Assessing, valuing and mapping ecosystem services at city level: The case of Uppsala (Sweden)

Estimating Barcelona's metropolitan daytime hot and cold poles using Landsat-8 Land Surface Temperature

Forests and urban green areas as tools to address the challenges of sustainability in Latin American urban socio-ecological systems

Research that connects the effects of urbanization on biodiversity and ecosystem services is lacking. Ants perform multifarious ecological functions that stabilize ecosystems and contribute to a number of ecosystem services. We studied responses of ant communities to urbanization in the Lake Tahoe basin by sampling sites along a gradient of urban land development. We sampled ant communities, measured vegetation characteristics, quantified human activities, and evaluated ant-community responses by grouping ants into service-providing units (SPUs), defined as a group of organisms and their populations that perform specific ecosystem services, to provide an understanding of urbanization impacts on biodiversity and their delivery of ecosystem services. Species richness and abundance peaked at intermediate levels of urban development, as did the richness of 3 types of ant SPUs (aerators, decomposers, and compilers). With increasing land development aerator and decomposer ants significantly declined in abundance, whereas compiler ants significantly increased in abundance. Competing models demonstrated that precipitation was frequently among the strongest influences on ant community structure; however, urban development and human activities also had a strong, negative influence on ants, appearing in most models with DeltaAIC(c) < 2 for species richness and abundance patterns of SPUs and generalists. Response diversity was observed within SPUs, which suggests that the corresponding ecosystem services were maintained until development reached 30-40%. Our data provide evidence that ecosystem functions, such as water infiltration and soil productivity, may be diminished at sites subject to greater levels of urbanization and that conserving ant communities and the ecosystem services they provide could be an important target in land-use planning and conservation efforts.

Exposure to contaminants is one of the main threats to all living organisms. In this context, bats have been used to indicate environmental contaminants in urban and agricultural environments, since they are extremely sensitive to changes in the ecosystem and easily accumulate waste in their body tissues. Among bats, Sturnira lilium, is a frugivorous species widely distributed and abundant in Brazil that uses an extensive variety of habitats and shelters. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the oxidative state of S. lilium individuals in agricultural and urban areas in southern Brazil. Individuals were sampled in agricultural and urban areas from November 2017 to March 2018 through the mist-net method. Parameters of the superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) enzyme activity, non-protein thiols (NPSH), and lipid peroxidation (TBARS) were determined based on liver tissue. A total of 46 individuals were captured, 29 of them in urban areas and 17 in agricultural areas. We found that S. lilium individuals from agricultural areas showed a significant increase in TBARS, NPSH, and SOD activity, compared to individuals from urban areas. The activity of the antioxidant enzyme CAT did not differ. The present findings suggest that the species S. lilium, which are widely distributed and abundant in Brazil in urban and agricultural areas, can usefully be employed in biomonitoring programs. Further studies are to be encouraged to refine our knowledge on the potential DNA damage caused by environmental contamination, as well as identify potential contaminants to bats.

Rapid population growth, natural events, and increasing industrialization are among the factors affecting land use. To keep this change under control and to make sound plans, it is necessary to control the changes. In this study, the spatial use change in the Eskişehir region between the years 1990-2018 was examined with CORINE data. Based on this determined change, an urban change model was created with the multivariate regression method. As a result of the evaluations, while an increase was observed in urban areas and pastures between 1990-2018, a decrease was determined in agricultural and forest areas. This change is defined as 43.74% in urban areas, 3.28% in agricultural areas, 7.78% in forest areas, and 60.10% in pasture areas. SMOReg, MLP Regressor, and M5P Model Tree methods were used for the estimation study to be carried out with the obtained spatial change data. Urban values for 2018 were estimated to find the best method. Finally, the areas of 2030 were estimated with the method that gave the best results. The results demonstrated the usability of modeling using CORINE data.

Background Study data for Edible Urbanism: restructuring urban green voids.

