Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Environmental Indicators of Biological Urbanization

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Environmental Indicators

Abstract

The objectives of this chapter on biological urbanization (the biological process resulting in exploitation by living beings of urban habitats and the successful establishment of populations of such organisms in urban habitats from ancestral populations living in natural or rural man-made habitats) were to (1) identify environmental indicators of urbanization; (2) rank these indicators in terms of indicator ability; and (3) test for spatial and temporal consistency in indicator ability. Four different measures of urbanization have been proposed: (1) year when a rural population became urbanized, as judged by direct observations of the first reproducing individuals in the urban habitat; (2) the difference in population density between urban and rural habitats with higher density in urban habitats reflecting more ancient and hence more advanced urbanization; (3) at least one urban population having higher population density in urban than in nearby rural populations of the same species; and (4) records of reproduction in city centers. The three largest mean effect sizes (Pearson’s product-moment correlation coefficient) reflecting likelihood of urbanization of birds were 0.47 for predation-related factors, 0.46 for geographic range and population density, and 0.29 for body size. The year of urbanization for different populations of the same bird species had a repeatability of 0.44 among sites. The difference in population density between nearby urban and rural habitats had a repeatability of 0.26 among the same sites. Selection for adaptation to the novel urban environment included (1) a reduction in dispersal propensity and hence a reduction in morphology associated with efficient flight or movement; (2) changes in vocalizations of birds and other organisms to cope with altered urban noise; (3) changes in songs and positions in the vegetation used for song related to changes in a predator community between rural and urban habitats; (4) changes in flight distance due to change in predator community; and (5) a change in flight behavior in response to the proximity of humans toward perpendicular flights away from the walking direction of humans to avoid human disturbance.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
EUR 32.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
eBook
USD 169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
Softcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
Hardcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Anderies JM, Katti M, Shochat E (2007) Living in the city: resource availability, predation, and bird population dynamics in urban areas. J Theor Biol 247:36–49

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baker PJ, Molony SE, Stone E, Cuthill IC, Harris S (2008) Cats about town: is predation by free-ranging pet cats Felis catus likely to affect urban bird populations? Ibis 150:86–99

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baratti M, Cordaro M, Dessi-Fulgheri F, Vannini M, Fratini S (2009) Molecular and ecological characterization of urban populations of the mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) in Italy. Ital J Zool 76:330–339

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Björklund M, Ruiz I, Senar JC (2010) Genetic differentiation in the urban habitat: the great tits (Parus major) of the parks of Barcelona city. Biol J Linn Soc 99:9–19

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bonaparte C-L (1828) Ornithologie comparé de Rome et de Philadelphie. Rome

    Google Scholar 

  • Bonier F, Martin PR, Wingfield JC (2007) Urban birds have broader environmental tolerance. Biol Lett 3:670–673

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carrete M, Tella JL (2011) Inter-individual variability in fear of humans and relative brain size of the species are related to contemporary urban invasion in birds. PLoS One 6(4):e18859

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chamberlain DE, Cannon AR, Toms MP, Leech DI, Hatchwell BJ, Gaston KJ (2009) Avian productivity in urban landscapes: a review and meta-analysis. Ibis 151:1–18

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cheptou P-O, Carrue O, Rouifed S, Cantarel A (2008) Rapid evolution of seed dispersal in an urban environment in the weed Crepis sancta. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 109:3796–3799

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cohen J (1988) Statistical power analysis for the behavioral sciences. Erlbaum, Hillsdale

    Google Scholar 

  • Cooke AS (1980) Observations on how close certain passerine species will tolerate an approaching human in rural and suburban areas. Biol Conserv 18:85–88

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Croci S, Butet A, Clergeau P (2008) Does urbanization filter birds on the basis of their biological traits? Condor 110:223–240

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Darwin C (1868) The variation of animals and plants under domestication. John Murray, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Diamond J (1997) Guns, germs and steel. Norton, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Díaz M, Møller AP, Flensted-Jensen E, Grim T, Ibáñez-Álamo JD, Jokimäki J, Maarló G, Tryjanowski P (2013) The geography of fear: a latitudinal gradient in anti-predator escape distances of birds across Europe. PLoS One 8(5):e64634

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dickman CR, Doncaster CP (1987) The ecology of small mammals in urban habitats. I: Populations in a patchy environment. J Anim Ecol 56:629–640

