Socioeconomic inequality shapes urban bird richness: Evidence for the luxury effect in Bogotá, Colombia - Rodrigo Mutis; Dolors Armenteras (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)
The “luxury effect” (the tendency for wealthier urban areas to host higher biodiversity) is well-documented in cities of the Global North but remains understudied in the Global South, where socioeconomic inequality is often more pronounced. This study examines the luxury effect in Bogotá, Colombia, a biodiverse yet highly stratified city, using citizen science data from eBird and socioeconomic indicators such as land value and neighborhood stratification. We employed spatial regression models (SAR and SEM) to assess the relationship between bird species distribution and socioeconomic status while accounting for spatial autocorrelation. Over half of the analysed species (> 50%) showed a positive association with higher land values, and their occurrences were spatially clustered, confirming the luxury effect in Bogotá. However, species-specific responses varied: aquatic and migratory birds were less influenced by socioeconomic factors, while generalist species exhibited no clear pattern. Additionally, we found a positive correlation between urban tree species richness—including both native and ornamental non‑native trees, which are particularly prevalent in affluent neighborhoods—and bird species richness ( r = 0.47, p < 0.001), though tree richness explained only 23% of the variation, suggesting other ecological factors also play a role. These findings highlight how socioeconomic inequality shapes urban biodiversity, with wealthier neighborhoods benefiting from greater access to green spaces and higher bird richness. The study highlights that equitable urban planning, specifically the fair distribution of green spaces, is critical to reducing biodiversity inequities and promoting conservation in rapidly urbanizing megacities of the Global South. Graphical abstract Illustrated by Sara G Acosta M

Habitat size reshapes vertical forest structure and biodiversity in urban karst remnants - Gilbert Kumilamba; Shujun Liu; Zhijie Wang; Jinghao Li (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

From scale to structure: drivers of winter bird diversity and community composition in urban riparian ecosystems - Dong-Ho Lee; Se-Eun Noh; Na-Young Kim; Jeong-Woo Kim; Se-Min Kim; Shin-Jae Rhim (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Precise estimation of fine-scale urban street tree structure and woody aboveground biomass with backpack LiDAR - Jinming Yang; Tianhui Zhang; Bojian Wang; Feng Cheng; Mathieu Decuyper; Linqian Yu; Huicui Lu; Haifang Li; Richard Hauer (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Spatial co-occurrence of exotic species in an urban reserve in Mexico City - D. Alejandro Espinosa-Lucas; Gonzalo A. Ramírez-Cruz; Israel Solano-Zavaleta; J. Jaime Zúñiga-Vega (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

A cross-city assessment method for street greenery equity based on the green landscape index - Jiayu Ge; Hao Chen; Xiaoping Rui; Yingxing Chen; Yiying Liu; Yunqiang Zhu (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Seasonal forcing and substrate legacy shape the biogeochemical organization of rooftop vs. ground-level urban gardens - Gisela Sandoval-Peña; John Larsen; Eliane Ceccon; Ofelia I. Beltrán-Paz; Bruno Chávez-Vergara (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

The potential role of mason bees (Osmia bicornis L. 1758) in biomonitoring antimicrobial-resistant environmental bacteria - Giovanni Cilia; Ilaria Resci; Laura Zavatta; Felix Pinerolo de Septis; Barbara Turchi; Fabio Sgolastra (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Gradient analysis of relationships between soil, decomposition of human remains, and external factors in graves in four Norwegian municipalities - Inghild Halvorsen Økland; Rune Halvorsen; Attila Nemes; Lorna Dawson; Trond Knapp Haraldsen (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Assessing structural redundancy in urban ecological networks using natural connectivity: planning implications for Harbin - Jinghong Rong; Songtao Wu (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Response of soil mesofauna to an urbanization gradient in a Mediterranean climate - Lola Czuckermand; M. Santonja; F Torre; S. Brasseur; F. Talin; S. Dupouyet; T. Gauquelin; V. Baldy (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Patch- and landscape-scale associations of bird assemblages across urban parks in Mexico City - Marisela Martínez-Ruiz; Elio G. Lagunes-Díaz; Jonathan Morales-Contreras; María del Coro Arizmendi (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Melliferous weed flora in a sub-Mediterranean urban ecosystem: potential implications for pollinator support in the Mostar area (Bosnia and Herzegovina) - Helena Brekalo; Danijela Petrović; Mate Boban; Sandra Medić; Antonela Musa; Aldin Boškailo (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Home gardens as reservoirs of plant diversity in human-dominated landscapes: evidence from five regions of Egypt - Sara Hassanen; Monier M. Abd El-Ghani; Hamdiya Turky; Azza B. Hamed (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Host plant origin and functional strategy shape the performance of the hemiparasitic mistletoe Tristerix corymbosus in an urban environment: a field test on native and introduced host plants - Paz Aguilera-Opazo; Cristian Atala; Francisco E. Fontúrbel (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Does urbanization influence the health of American robins (Turdus migratorius)? - Anna Riccardi; Kimberly R. Douglass; Vera Soloview Jackson; Gavin K. Dehnert; Hannah Herbst; Felix Grewe; Morgan Walker; Seth Magle; Maureen H. Murray; Henry Adams; Cara E. Brook; Emily Cornelius Ruhs (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Free-roaming dogs and cats – determinants of abundance and population estimates in urbanized areas of mainland Portugal - Alexandre Azevedo; Filipa Peste; Paloma Linck; João Carvalho; Danielle Crawshaw; Eduardo Ferreira; Rita Tinoco Torres; Victor Bandeira (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Activity patterns of arboreal mammals that move using power lines in a Neotropical urban ecosystem - Isabela V. Conti; Remington J. Moll; Raul Costa-Pereira (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)
With the suppression of continuous tree canopies in cities, some arboreal mammals resort to using overhead power line networks to navigate urban landscapes. Surprisingly, although sightings of mammals moving on electrical wires are common in tropical and temperate cities, we still know very little about mammal activity patterns on these human-built structures. Importantly, electrocution is a significant cause of death for mammal species that travel along overhead wires and climb onto transformers. Here, we deployed arboreal camera traps to quantify spatial and temporal activity patterns of canopy-dwelling mammals moving on electric wires around one of the largest urban forests in Brazil. Also, we investigated seasonal variation in their temporal activity patterns across the austral dry and rainy seasons. We obtained 9,158 independent records of four species of arboreal or semi-arboreal mammals, with the Black capuchin monkey ( Sapajus nigritus ) accounting for most of the detections, followed by the Paraguayan hairy dwarf porcupine ( Coendou spinosus ). Overall, species-specific activity patterns remained consistent across seasons and aligned with those observed in natural habitats, indicating a convergent diel niche in urban and natural environments. Our results shed new light on the neglected ecology and natural history of mammals that use electric wires to navigate urban spaces, providing insights to attenuate human-wildlife conflicts and to inform the planning of more wildlife-friendly cities.