The purpose of this study, covering the northern Ulus district of Turkey, was to analyze the forest and land use/land cover (LULC) changes in the past period from 2000 to 2020, and to predict the possible changes in 2030 and 2040, using remote sensing (RS) and geographic information systems (GIS) together with the CA-Markov model. The maximum likelihood classified (MLC) technique was used to produce LULC maps, using 2000 and 2010 Landsat (ETM +) and 2020 Landsat (OLI) images based on existing stand-type maps as reference. Using the historical data from the generated LULC maps, the LULC changes for 2030-2040 were predicted via the CA-Markov hybrid model. The reliability of the model was verified by overlapping the 2020 LULC map with the 2020 LULC model (predicted) map. The overall accuracy was found to be 80.90%, with a Kappa coefficient of 0.74. The total forest area (coniferous + broad-leaved + mixed forest) grew by 10,656.4ha (15.4%) in the 2000-2020 period. Examination of the types within the Forest Class revealed that the coniferous forest area had grown by 5.9% in the period 2000-2010, whereas it had decreased by 4.7% in the period 2010-2020. The broad-leaved forest area had grown by 1.2% and 3.1%, respectively, between 2000 and 2010 and 2010 and 2020. The mixed forest area had been reduced by 7.1% in the period 2000-2010 but had grown by 1.7% in the 2010-2020 period. In the Non-Forest Class, although the water area had increased in the 2000-2020 period, agricultural land and settlement areas had decreased by 11,553.9ha (32.3%) and 34.6ha (0.5%), respectively. According to the 2020-2040 LULC simulation results, it was predicted that there would be 3.8% and 26.4% growth in the total forest and water surface areas and 13.9% and 5.3% reduction in the agricultural and settlement areas, respectively. Using the LULC simulation to separate the Forest Class into coniferous, broad-leaved, and mixed forest categories and subsequently examining the individual changes can be of great help to forest planners and managers in decision-making and strategy development.

Changes in landscape composition caused by conversion of natural habitats into human-altered ecosystems can directly influence the physical characteristics of stream networks. Such impacts can modify the functional structure of fish communities, although the exact consequences of anthropic land-use changes can be context-dependent. This study investigated the influence of different land-use classes on the functional structure of fish communities in 32 headwater streams from southern Brazil. Trait composition and indices of functional diversity of the fish community were related to four land-use classes: native forest vegetation, silviculture, agriculture, and urban areas. Streams surrounded by larger areas of native forest were characterized by the predominance of foraging specialist species like grazers. However, as native vegetation is replaced by agriculture and urban areas, specialist species are replaced by species with generalist diet like detritivores. In streams surrounded by larger areas of agriculture, functional richness and divergence increased, while functional evenness decreased. Most likely, these changes were induced by alterations in the water quality, indicated by increased electrical conductivity and water temperature in streams with more agriculture areas. In conclusion, the conservation of the native forest vegetation is essential to maintain habitat characteristics and ecological processes in streams and to avoid the loss of specialist species in fish communities.

Sources of sulfur in the Nandong underground river system, southwest China: A chemical and isotopic reconnaissance

This study examined changes in land cover for the past 25 years in Busan and subsequently evaluated heat island potential by using land surface temperature and observation temperature data. The results were as below. The urban area of Busan increased by more than 2.5 times for the past 25 years from 1975 to 2000. It was believed that an increase in the pavement area of city within such a short period of time was an unprecedented phenomenon unique to our country. It could be assumed that urban heat island would be worsened through this process. After analyzing the land temperature according to the land cover, it was shown that there were noticeable changes in the temperature of urban & built-up and mountain & forest areas. In particular, the temperature rose to in industrial areas during the summer, whereas it went down to in the urban areas at whose center there were mountains. It was found that heat island potential according to the level of land cover had various values depending on the conditions of land cover. Among the areas of urbanization, the industrial area`s heat island potential is 6 to , and the residential and commercial area`s is , so it has been found that there is high possibility to induce urban heat islands. Meanwhile, in the forest or agricultural area or the waterside, the heat island potential is . With this study result, it is possible to evaluate the effects of temperature increase according to the urban land use, and it can be used as foundational data to improve urban thermal environment and plan eco-friendly urban development.

