Source: UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI submitted to
WILDLIFE AND WILDLIFE HABITATS IN URBAN LANDSCAPES
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
TERMINATED
Funding Source
HATCH
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
0212214
Grant No.
(N/A)
Project No.
MO-NRSL0870
Proposal No.
(N/A)
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Program Code
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Dec 1, 2006
Project End Date
Nov 30, 2011
Grant Year
(N/A)
Project Director
Nilon, CH.
Recipient Organization
UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI
(N/A)
COLUMBIA,MO 65211
Performing Department
School Of Natural Resources
Non Technical Summary
Urban development is impacting bird habitats and species. This project tracks bird species' reaction to urban change as well as urban residents' responses to and knowledge of bird populations.
Animal Health Component
(N/A)
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
(N/A)
Developmental
(N/A)
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
1240820308010%
1240830308015%
1240850308015%
1350820107020%
1350830107020%
1350850107020%
Knowledge Area
135 - Aquatic and Terrestrial Wildlife; 124 - Urban Forestry;

Subject Of Investigation
0850 - Wildlife habitats; 0830 - Wild animals; 0820 - Wild birds;

Field Of Science
1070 - Ecology; 3080 - Sociology;
Goals / Objectives
Objective 1: To determine the relationship between bird habitat and bird species composition and abundance and predictors of urban change. Objective 2: To monitor the response of breeding bird species composition and abundance to management and restoration projects. Objective 3. To determine the factors that influence local residents perceptions of nature and wildlife that they encounter on a day-to-day basis.
Project Methods
Objectives 1&2 will be accomplished through field studies in Baltimore, MD, St. Louis, MO, Louisville, KY, and Columbia, MO. Objective 3 will be accomplished through surveys and interviews of residents in Baltimore, St. Louis, Louisville, and Columbia.

Progress 12/01/06 to 11/30/11

Outputs
Target Audience: My work targets academics and people involved with biodiversity conservation in cities. In October 2012 I was invited to be one of two keynote speakers at a one day urban ecosystems symposium organized by the Quebec Centre for Biodiversity Science, a province-wide research center that was developing a new emphasis area in urban ecology, and ultimately a an urban long term research project similar to long term urban research projects in the U.S., UK, and Germany. Dr. Steward Pickett and I gave presentations on the Baltimore Ecosystem Study. The following day we participated in a workshop with faculty from the Department of Botany at the University who had an interest in urban ecology. At the workshop we discussed our work in Baltimore and elsewhere in more detail. In 2012 I participated in the City Biodiversity Outlook (CBO), an effort developed at the request of the f the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) to conduct a global assessment of urbanization, biodiversity, and ecosystem services. The CBO was launched at the CBD Congress of Parties Meeting in Hyderabad, India in October 2012. I was a co-author of a chapter of the CBO Scientific Analysis and Assessment that uses local and regional case studies to document patterns of biodiversity and ecosystem services in the world's cities. This information is particularly relevant to land managers and policy makers in cities. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Nothing Reported How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Nothing Reported What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? My work on the comparative ecology of cities and towns looks at data we've collected on birds in Baltimore and compares it to more than 50 cities around the world. We are using other data on cities to try to understand what factors explain bird species diversity at the city level and what variables explain variation within cities. This information is of particular importance to city planners and wildlife managers, but of equal importance to urban residents who encounter birds as part of their day-to-day lives. Playgrounds Without Borders: As a Co-PI on the project I was responsible for the land use / land cover mapping of Columbia neighborhoods and linking these data to GPS data on childrens' activity patterns. I'm also involve with the analysis of some of the focus group data that has been collected on parents and children concerning use of open spaces and activity patterns. This project had an impact on 4 elementary schools in Columbia, Missouri be linking school-based interventions to active recreation in urban greenspaces. I was co-PI on a research project, “Comparative Ecology of Cities and Towns: What Makes an Urban Biota “Urban?” at the National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis (NCEAS)project. I helped develop the research agenda for the year-long project. Our work focuses on two questions: How does urbanization act on the bioregional pool? Are urban areas filtering the same traits, species or proportion of the regional species pool? During the July meeting of the working group I organized a discussion on using socioeconomic data as predictors of bird and plant diversity in cities and on using these variables in developing models for spatially explicit data.