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • European Commission (2006) Urban sprawl in Europe. European Environmental Agency, Denmark

    Google Scholar 

  • Evans KL, Gaston KJ, Frantz AC, Simeoni M, Sharp SP, McGowan A, Dawson DA, Walasz K, Partecke J, Burke T, Hatchwell BJ (2009a) Independent colonization of multiple urban centres by a formerly forest specialist bird species. Proc R Soc Lond B 276:2403–2410

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Evans KL, Gaston KJ, Sharp SP, McGowan A, Simeoni M, Hatchwell BJ (2009b) Effects of urbanization on disease prevalence and age structure in blackbird Turdus merula populations. Oikos 118:774–782

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Evans KL, Hatchwell BJ, Parnell M, Gaston KJ (2010a) A conceptual framework for the colonisation of urban areas: the blackbird Turdus merula as a case study. Biol Rev 85:643–667

    Google Scholar 

  • Evans KL, Chamberlain DE, Hatchwell BJ, Gregory RD, Gaston KJ (2010b) What makes an urban bird? Glob Chang Biol 17:32–44

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Evans KL, Newton J, Gaston KJ, Sharp SP, McGowan A, Hatchwell BJ (2012) Colonisation of urban environments is associated with reduced migratory behaviour, facilitating divergence from ancestral populations. Oikos 121:634–640

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fulgione D, Rippa D, Procaccini G, Milone M (2000) Urbanisation and the genetic structure of Passer italiae (Viellot 1817) populations in the south of Italy. Ethol Ecol Evol 12:123–130

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gesner C (1669) Vollkommenes Vogelbuch. Schlütersche, Hannover (reprint 1981)

    Google Scholar 

  • Gilbert OL (1989) The ecology of urban habitats. Chapman and Hall, London

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Gliwicz J, Goszczynski J, Luniak M (1994) Characteristic features of animal populations under synurbanization: the case of the blackbirds and the striped field mouse. Memorab Zool 49:237–244

    Google Scholar 

  • Handwerk D (2008) Half of humanity will live in cities by year’s end. http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/03/080313-cities.html

  • Hõrak P, Ots I, Vellau H, Spottiswoode C, Møller AP (2001) Carotenoid-based plumage coloration reflects hemoparasite infection and local survival in breeding great tits. Oecologia 126:166–173

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Isaksson C, Örnborg J, Stephensen E, Andersson S (2005) Plasma glutathione and carotenoid coloration as potential biomarkers of environmental stress in great tits. EcoHealth 2:136–138

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kark S, Iwaniuk A, Schalimtzek A, Banker E (2007) Living in the city: can anyone become an ‘urban exploiter’? J Biogeogr 34:638–651

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Klausnitzer B (1989) Verstädterung von Tieren. Neue Brehm-Bücherei, Wittenberg-Lutherstadt

    Google Scholar 

  • Kohane MJ, Parsons PA (1988) Domestication: evolutionary change under stress. Evol Biol 23:30–48

    Google Scholar 

  • Maklakov AA, Immler S, Gonzalez-Voyer A, Rönn J, Kolm N (2011) Brains and the city: big-brained passerine birds succeed in urban environments. Biol Lett 7:730–732

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marzluff JM, Bowman R, Donnelly R (2001) Avian ecology and conservation in an urbanizing world. Kluwer Academic Press, Dordrecht

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Møller AP (2008) Flight distance of urban birds, predation and selection for urban life. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 63:63–75

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Møller AP (2009) Successful city dwellers: a comparative study of the ecological characteristics of urban birds in the Western Palearctic. Oecologia 159:849–858

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Møller AP (2010a) Interspecific variation in fear responses predicts urbanization in birds. Behav Ecol 21:365–371

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Møller AP (2010b) The fitness benefit of association with humans: elevated success of birds breeding indoors. Behav Ecol 21:913–918

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Møller AP (2011) Song post height in relation to predator diversity and urbanization. Ethology 117:529–538

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Møller AP (2012) Reproduction. In: Wong B, Candolin U (eds) Behavioural responses to a changing world: mechanisms and consequences. Oxford University Press, Oxford, pp 106–118

