the inclusion criteria. Air pollution was the most researched (91% of studies), and the city of São Paulo was the most frequent (40.2%). Leaves were the most analysed plant part (48.5%), and Tibouchina tipu was the most studied species (8.6%). Only five studies included here related the data to human health, focusing on respiratory diseases. The review presents an integrative framework illustrating the interplay between urbanisation, pollution, biomonitoring, and health outcomes. Despite limitations, plant biomonitoring offers valuable insights into the environmental and health impacts of pollution in São Paulo and can also serve as a guide for students and researchers on plant biomonitoring and its relationship with the diversity of pollutants and contaminants present in the biosphere, serving as support for the development of public policies regarding the improvement of environmental quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Introduction Methods Results Conclusions Urban rodents are reservoirs of zoonotic pathogens, including Bartonella spp., which are transmitted by ectoparasites such as fleas. Zoonotic diseases caused by Bartonella often go undocumented due to confusing or subtle clinical symptoms, lack of awareness and poor diagnosis. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and diversity of Bartonella spp. by screening free‐ranging rodents and their ectoparasites in the unique ecological settings of Alipore Railway Station, Kolkata, India. The station's high passenger traffic and proximity to food stalls create favourable conditions for rodents and fleas to thrive, increasing the risk of zoonotic transmission.Rodents and fleas were identified by morphological features and DNA sequencing. Detection of Bartonella was carried out by DNA sequencing of citrate synthase (gltA) gene. Phylogenetic relationships among the obtained sequences were inferred through phylogenetic tree and haplotype network analyses. Q‐PCR testing from human samples from the surrounding area was performed to confirm the zoonotic transfer potential.Of 60 rodents, identified as Bandicota indica 28 (46.7%) and Bandicota bengalensis 32 (53.3%), and 110 fleas (Xenopsylla cheopis) were collected. The prevalence of Bartonella infection varied across three different hosts, that is, 32/60 rodents (53.33%), 87/110 fleas (79.1%) and 4/25 human (16%). Phylogenetic analysis revealed four distinct Bartonella lineages comprising 11 novel haplotypes (H1–H11), with haplotype H4 shared between rodents, fleas and humans, indicating active and cross species transmission of Bartonella spp. Haplotype H10, identified as B. rochalimae, was a phylogenetically diverged lineage exclusively found in fleas, suggesting a potentially novel lineage.The results highlight the significant public health risks posed by Bartonella spp. in densely populated urban areas, particularly in environments like railway stations where human–rodent interactions are frequent. This study underscores the necessity of integrated pest management and surveillance strategies, using molecular tools such as Q‐PCR, to mitigate the risk of zoonotic disease transmission in urban settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the outbreak of COVID‐19, wastewater surveillance for public health rapidly emerged and expanded globally. In this article we chart the variegated ecosystem of private firms that work closely with public and non‐profit entities to transform metabolic flows of sewage into vital and valuable bioinformation, thereby creating new multi‐institutional spaces of public health governance. We draw on literature in urban political ecology and political economy to ask: what are the emerging political economic actors, practices, and relations of wastewater surveillance? And how are emergent multi‐institutional public‐private partnerships and contracts transforming public health governance? To answer these questions, we use mixed qualitative methods to trace the field across North America, the Middle East and South Asia. Drawing on interviews, document and report reviews, financial reporting and observation at conferences, we find that these emerging public‐private partnerships present concerning transformations in health governance where profits displace public health needs, proprietary technologies blackbox public health decisions, and vulnerable populations are experimented on for prototyping technology. Our work contributes to renewed interest in urban political ecology's analysis of metabolism by tracing how, during health crises and their aftermath, public and private actors are together reconfiguring flows of waste, labour and technology to unlock new metabolic reservoirs of bioinformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summer heatwaves have caused a distinct mortality between urban greening and native plants. However, there are insufficient studies revealing the underlying mechanisms. We hypothesized that differentiation in hydraulic traits and their integration cause the varied heatwave-induced damages between the two plant types. To prove it, three desert native species and five urban greening species were selected as the experimental objects. Then, the number of damaged individuals caused by summer heatwaves were investigated based on the 100 individuals for each species. The hydraulic traits (including hydraulic transport, photosynthetic and leaf traits) of 3–5 mature individuals were measured for each species. The comparative analysis (independent sample t test and one-way ANOVA) and the collaborative analysis (Pearson correlation and network analysis) were used to reveal the differences in heatwave-induced damage, hydraulic traits and their integration between urban greening and native plants. Our results showed that the heatwave-induced damage to urban greening plants was larger than that to native species. Water potentials of leaf and branch in pre-dawn and midday, P50, leaf dry matter content, net photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate and stomatal conductance of desert native species were significantly lower than those of urban greening plants (P < 0.05), while twig specific hydraulic conductivity, Huber value, wood density, intrinsic water use efficiency and the specific leaf area showed opposite patterns (P < 0.05). Trait integration of desert native species (0.63) was much higher than greening plants (0.24). Our results indicate that artificial urban greening plants are more susceptible to drought stress caused by heatwaves than native desert species. In the context of global climate change, in order to maintain the stability and function of urban ecosystems in extreme climate, the screening of greening plants should start from the perspective of hydraulics and trait integration, and more native species with strong drought adaptability should be planted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Until now, the contribution of soils in urban spaces has been underestimated and, as a result, the services they provide have been severely undervalued in urban planning. This article aims to address this issue through a study of Chapultepec Park in Mexico City. We provide two methodological proposals for the analysis of soil ecosystem services characterized by the interaction of natural and anthropic processes: the morpho-pedological landscapes (MpL), in which we quantify soil carbon sequestration (SOC Mg ha−1) and the comparison of two methods for the analysis of hydraulic conductivity: Pedotransfer functions (PTF) and direct measurement with a double ring infiltrometer. Among the 12 MpL, we found the highest SOC content in slopes with mixed tree vegetation and Phaeozem soils. However, SOC retention decreased by 40%–50% due to sealing surfaces. For infiltration measures, despite the diversity of soils and vegetation, direct measurements values are highly homogeneous, while values calculated using PTFs better reflect the morphopedological landscape heterogeneity. In all the MpLs, the hydraulic conductivity was higher than the maximum rainfall intensity report, indicating that the soils in Chapultepec Park, despite the differences in soils and intensity of use, provide the ecosystem service of infiltration. These results would allow the establishment of a baseline for monitoring these services and provide information to decision makers and urban planners seeking to reduce the construction of gray infrastructure that seals soils and reduces their capacity to provide these ecosystem services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]