Publications

  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2012 Citation: M�ller, N., M. Ignatieva, C. Nilon, and P. Werner. 2012. Patterns and trends in urban biodiversity and design. Cities and Biodiversity Outlook - Scientific Analysis and Assessment. http://www.cbd.int/en/subnational/partners-and-initiatives/cbo/cbo-scientific-analysis-and-assessment/cbo-saa_chapter-3_13-oct-2012
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2012 Citation: Parker, T.S. and C.H. Nilon. 2012. Landscape characteristics correlated with the synurbization of wildlife. Landscape and Urban Planning 106:316-325.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2012 Citation: Pickett, S.T.A., G.S. Brush, A.J. Felson, B.P. McGrath, J.M. Grove, C.H. Nilon, K. Szlavecz, C.Swan, P.S. Warren. 2012. The Baltimore Ecosystem Study: Understanding and working with urban biodiversity. CityGreen. http://www.cuge.com.sg/research/CITYGREEN


Progress 01/01/10 to 12/31/10

Outputs
OUTPUTS: In 2010 Drs. Myla Aronson (Hofstra University), Madhusudan Katti (Cal State Fresno), Paige Warren (University of Massachusetts-Amherst) and I co-authored a proposal to the NSF funded research center National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis to organize a working group on the comparative ecology of cities with an emphasis on the theme What Makes an Urban Biota Urban The working group was funded and will bring together a group of 25 scientists and practitioners from around the world for three meetings at NCEAS during 2010. Abstract The rapid urbanization of the world has profound effects on global biodiversity and urbanization has been counted among the processes contributing to the homogenization of the worlds biota. However, there are few generalities of the patterns and drivers of urban biota and even fewer global comparative studies. A comparative approach of urban biota is needed to produce comparable methodologies to understand, preserve, and monitor biodiversity in cities. We propose an NCEAS working group involving researchers from cities worldwide to develop synthesis of urban ecology. We ask the overarching question: What makes an urban biota urban and with that, Are the patterns of urban biota and the processes that shape them the same across the world's cities We have identified several factors that may serve as filters determining species distributions. We propose a hierarchical series of filters: 1) regional scale biogeographic context, 2) metropolitan scale urban intensification, and 3) local scale socio-economic/cultural factors. We will use plants and birds as independent datasets for addressing these broad questions. There is a newly matured wealth of existing urban bird and plant datasets for cities of different sizes, ages, and cultural and development patterns such as Baltimore, Berlin, Jalisco, New York City, Phoenix, Potchefstroom, and Stockholm, among others. We propose to bring datasets together, using commonly available data (e.g. land cover layers, national censuses, life history databases) to synthesize the urban biota. Outcomes from these proposed extensive comparative analyses will not only help to push forward the frontiers of transdisciplinarity in ecology, but will also provide useful information for planners and managers. The ongoing work on our project will be available through the NCEAS web site. http://www.nceas.ucsb.edu/projects/12592 PARTICIPANTS: Not relevant to this project. TARGET AUDIENCES: Not relevant to this project. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.

Impacts
My work on the Baltimore Ecosystem Study, which includes addressing questions on the comparative ecology of cities has led to an invitation to be a keynote speaker at the 2nd Urban Biodiversity and Design Conference (URBIO) held in Nagoya, Japan in May 2010. My involvement in the URBIO conference, highlighted by my 2010 peer-reviewed article published in Landscape and Ecological Engineering has had a significant impact on researchers and practitioners. Of particular interest is my emphasis on conservation efforts in older neighborhoods and the inner city. Impacts from this include being asked to share some of the information from my article and presentation for materials on biodiversity and urban planning being developed by the Quebec Ministry of Urban Affairs; an invitation to participate in a forum on biodiversity conservation efforts in cities at the Landscape Ecology Congress in 2011; and an invitation to review a book on biodiversity conservation in Singapore.

Publications

  • Nilon, C.H. 2011. Urban biodiversity and the importance of management and conservation. Landscape and Ecological Engineering 7:45-52.
  • Pickett, S.T.A., M.L. Cadenasso, J.M. Grove, C.G. Boone, P.M. Groffman, E. Irwin, S.S. Kaushal, V. Marshall, B.P. McGrath, C.H. Nilon, R.V. Pouyat, K. Szlavecz, A. Troy, P. Warren. 2011. Urban ecological systems: Scientific foundations and a decade of progress. Journal of Environmental Management 92:331-362.
  • Sochat, E., S.B. Lerman, J.M. Anderies, P.S. Warren, S.H. Faeth, and C.H. Nilon. 2010. Invasion, competition, and biodiversity loss in urban ecosystems. BioScience 60:199-208.


