Text 12.2. Urban ecology

Urban ecology is a subfield of ecology which deals with the interaction between organisms in an urban or urbanized community, and their interaction with that community. Urban ecologists study the trees, rivers, wildlife and open spaces found in cities to understand the extent of those resources and the way they are affected by pollution, over-development and other pressures. Analysis of urban settings in the context of ecosystem ecology (looking at the cycling of matter and the flow of energy through the ecosystem) may ultimately help us to design healthier, better managed communities, by understanding what threats the urban environment brings to humans. There is an emphasis on planning communities with an ecological design, by using alternative building materials and methods. This is in order to promote a healthy and biodiverse urban ecosystem.

By 2030 it is estimated that 60% of the global population will live in a metropolitan setting. When people become educated and engaged in ecological activities, be it the study of local birds, testing the quality of area water sources, cleaning up vacant land to create atmosphere and gardens, or planting and caring for street trees, positive changes occur for both the people and the environment. For example, urban ecology transformations such as street tree projects increase social connections among urban residents which are the building block for public safety. The ability to enjoy, feel safe, and trust others in your community, is increased in areas where urban ecological tasks are performed, leading to better quality of life.

Interactions between non-living factors, such as sunlight and water, and biological factors, such as plants and microbes, take place in all environments including cities. Concentrating humans and the resources they consume in metropolitan areas alters such things as soil drainage, water flow, and light availability. For example, sidewalks and rooftops can change an area's hydrology by increasing storm water runoff and can contribute to higher urban temperatures by storing heat energy and acting as an artificial heat sink. There are many actions that can help reduce these problems in urban communities. Tree planting helps limit the total surface area of concrete in communities, allowing for groundwater recharge, reducing overall temperature, and helping purify air. Activities such as community gardens or home gardening in urban communities are encouraged by urban ecologists. It saves community members money, and limits demand from outside inputs into the city. Designing Green Buildings allows for less energy needed to operate commercial, industrial, or residential communities. Green buildings are designed with alternative energy sources like Solar Power or Biogas. Other examples of a green design would be increased insulation, green roofs, water collection systems, composting and recycling programs, and overall efficiency.

Urban communities can support a rich and diverse ecosystem. Biodiversity is increased with the availability of natural resources to support growth. So you can support a richer biodiversity by encouraging ecological activities in communities. Depending on the location of that area, the types of organisms in that community will vary greatly. Attempting to understand the factors that make some species successful in urban environments while others perish, is a common topic of research.

Urban ecology does not necessarily make value judgments about whether urban environments are 'good' or 'bad'. Rather, urban ecology allows one to see what is happening in a community and, assist in developing ways to reach the goals that one would like to see in their community.To apply the Urban Ecology, we need to focus on the new housing schemes so that our ecosystem may not disturb.

Questions

1. What does urban ecology deal with?

2. What do urban ecologists study?

3. What do analysis of urban settings in the context of ecosystem ecology allow to understand?

4. What are the problems in urban areas?

5. How can area′s hydrology be changed?

6. How can green buildings influence urban ecology?

7. What are alternative energy sources?

8. What does a green design include?

9. What is the role of urban communities in urban ecosystem?

10. What does urban ecology allow to understand?

Task 10. Please give the English equivalents of the following Ukrainian words and word combinations.

сонячна енергія, озеленення на дахах, рослини, популяції, міські екосистеми, загроза, гинути, потік енергії, штучне накопичення теплової енергії, різномаїття видів, міські жителі, програми переробок (вторинного використання), жива природа, ізоляція, очищати, стік вод.

Task 11. Match up a word on the left with a word on the right to make a common wordpartnership. Make up some sentences of your own using these word-combinations.

green	planting
solar	community
ecosystem	ecosystem
heat	power
urban	ecology
residential	sink
recycling	roofs
light	ecology
diverse	programs
tree	availability

Task 12. Find words in the text which mean the following.

1. relating to towns and cities;

2. the variety of plants and animals in a particular place;

3. the energy of the sun′s light and heat;

4. the possibility that smth. very bad will happen;

5. to die, especially in a terrible or sudden way;

6. the process of treating used objects or materials so that they can be used again;

7. to cover or protect smth with a material that stops electricity, heat, etc from getting in or out;

8. the study of the movement, distribution and quality of water on Earth and other planets, including the hydrologic cycle, water, resources and medium, planted over or a waterproofing membrane;

9. a roof or a building that is partially or completely covered with vegetation and a growing;

10. refers to a gas produced by the biological breakdown or organic matter in the absence of oxygen;

11. unfiltered water that reaches streams, lakes, oceans by means of flowing across impervious surface;

12. an assemblage of two or more populations of different species occupying the same geographical area.

Task 13. Find in the text the word that mean the same.

1. metropolitan f) inhabitant

2. to be killed g) reusing

3. hazard h) protection

4. variety i) power

5. accessibility j) warm up.

Task 14. According to the text, are the following sentences TRUE or FALSE? If they are false, say why.

1. Urban ecologists study the trees, rivers, wildlife and open spaces found in cities to understand the extent of those resources and the way they are affected by pollution, over-development and other pressures.

2. In order to promote a biodiverse urban ecosystem people should use alternative building materials and methods, in other words use ecological design.

3. Examples of a green design are solar power and biogas.

4. Designing green buildings allows to use less energy.

5. Biodiversity can be increased by planting trees.

Task 15. Give a brief summary of the text.

Task 16. Discuss with your group mates what ecology is and what it deals with, what are the problems of urban ecology and how they can be solved.

UNIT 13