Urban ecosystems are a unique synthetic biome with defining characteristics influenced by large populations and commensurate human activities. The key ecological pressures include replacement of native vegetation with impervious surfaces such as roads, concrete, and buildings; degradation of native vegetation or replacement with nonnative species; fragmentation of natural or green spaces with a corresponding reduction in wildlife habitat; increased pollutant loads; and changes to the hydrologic... więcej

Salem Press Encyclopedia of Science, 2022. 3p.