Progress 01/01/08 to 12/31/08

Outputs
OUTPUTS: Dr. Mark Morgan and I completed a project funded by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to use history and conservation issues as a tools for introducing students from Douglass High School to Big Muddy National Wildlife Refuge. We feel that this project could be a potential model for working with adolescents from low income communities and communities and communities of color. PARTICIPANTS: Dr. Mark Morgan is a faculty in the Department of Parks,Recreation and Tourism, University of Missouri. TARGET AUDIENCES: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

Impacts
Mywork on the human dimensions of urban wildlife conservation is internationally recognized. I was invited to serve on the Advisory Board for an international meeting: Urban Biodiversity and Design: Implementing the Convention on Biological Diversity in Towns and Cities held in Erfurt, Germany in May 2008. http://www.urbio2008.com The conference was organized by Prof. Dr. Norbert Muller of the University of Applied Sciences Erfurt. As a member of the advisory committee I reviewed abstracts for proposed sessions and reviewed selected chapters for a publication from the conference. I attended the conference and chaired a paper and an accompanying poster session titled "Nature experience and wilderness areas in cities."

Publications

  • Parker, T.S. and C.H. Nilon. 2008. Gray squirrel density, habitat suitability, and behavior in urban Parks. Urban Ecosystems 11:243-255.
  • Pickett, S.T.A., M.L. Cadenasso, J.M. Grove, L.E. Band, C.G. Boone, W.R. Burch, Jr, C.S.B. Grimmond, J. Hom, J.C. Jenkins, N.L. Law, C.H. Nilon, R.V. Pouyat, K. Szlavecz, P.S. Warren, and M.A. Wilson. 2008. Beyond urban Legends: New, unexpected, or complex results from the Baltimore Ecosystem Study. BioScience 58:139-150.


Progress 01/01/07 to 12/31/07

Outputs
OUTPUTS: In 2007 I continued my involvement with the Baltimore Ecosystem Study. Dr. Paige Warren and I continue to collaborate on the BES Bird Monitoring Project. We completed our third year of monitoring work and submitted a manuscript on the project to Landscape and Urban Planning. Dr. Warren and I also collaborate with researchers with the CAPLTER project in Phoenix and have submitted a manuscript to Bioscience that incorporates data from the two urban LTER projects. Tommy Parker and I co-authored a manuscript from his dissertation that was accepted by Urban Ecosystems. A second manuscript from this study is in preparation. Caroline Broun completed her evaluation of the first year of the Missouri Master Naturalist Program. Bob Pierce and I met with the MDC education staff to discuss the results of the project and also presented the results at training programs for Master Naturalist program coordinators and volunteers. We have two manuscripts in preparation from this project. One will be submitted to Journal of Wildlife Management and one to Journal of Extension. PARTICIPANTS: Individuals working with project: Graduate Students in Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences: Carolyn Broun completed her M.S. in May 2007. Matt McCloud started work on a Ph.D. on the ecology and management of urban muskrats. Brandon Pope and Nathan Weber started work on Human Dimensions of Wildlife related topics. TARGET AUDIENCES: My work targets: 1. Researchers in urban wildlife, urban ecosystems, wildlife conservation and the human dimensions of wildlife conservation. 2. Managers 3. Urban residents. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

Impacts
Donna Brunet and I submitted a popular article from her thesis on urban butterflies that was published in Butterfly Gardener, a quarterly magazine published by the North American Butterfly Association. Donna's work is important to people who watch butterflies and who manage their yards to attract different species. In July 2007 I was participated in a workshop titled "Current and Future Research in Urban Ecology." I was an invited speaker. The workshop was organized by Robbert Snep (Alterra - Green Metropolises Project, The Netherlands); Jari Niemala (University of Helsinki), and Jurgen Breuste (University of Salzburg) to bring together an international group of urban ecologists to discuss future directions for research.

Publications

  • Brunet, D. and C. Nilon. 2007. butterfly garden journal: butterfly gardening in central Missouri. Butterfly Gardener 12(1)4-6
  • Middendorf, G. and C. Nilon. 2007. ESA and environmental justice. Bulletin of the Ecological Society of America 88(2):160-165.
  • Nilon, C. 2007. Ecology and environmental justice in context: The Sierra Clubs toxic tour of Memphis. Bulletin of the Ecological Society of America 88(2):199-203.
  • Pickett, S.T.A., M.L. Cadenasso, J.M. Grove, L.E. Band, C.G. Boone, W.R. Burch, Jr, C.S.B. Grimmond, J. Hom, J.C. Jenkins, N.L. Law, C.H. Nilon, R.V. Pouyat, K. Szlavecz, P.S. Warren, and M.A. Wilson. 2008. Beyond urban Legends: New, unexpected, or complex results from the Baltimore Ecosystem Study. BioScience 58:139-150.