The increasing trend of industrial development has led to rapid changes in land use over the past few years. The changes in land use in Saraburi Province were studied during three periods: the years 2000, 2010, and 2021, using Landsat satellite imagery processed with the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform. The Random Forest (RF) machine learning algorithm was employed to classify land use activities into five categories based on the criteria set by the Department of Land Development. The overall accuracy values for land use were 83.59%, 82.42%, and 80.78%, respectively. The changes in land use have clearly affected the urban and built-up area. In 2000, there were only 7,561.15 ha, but by 2021, the area had increased to 34,221.11 ha. Forest areas also saw an increase. In 2000, there were only 79,626.26 ha, which increased to 163,542.05 ha in 2021, reflecting that Saraburi Province places importance on green areas. In contrast, agricultural areas decreased, which was attributed to the increasing number of households, according to the statistical report from the Department of Provincial Administration. In 2000, there were 168,979 households, and by 2021, they had increased to 288,275 households, resulting in a change in land use from agricultural areas to urban and built-up areas, totaling 22,114.95 ha. This information can be used as a guideline for planning development and land use to promote Saraburi Province, aiming towards becoming an eco-industrial city that is livable and has sustainable environmental quality in the future.

Civilization development has contributed to environmental pollution. In recent years, the number of vehicles has increased significantly; according to the Central Statistical Office, the number of passenger cars in Poland in 2000 was nearly 10 million, while in 2020 it was slightly more than 25 million. The study aimed to determine the content and spatial distribution of trace elements (Fe, Mn, Cd, Pb, Cr, Ni, Zn and Cu) in the roadside topsoil along the trunk road Białystok–Budzisko on different types of land use (urban, rural, agricultural and forestal areas). Forty-five soil samples were collected from a 160 km road section, at intervals of approximately 4 km. Metal contents were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrometry. The concentrations of metals in roadside soils occurred in the following order: Fe &gt; Mn &gt; Zn &gt; Cr &gt; Cu &gt; Pb &gt; Ni &gt; Cd. The average contents of Cd, Zn, Cu, and Pb were higher than the geochemical background values of the Polish soils. Moreover, the values of the Igeo showed for Cd moderate to strong, while for Zn, Cu and Pb, moderate soil contamination. The study indicates that significant metal-binding factors in the studied roadside soils are Fe and Mn oxides. The crucial source of metals is road transport, depending on its intensity, which means amount, type, and speed of vehicles. Moreover, based on the analysis of the course of the factor values and their dynamics, it was observed that the areas where typical activities connected with the population take place (urban and agricultural areas) are additional sources of heavy metals. The results of this paper are relevant to the prevention and control of heavy metal pollution in roadside soils. The study can contribute to reducing the concentration of toxic elements in ecosystems due to vehicle emissions with appropriate land-use policies.

When making foraging decisions, animals evaluate the risk of being preyed upon or hunted. This applies particularly to large-bodied, long-lived species with a long evolutionary history of human persecution, such as wild boars (Sus scrofa). Wild boar populations are rapidly expanding throughout natural, agricultural, and urban areas worldwide, thus escalating human–wild boar conflicts. Most of these conflicts are associated with crop and garden damages by foraging wild boars. To study the foraging behavior of wild boars across a gradient of human risk, we evaluated the combined effects of hunting, land use type, and wild boar group size and structure on boar use of feeding devices. We installed corn-supplemented feeding devices in four land-use types and hunting combinations: urban areas with and without hunting, rural areas (namely, agricultural areas with hunting), and nature reserves without hunting. Our results show that rural areas and urban areas were the most important predictors of the wild boars’ decision to eat or not and the time it took them to start eating from the moment they arrived at the feeding device (TBE—Time Before Eating). In addition, our study suggests that the TBEs of urban boars were significantly lower compared to boars from nature reserves. We further found that TBEs of urban boars were significantly lower than TBEs of boars in nature reserves. Our results suggest that the foraging behavior of wild boars varies spatially, corresponding to the different land-use types. We propose that the readiness of boars to forage in urban areas results from their habituation to human presence and lower perception of risk.

