Urban wildlife

Urban wildlife refers to animal species that live in or frequently use urban and suburban areas, which are spaces dominated by human structures and activities, such as cities, towns, and surrounding neighborhoods. These environments differ from natural habitats in terms of habitat fragmentation, human presence, and resource distribution, yet many species have adapted to survive and even flourish in urban settings. Urban wildlife contributes to local biodiversity, ecosystem function, and public health considerations. Other species simply tolerate cohabiting around humans and use the remaining urban forests, parklands, green spaces and garden/street vegetations as niche habitats, in some cases gradually becoming sufficiently accustomed around humans to also become synanthropic over time. These species represent a minority of the natural creatures that would normally inhabit an area, and contain a large proportions of feral and introduced species as opposed to truly native species. For example, a 2014 compilation of studies (which were biased towards work in Europe, with very few studies from south and southeast Asia) found that only 8% of native bird and 25% of native plant species were present in urban areas compared with estimates of non-urban density of species. Urban wildlife can be found at any latitude that supports human dwellings. The list of animals that will venture into urbanized human settlements to forage on horticultures or to scavenge from trash runs from monkeys in the tropics to polar bears in the Arctic. Different types of urban areas support different kinds of wildlife. One general feature of bird species that adapt well to urban environments is they tend to be the species with bigger brains, perhaps allowing them to be more behaviorally adaptable to the more volatile urban environment. Arthropods (insects, spiders and millipedes), gastropods (land snails and slugs), various worms and some reptiles (e.g. house geckos) can also thrive well in the niches of human settlements.

Adaptation to urban environments Many species adjust to urban environments through a process called synurbization, which describes the behavioral and ecological changes that allow animals to cope with human-dominated landscapes. These adaptations may include changes in feeding behavior, daily activity, movement patterns, and tolerance of human presence. Examples of species that have adapted to urban life include blackbirds (Turdus merula), striped field mice (Apodemus agrarius), and urban foxes.

Ecological characteristics Urban ecosystems tend to favor generalist species, which can survive on a wide range of foods and in varied habitats. Species that require specific habitats, such as forest specialists, often decline as urbanization increases. Typical urban wildlife includes small mammals such as rats, mice, and squirrels; birds such as pigeons and sparrows; medium-sized mammals like raccoons, foxes, and coyotes; reptiles; and various invertebrates. Many of these species utilize human-provided food sources, such as trash bins, gardens, and sewer systems, and may adjust their behavior, for example becoming more active at night to avoid humans. Cities create opportunities for new ecological interactions among species. However, urban wildlife communities are often dominated by resilient generalists and invasive species, which can reduce the diversity of native animals and contribute to ecological uniformity across cities.

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