ALBERT

Description:    In order to build competence for sustainability analysis and assessment of urban systems, it is seen as essential to build on models representing urban form, landuse and transportation, urban metabolism, as well as ecological processes. This type of analysis of interacting sub-systems requires an advanced model integration platform, yet open for learning and for further development. Moreover, since the aim is to increase urban experience with ecosystem management in the wide sense, the platform needs to be open and easily available, with high visualisation capacity. For this purpose, the LEAM model was applied to the Stockholm Region and two potential future scenarios were developed, resulting from alternative policies. The scenarios differed widely and the dense urban development of Scenario Compact could be visualised, destroying much of the Greenstructure of Stockholm, while Scenario Urban Nature steered the development more to outer suburbs and some sprawl. For demonstration of the need for further development of biodiversity assessment models, a network model tied to a prioritised ecological profile was applied and altered by the scenarios. It could be shown that the Greenstructure did not support this profile very well. Thus, there is a need for dynamic models for negotiations, finding alternative solutions and interacting with other models. The LEAM Stockholm case study is planned to be further developed, to interact with more advanced transport and land use models, as well as analysing energy systems and urban water issues. This will enable integrated sustainability analysis and assessment of complex urban systems, for integration in the planning process in Stockholm as well as for comparative sustainability studies between different cities, with the goal to build more sustainable urban systems and to increase urban experiences in ecosystem management. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-20 DOI 10.1007/s11252-012-0270-3 Authors Ulla Mörtberg, Environmental Management and Assessment Research Group, Department of Land and Water Resources Engineering, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, 10044 Stockholm, Sweden Jan Haas, Division of Geoinformatics, Department of Urban Planning and Environment, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, 10044 Stockholm, Sweden Andreas Zetterberg, Environmental Management and Assessment Research Group, Department of Land and Water Resources Engineering, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, 10044 Stockholm, Sweden Joel P. Franklin, Department of Transport Science, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, 10044 Stockholm, Sweden Daniel Jonsson, Department of Transport Science, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, 10044 Stockholm, Sweden Brian Deal, Department of Urban and Regional Planning, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL 61820, USA Journal Urban Ecosystems Online ISSN 1573-1642 Print ISSN 1083-8155

Description:    Urban marine habitats are often utilized by wildlife for foraging and other activities despite surrounding anthropogenic impact or disturbance. However little is known of the ecological factors that determine habitat value of these and other remnant natural habitats. We examined the preferential use of urban marine habitats in a northeast US estuary to try to elucidate the factors driving enhanced foraging activity at these sites. Using a bioenergetic model, we compared energy intake to energy expenditure and examined differences in behavior and foraging success of great egrets Ardea alba at three urban and three rural salt marshes in Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island USA. Mean per site available nekton energy averaged 4.44 ± 0.97 GJ site −1 and was significantly higher at urban than at rural sites. While energy expenditure by birds was similar across all sites, mean strike and prey capture rate were significantly greater at urban sites, and 70.1 ± 12.2 % of strikes by egrets at urban sites were successful. Egrets foraging at urban sites consumed significantly more energy (23.2 ± 6.62 W bird −1 ) than those at rural sites. Model results indicated a net energy gain by egrets foraging at urban sites, versus a net energy loss at rural sites. Our results may help explain previously observed increases in the numbers of egrets foraging at urban marine habitats, and help provide input into decisions about the extent to which these areas should be considered for restoration or protection. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-16 DOI 10.1007/s11252-012-0274-z Authors Richard A. McKinney, Office of Research and Development, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Atlantic Ecology Division, US Evironmental Protection Agency, 27 Tarzwell Drive, Narragansett, RI 02882, USA Kenneth B. Raposa, Narragansett Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, 55 South Reserve Drive, Prudence Island, RI 02872, USA Journal Urban Ecosystems Online ISSN 1573-1642 Print ISSN 1083-8155

Description:    Urban lakes are often monitored and managed with limited consideration of adjacent communities. Generally, when communities are considered in relation to urban lakes, they are viewed simply as sources of pollutants. Given the inevitable interactions between an urban lake and the surrounding inhabitants, the community must be considered explicitly when assessing the ecosystem health of urban lakes, as the two entities intrinsically comprise interrelated parts of a single ecosystem. In this study, the reciprocal links between a residential community and a series of urban lakes in South East Queensland have been examined to facilitate a dynamically linked, fully integrated ecosystem health assessment of constructed urban lakes. Residents’ attitudes towards, and values derived from, a series of urban lakes were surveyed, as well as residents’ behaviours which may impact upon urban lake health. The results indicate that residents derive both tangible and intangible benefits from the urban lakes, but feel little responsibility for lake health or custodianship over the lakes. Greater recognition within urban lake management frameworks of the links between urban lake systems and their surrounding communities may help to foster and enhance both community well-being, a greater sense of custodianship for such systems and improved management. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-14 DOI 10.1007/s11252-012-0256-1 Authors Christopher Walker, Faculty of Science, Health, Education & Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, Australia Jane-Louise Lampard, Griffith School of Environment, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia Anne Roiko, Faculty of Science, Health, Education & Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, Australia Neil Tindale, Faculty of Science, Health, Education & Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, Australia Aaron Wiegand, Faculty of Science, Health, Education & Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, Australia Peter Duncan, Faculty of Science, Health, Education & Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, Australia Journal Urban Ecosystems Online ISSN 1573-1642 Print ISSN 1083-8155

Description:    The concept of ecosystem goods and services is increasingly used to describe how biodiversity and ecosystems are linked to human well-being and that it should be placed at the core of sustainable urban development. Predictions of a tremendous future increase of urbanization in Africa necessitate an investigation into the research on ecosystem goods and services in the urban green infrastructure of Africa. Ecosystem goods and services (ES) are described as the benefits humans derive directly or indirectly from ecosystem functions and are classified as supporting, provisioning, regulating and cultural services. A literature study focusing on journal papers was conducted. Additionally a case study based on two masters studies was further refined. ES studies in African cities are biased towards South Africa and include assessments and economic valuations in which several different methods were used to determine direct consumptive and non-consumptive and indirect use values. Emphasis was placed on the multifunctional nature of ES. The main objectives of these studies were to sensitize policy makers, planners and the general public about the importance of biodiversity and ES. Ecosystem-based adaptation is discussed as the most appropriate approach in terms of applying knowledge about ES and their values in African cities as many residents still rely on ES from natural areas, but the major ecological, economic and political challenges are acknowledged. A case study focusing on domestic gardens (private green spaces) have indicated that the demand and supply of certain ES differ along a socio-economic gradient due to poor service delivery and smaller plots in the poorer areas mainly due to the legacy of separate development of the past. Where provisioning services are mainly outsourced in cities, it was found that plant species useful as food, medicine, etc. were more frequent in the gardens of poorer residents than in those of more affluent areas. The tendency to pay more for residential properties close to public open spaces, as in Europe, could not be statistically proven in the more affluent areas of a South African city, although the property values in proximity of public open spaces in some of the areas studied were lower than further away. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-22 DOI 10.1007/s11252-012-0254-3 Authors Sarel Cilliers, School of Environmental Sciences and Development, North-West University, Private Bag X6001, Potchefstroom, 2520 South Africa Juaneé Cilliers, School of Environmental Sciences and Development, North-West University, Private Bag X6001, Potchefstroom, 2520 South Africa Rina Lubbe, School of Environmental Sciences and Development, North-West University, Private Bag X6001, Potchefstroom, 2520 South Africa Stefan Siebert, School of Environmental Sciences and Development, North-West University, Private Bag X6001, Potchefstroom, 2520 South Africa Journal Urban Ecosystems Online ISSN 1573-1642 Print ISSN 1083-8155

Description:    One of the most effective ways to describe the successional gradient of an environment is by using measures of biodiversity. We investigated the biodiversity of ant communities (known tramp/structure invaders) in an environment undergoing urban succession to characterize how ant communities changed along a disturbance gradient. Ant community dynamics were examined within three Puerto Rican housing developments of different ages. Within each development, we assessed the ant community using biodiversity measures of richness, abundance, diversity and evenness. We also studied changes in biodiversity within each development over time as well as how biodiversity related to food preferences within the ant communities. In general, the biodiversity measures increased as the age of the housing development increased. Monthly changes in biodiversity indicated that month was a better predictor of biodiversity in the most recently disturbed development, while the biodiversity in the older developments was less predictable from month to month. The biodiversity measures also suggested that the ant community in the youngest development was comprised mostly of generalist feeders. However, the older sites’ ant species appeared to have more specific feeding preferences. Based on the biodiversity measures of these ant communities, our findings suggest that the housing developments of different ages represented advancing stages of secondary succession. Furthermore, this study indicated that the succession of ant species occurs rapidly (〈10 years) in urban environments, resulting in a relatively diverse ant community. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-18 DOI 10.1007/s11252-012-0260-5 Authors Preston H. Brown, Department of Entomology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 216A Price Hall (0319), Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA Dini M. Miller, Department of Entomology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 216A Price Hall (0319), Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA Carlyle C. Brewster, Department of Entomology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 216A Price Hall (0319), Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA Richard D. Fell, Department of Entomology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 216A Price Hall (0319), Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA Journal Urban Ecosystems Online ISSN 1573-1642 Print ISSN 1083-8155

Description:    While former salt marsh sites filled with human transported material (HTM) have altered the surface marsh ecosystem, if artificial drainage is absent, subsurface conditions may continue favorable for denitrification, a microbial process reducing nitrogen (N) export to estuaries. We used piezometer networks to evaluate the in situ groundwater denitrification capacity and nitrous oxide (N 2 O) flux (with 15 N-enriched nitrate-N via the push-pull method) in four former fringing salt marshes topped by HTM along the Rhode Island coast, U.S.A. Groundwater at these sites commonly interacted with the buried marsh horizon and the HTM. In situ groundwater denitrification capacity site means ranged from 15.2 to 71.7 μg N kg −1 d −1 with no significant differences between sites due to high intrasite variability. The site with the highest and most consistent denitrification capacity also had HTM of the finest texture and highest soluble organic carbon. Three of four sites had minimal N 2 O flux [mean N 2 O:(N 2 O + N 2 ) = 0.082] while the final site had N 2 O generation rates up to 52.5 μg N kg −1  d −1 . The site with the highest N 2 O contributions also had the lowest ambient groundwater nitrate-N indicating lack of priming for N 2 O reduction to N 2 . Former salt marshes with HTM deposits may still have the capacity for substantial groundwater denitrification capacity, similar to that observed in undisturbed salt marshes, but may also contribute substantially to global N 2 O emissions. For both salt marsh restoration and greenhouse gas mitigation efforts, attention should be given to ensuring that a tidally-driven, fluctuating water table regularly intercepts the buried organic horizons of the filled salt marsh. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-17 DOI 10.1007/s11252-012-0266-z Authors Kelly Addy, Department of Natural Resources Science, University of Rhode Island, 102 Coastal Institute in Kingston, One Greenhouse Road, Kingston, RI 02881, USA Art Gold, Department of Natural Resources Science, University of Rhode Island, 102 Coastal Institute in Kingston, One Greenhouse Road, Kingston, RI 02881, USA Mark Stolt, Department of Natural Resources Science, University of Rhode Island, 102 Coastal Institute in Kingston, One Greenhouse Road, Kingston, RI 02881, USA Sean Donohue, Department of Natural Resources Science, University of Rhode Island, 102 Coastal Institute in Kingston, One Greenhouse Road, Kingston, RI 02881, USA Journal Urban Ecosystems Online ISSN 1573-1642 Print ISSN 1083-8155

Description:    We examined whether relatively small urban ponds behave as ‘completely mixed reactors’ by measuring the stability and vertical heterogeneity of water column parameters. To do this, we measured profiles of water temperature and conductivity from the pond surface to the water-sediment interface twice during summer 2009 in 45 stormwater ponds located in the residential landscape of southern Ontario. These data were used to calculate water column stability indices and examine the relative importance of temperature and conductivity in controlling water column stratification. We also measured concentrations of dissolved oxygen (DO), dissolved organic carbon (DOC), total dissolved phosphorus (TDP),total dissolved nitrogen (TDN), particulate phosphorus and nitrogen (seston P and N), chlorophyll a (Chl-a), and total suspended solids (TSS) in surface and bottom waters. Despite their shallow depth (0.50–2.8 m), most ponds were stratified on the day of sampling and had relatively stable water columns both in June and August. Temperature differences rather than conductivity differences were better related to water column stability. Despite relatively stable water columns, vertical differences were not found for most water chemistry parameters, suggesting either recent mixing or relatively slow biogeochemical processing. Top-bottom differences were observed in June and August for DO and in June for TDN, seston N and TSS, reflecting a combination of processes influencing water column chemistry. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-13 DOI 10.1007/s11252-012-0258-z Authors N. A. McEnroe, Department of Biology, Trent University, 1600 West Bank Drive, Peterborough, Ontario K9J 7B8, Canada J. M. Buttle, Department of Geography, Trent University, 1600 West Bank Drive, Peterborough, Ontario K9J 7B8, Canada J. Marsalek, Urban Water Management Section, Environment Canada, Water Science and Technology Directorate, 867 Lakeshore Road, Burlington, Ontario L7R 4A6, Canada F. R. Pick, Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, 30 Marie Curie, Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6 N5, Canada M. A. Xenopoulos, Department of Biology, Trent University, 1600 West Bank Drive, Peterborough, Ontario K9J 7B8, Canada P. C. Frost, Department of Biology, Trent University, 1600 West Bank Drive, Peterborough, Ontario K9J 7B8, Canada Journal Urban Ecosystems Online ISSN 1573-1642 Print ISSN 1083-8155

Description:    The value of urban green space has become an increasingly controversial issue. In particular, development of novel vegetative assemblages on vacant lands may have many formerly unrecognized benefits. However, questions remain regarding the functional impairment of these assemblages due to degraded soils. We investigated the effects of elevated concentrations of soil metals on allometry and photosynthetic capacity of naturally colonized poplars ( Populus deltoides Michx.) growing at Liberty State Park, New Jersey. We found that allometries of harvested trees did not differ significantly between the low metal load (LML) and high metal load (HML) sites suggesting that metal contamination did not negatively affect carbon allocation patterns of the target species. Likewise, photosynthetic parameters did not differ significantly between the LML and HML sites, suggesting that soil metal contamination did not negatively affect photosynthetic capacity. However, trees from the LML site were significantly younger for a given size than trees from the HML site. Trees from the medium metal load site (MML) differed significantly in allometry and photosynthetic parameters from the other two sites suggesting other edaphic and ecological factors are a stronger driver for carbon allocation patterns and photosynthetic capacity in these trees. Taken together, this research suggests that sapling establishment and growth may be impaired by heavy metals and that trees in HML sites may incur more maintenance costs than trees in LML sites. However, given enough time, poplars can provide considerable rehabilitation of urban brownfields, particularly those that exhibit soil metal contamination. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-17 DOI 10.1007/s11252-012-0259-y Authors Heidi J. Renninger, Department of Biological Sciences, Rutgers University, 195 University Ave., Newark, NJ 07102, USA Sahil Wadhwa, Department of Biological Sciences, Rutgers University, 195 University Ave., Newark, NJ 07102, USA Frank J. Gallagher, Department of Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources, Rutgers University, 14 College Farm Rd., New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA Dirk Vanderklein, Department of Biology and Molecular Biology, Montclair State University, Science Hall 116, Montclair, NJ 07043, USA Karina V. R. Schäfer, Department of Biological Sciences, Rutgers University, 195 University Ave., Newark, NJ 07102, USA Journal Urban Ecosystems Online ISSN 1573-1642 Print ISSN 1083-8155

Description:    This study shows that greening the building envelope with vertical greening systems such as climbing plants or living wall systems provides ecological and environmental benefits. Contemporary architecture in fact is increasingly focusing on vertical greening systems as a means to restore the environmental integrity of urban areas, biodiversity and sustainability. Applying green façades, which is an established feature of contemporary urban design, can offer multiple environmental benefits on both new and existing buildings and can be a sustainable approach in terms of energy saving considering materials used, nutrients and water needed and efficient preservation of edifices. To provide a full perspective and a viable case study on vertical greening systems a process tree is developed throughout this research. Elaborating the process tree has proved to be a useful methodology to analyse main parameters as climate and building characteristics, avoid damages and maintenance problems caused by inappropriate design, and compare different elements such as technologies, materials, durability, dimensions, and plant species employed. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-13 DOI 10.1007/s11252-012-0262-3 Authors Katia Perini, Faculty of Architecture, University of Genoa, Stradone S. Agostino, 37-16123 Genoa, Italy Marc Ottelé, Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, Delft University of Technology, Stevinweg 1, 2628 CN Delft, P.O. Box 5048, The Netherlands E. M. Haas, Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, Delft University of Technology, Stevinweg 1, 2628 CN Delft, P.O. Box 5048, The Netherlands Rossana Raiteri, Faculty of Architecture, University of Genoa, Stradone S. Agostino, 37-16123 Genoa, Italy Journal Urban Ecosystems Online ISSN 1573-1642 Print ISSN 1083-8155

Description:    Rats ( Rattus rattus and Rattus norvegicus ) are among the most prolific and widespread urban pest species in the world. However, there is relatively little contemporary data regarding the ecology of rats in urban centers, preventing the development of effective strategies for urban rat management. Practical constraints associated with field studies suggest the need for more efficient methods of data collection, one of which could involve pest control professionals, who have considerable experiential knowledge of urban rats. The objective of this study was to gather data regarding urban rat ecology through a survey of Canadian pest control professionals and to determine whether such a survey could be useful for the collection of ecological data regarding pest species. Survey results suggested that rat infestations fluctuate seasonally and that there are a variety of environmental factors that may attract rats, particularly exposed garbage, abandoned buildings, and compost. Respondents suggested that rat infestations are most frequent and/or severe in residential areas, commercial areas dealing with food, as well as in neighborhoods of low socioeconomic status. The majority of respondents believed that rats pose at least a moderate health risk to the general public and to themselves, and they also believed that although poison baiting is the cheapest and easiest method of rat control, environmental modification is the most effective way to control rat infestations in the long term. Despite issues with low response rates, these results suggest that pest control professionals may be a valuable source of data regarding urban pest species. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-10 DOI 10.1007/s11252-012-0261-4 Authors Chelsea G. Himsworth, School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, 2206 East Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6T 1Z3 Alice Y. T. Feng, School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, 2206 East Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6T 1Z3 Kirbee Parsons, School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, 2206 East Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6T 1Z3 Thomas Kerr, British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, 608 – 1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6Z 1Y6 David M. Patrick, School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, 2206 East Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6T 1Z3 Journal Urban Ecosystems Online ISSN 1573-1642 Print ISSN 1083-8155