The impact of environmental pollution on selected animals was tested by monitoring the hepatic content of cytochromes P450 and their enzyme activities or by calculating TEQ values from the concentration of pollutants in the body. Fish-eating Stellars Sea Eagles, Haliaeetus pelagicus, found dead in the northern part of Hokkaido island accumulated high levels of PCBs and DDT and metabolites. The TEQ values calculated from the PCB concentration in the eagles were high enough to cause a significant toxic effect in other birds living in the same environment. Some of these birds were also contaminated with high concentrations of lead. Spotted seals, Phoca largha, captured along the coast-line of Hokkaido accumulated PCBs in their fat at about 100 million times the concentrations in the surface sea water. The levels of expressions of hepatic microsomal CYP 1A1and related enzyme activities in these seals showed good correlation to the levels of PCBs accumulated in the fat. The fresh water crabs, Eriocheir japonicus, were captured from three different rivers with various degrees of pollution. The P450 content and the related enzyme activities showed good correlation to TEQ values obtained from the concentrations of PCBs and PCDDs in the crabs from the rivers. The wild rodents, Clethrionomys rufocanus, were captured from urban, agricultural, and forest areas in Hokkaido. Those from the forest area had the lowest CYP content and related enzyme activities, comparable to those in laboratory-raised animals. Those from the urban areas, presumably contaminated with PAHs from fuel combustion, showed increased CYP 1A1 content and related enzyme activities. Those from the agricultural areas showed increased levels of CYP 1A1, 2B, 2E1. Rats treated with some of the agrochemicals used in the area resulted in a similar pattern of induction. It is concluded that P450 can be a useful biomarker for assessing the environmental impact of chemical pollutants on wild animals.

Megacopta cribraria (Fabricius) (Hemiptera: Plataspidae), commonly called the kudzu bug, is a pest of concern in many soybean and legume-producing states. It was first detected in the United States in 2009. In the southeastern United States, M. cribraria reduced crop yields by 47% in untreated soybean fields. Paratelenomus saccharalis (Dodd) (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae) is a known parasitoid of the kudzu bug, and a potential biological control agent. This study was comprised of three phases: (1) Preliminary assessment of the presence of the kudzu bug and its parasites in north Florida and south Georgia. (2) Measurements of the levels of parasitism in 12 sites selected from the preliminary evaluation to compare population dynamics in two growing seasons in agricultural, forested, and urban areas. (3) Laboratory studies to measure parasitism after 21 days in controlled environments. The preliminary assessment showed that in both 2016 and 2017, P. saccharalis emerged from eggs of M. cribraria collected in Leon and Gadsden County. Additionally, parasitism was recorded for the recently discovered egg parasitoid in north Florida, Ooencyrtus nezarae (Ishii) (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae). In the assessment of parasitism in the field, differences were observed in the average level of parasitism within the urban and forest area in both years, and in the agricultural area for 2017. Between-group comparisons indicated significant differences between the average parasitism levels in agricultural, urban, and forested areas in 2016; in 2017, the differences between the areas were not significant. In the laboratory, after 21 days of observation, an average of 77.4% of freshly laid and 61.6% of cooled eggs were parasitized by P. saccharalis, and adult parasitoids emerged. There was a significant difference in the emergence of freshly laid eggs over cooled eggs. This study suggests that both P. saccharalis and O. nezarae exert some levels of natural control of the kudzu bug in the field and may be useful as biological control agents in an integrated pest management program.