    Google Scholar 

  • Møller AP (2014) Behavioral and ecological predictors of urbanization. In: Gil D, Brumm H (eds) Avian urban ecology. Oxford University Press, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  • Møller AP, Ibáñez-Álamo JD (2012) Escape behavior of birds provides evidence of predation being involved in urbanization. Anim Behav 84:341–348

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Møller AP, Jennions MD (2002) How much variance can be explained by ecologists and evolutionary biologists? Oecologia 132:492–500

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Møller AP, Erritzøe J, Nielsen JT (2010) Causes of interspecific variation in susceptibility to cat predation on birds. Chinese Birds 1:97–111

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Møller AP, Díaz M, Flensted-Jensen E, Grim T, Ibáñez-Álamo JD, Jokimäki J, Mänd R, Markó G, Tryjanowski P (2012) High urban population density of birds reflects their timing of urbanization. Oecologia 170:867–875

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Müller JC, Partecke J, Hatchwell BJ, Gaston KJ, Evans KL (2013) Candidate gene polymorphisms for behavioural adaptations during urbanization in blackbirds. Mol Ecol 22:3629–3637

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Partecke J, Van’t Hof T, Gwinner E (2004) Differences in the timing of reproduction between urban and forest European Blackbirds (Turdus merula): result of phenotypic flexibility or genetic differences? Proc R Soc Lond Ser B 271:1995–2001

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Partecke J, Schwabl I, Gwinner E (2006) Stress and the city: urbanisation and its effects on the stress physiology in European Blackbirds. Ecology 87:1945–1952

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pulliainen E (1963) On the history, ecology and ethology of the mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) overwintering in Finland. Ornis Fennica 40:45–66

    Google Scholar 

  • Rodríguez-Prieto I, Fernández-Juricic E, Martin J, Regis Y (2009) Anti-predator behavior in blackbirds: habituation complements risk allocation. Behav Ecol 20:371–377

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rutkowski R, Rejt L, Gryczynska-Siematkowska A, Jagolkowska P (2005) Urbanization gradient and genetic variability of birds: example of kestrels in Warsaw. Berkut 14:130–136

    Google Scholar 

  • Sætre G-P, Ruyahi S, Aliabadian M et al (2012) Single origin of human commensalism in the house sparrow. J Evol Biol 35:788–796

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schneider A, Friedl MA, Potere D (2009) A new map of global urban extent from MODIS satellite data. Environ Res Lett 4. doi:10.1088/1748-9326/4/4/044003

  • Shepherd JM, Pierce H, Negri AJ (2002) Rainfall modification by major urban areas: observations from spaceborne rain radar on the TRMM satellite. J Appl Meteorol 41:689–701

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Slabbekorn H (2013) Songs of the city: noise-dependent spectral plasticity in the acoustic phenotype of urban birds. Anim Behav 85:1089–1099

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sol D, Lapiedra O, González-Lagos C (2013) Behavioural adjustments for a life in the city. Anim Behav 85:1101–1112

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stephan B (1990) Die Amsel. Neue Brehm-Bücherei, Wittenberg-Lutherstadt

    Google Scholar 

  • Summers-Smith D (1963) The house sparrow. Collins, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Tomialojc L (1970) Quantitative studies on the synanthropic avifauna of Legnica town and its environs. Acta Ornithol 12:293–392

    Google Scholar 

  • Turner WR, Nakamura T, Dinetti M (2004) Global urbanization and the separation of humans from nature. Bioscience 54:585–590

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • United Nations (2007) World urbanization prospects: the 2007 revisions. United Nations, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang S, Lei F, Liu S, Li D, Chen C, Wang P (2011) Variation in baseline corticosterone levels of Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus) populations along an urban gradient. J Ornithol 152:801–806

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire d’Ecologie, Systématique et Evolution, CNRS UMR 8079, Université Paris-Sud, Bâtiment 362, F-91405, Orsay Cedex, France

    Anders Pape Møller

Authors
  1. Anders Pape Møller
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Anders Pape Møller .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Civil and Environmental Engineering, Israel Institute of Technology Technion, Haifa, Israel

    Robert H. Armon

  2. Department of Physiology, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland

    Osmo Hänninen

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2015 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Møller, A.P. (2015). Environmental Indicators of Biological Urbanization. In: Armon, R., Hänninen, O. (eds) Environmental Indicators. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-9499-2_25

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation