Overview

A survey on the ecology of plants and animals in such familiar habitats as parks, gardens, cemeteries, wasteland, industrial sites and shopping centres, railways, roads and canals. The importance and significance of the flora and fauna in these areas is highlighted and ideas for developing mutually beneficial links between people and urban wildlife are suggested. Emphasis is placed on successful relationships, regional patterns of variation and those habitat factors that are peculiar to towns and cities.

Full Product Details

Author:   Oliver L. Gilbert
Publisher:   Chapman and Hall
Imprint:   Chapman and Hall
Edition:   New edition
Dimensions:   Width: 15.50cm , Height: 2.00cm , Length: 23.50cm
Weight:   0.587kg
ISBN:  

9780412455001

ISBN 10:   0412455005
Pages:   369
Publication Date:   15 August 1991
Audience:   College/higher education ,  Postgraduate, Research & Scholarly
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   In Print  
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Table of Contents

1 Introduction.- 2 Characteristics of urban flora and fauna.- 2.1 Proliferation of introduced species.- 2.2 Severe disturbance.- 2.3 Increased opportunities for dispersal.- 2.4 Habitat diversity.- 2.5 Taxonomic and evolutionary aspects.- 2.6 Vertebrates.- 2.7 Invertebrates.- 2.8 Planted vegetation.- 2.9 Historical factors.- 3 The urban climate and air pollution.- 3.1 Climate.- 3.2 Air pollution.- 4 Soils in urban areas.- 4.1 The classification of urban soils.- 4.2 Conspectus.- 4.3 Characteristics of urban soils.- 4.4 Brick rubble.- 4.5 Topsoiled sites.- 5 Vegetation dynamics.- 5.1 Ecological change as greenfield sites become developed.- 5.2 Ecological change as urban land is recycled.- 5.3 Postdevelopment.- 5.4 Discussion.- 6 Urban commons.- 6.1 Plants.- 6.2 Animals.- 6.3 Research opportunities.- 7 Industrial areas.- 7.1 Raw materials.- 7.2 Buildings, structures, hard landscapes.- 7.3 Energy aspects.- 7.4 Stores and warehouses.- 7.5 Solid waste material.- 7.6 Modern trends.- 8 Railways.- 8.1 The permanent way.- 8.2 Sidings.- 8.3 Brickwork and masonry.- 8.4 Verges.- 8.5 Boundary features.- 9 Roads.- 9.1 Road design.- 9.2 Exhaust emissions.- 9.3 De-icing salt.- 9.4 Traffic stress.- 9.5 Street trees.- 9.6 Grass verges.- 9.7 Animals.- 10 City centres.- 10.1 Animals.- 10.2 Vegetation.- 10.3 Interactions.- 11 City parks.- 11.1 Habitats within a park.- 11.2 Grassland.- 11.3 Growth retardants and herbicides.- 11.4 The changing wild flora of parks.- 11.5 Lakes.- 11.6 Mammals.- 11.7 Birds.- 11.8 Invertebrates.- 12 Allotments and leisure gardens.- 12.1 Background.- 12.2 Cultivated plots.- 12.3 Secondary successions.- 12.4 Birds.- 12.5 Supplementary habitats.- 12.6 Fostering wildlife on allotments.- 13 Cemeteries.- 13.1 Background.- 13.2 Structure planting.- 13.3 Shrubs.- 13.4 Theground layer.- 13.5 Grave plots.- 13.6 Relic communities.- 13.7 Succession.- 13.8 Management options.- 14 Gardens.- 14.1 Vegetation.- 14.2 Animals.- 14.3 Discussion.- 15 Rivers, canals, ponds, lakes, reservoirs and water mains.- 15.1 Urban hydrology.- 15.2 Rivers.- 15.3 Canals.- 15.4 Ponds, lakes, reservoirs and water mains.- 16 Woodland.- 16.1 The archaeology of a small urban wood.- 16.2 Ancient seminatural woodland.- 16.3 Plantations on the site of ancient woodland.- 16.4 Spontaneous recent woodland.- 16.5 Plantations.- 16.6 Birds.- 17 Living with wildlife.- 17.1 The aesthetic conflict.- 17.2 Social considerations.- 17.3 Design and management.- 17.4 Benefits for all.- References.

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