Amphibian and reptile diversity and landscape connectivity in the Central Andes of Colombia: a Local Climate Zones approach - Erika Alejandra Cardona-Galvis; Jose J. Henao-Osorio; L. Santiago Caicedo-Martínez; Héctor F. Arias-Monsalve; Julián A. Rojas-Morales; Héctor E. Ramírez-Chaves (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)
The accelerated loss of biodiversity is one of the major concerns for conservation actions. In Colombia, much of the urban and cultivated areas are concentrated in the Andean region, a global biodiversity hotspot that retains less than 15% of its original forest cover. In this region, biodiversity studies are not often performed in urban environments. Here, this study presents information about the diversity and composition of amphibians and reptiles in green and urbanized areas of the city of Manizales, in the Central Andes of Colombia. To document the diversity and changes in the presence of amphibians and reptiles in these areas of Manizales, we performed fieldwork, literature searches, and a review of specimens from biological collections. Additionally, we incorporated a spatial analysis of ecological connectivity based on the Local Climate Zones (LCZ) classification. We recorded 30 species (10 amphibians, 20 reptiles), 16 endemic to Colombia, and two threatened species. Craugastoridae was the most diverse amphibian family (5 spp.), while for reptiles it was Colubridae (11 spp.). Field surveys yielded 291 individuals across 17 species, with Pristimantis thectopternus being the most abundant amphibian, and Pholidobolus marianus the most common reptile. As expected, reptiles exhibited greater urban tolerance than amphibians. Notably, the smallest green area sampled exhibited the highest species richness values, suggesting that factors other than area size may be more important than area size in supporting amphibian and reptile diversity. LCZ analysis revealed significant landscape fragmentation. Our results highlight the critical importance of conserving urban green areas and suggest that the LCZ framework represents a promising tool for biodiversity conservation planning in rapidly urbanizing Andean ecosystems.

How blue-green space shapes regional resilience: a review of multidimensional impact mechanisms - Yong Sun; Wenjie Zhong; Jinhong Wan; Baoyin Liu; Jing Li; Yan Xu (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Urban landscape composition drives species-specific responses of aerial insectivorous bats in an Amazonian megacity - Camila Seabra da Silva; Giulliana Appel; Cintia Cornelius; Stefano Spiteri Avilla; João Carlos Pena; Paulo Estefano Dineli Bobrowiec (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)
Urbanization profoundly impacts natural landscapes, altering species composition and ecosystem structure. In the Amazon, this process occurs amid large areas of native forest, which may favor biodiversity conservation in urban surroundings. Among tropical vertebrates, bats constitute a functionally diverse group that is sensitive to landscape changes, making them effective models for assessing the effects of urbanization. In this study, we investigated how the activity and foraging behavior of aerial insectivorous bats respond to the structure of the urban landscape in Manaus, Central Amazon. We compared sampling sites in urban forest fragments ( n = 23) with sites in the continuous forest of the Adolpho Ducke Forest Reserve ( n = 5). Activity was measured using acoustic monitoring, considering echolocation and feeding calls. We applied permutation tests to compare bat activity across environments, followed by a sensitivity analysis to assess the potential effects of the unbalanced sampling design, and Generalized Linear Models to evaluate the influence of woody vegetation cover, edge density, landscape heterogeneity, and moonlight intensity on bat activity in urban fragments. Eight species detected at least 10% of the total sites were selected for the analyses; four showed higher activity in urban fragments, two in continuous forest, and two showed no difference between the environments. In urban fragments, woody vegetation cover negatively affected both search and foraging call activity in three of the four species that were more active in urban fragments, whereas the remaining species (four for search calls and two for foraging calls) were not influenced by any of the predictor variables. Our results demonstrate species-specific responses of aerial insectivorous bats to landscape structure, highlighting the importance of considering such responses in biodiversity conservation planning in Amazonian cities.

Four decades of inland invasion by the Formosan subterranean termite in Alabama: expansion associated with transportation infrastructure - Xing Ping Hu; Nobuaki Mizumoto (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)
Human transportation networks can provide pathways for invasive species to expand beyond their distribution ranges. The Formosan subterranean termite, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki, is listed among the world’s worst invasive species and has established invasive populations across continents. Most studies have emphasized transoceanic dispersal and establishment in coastal areas. However, inland expansion at the local and regional scales within the terrestrial landscape has rarely been tracked. Here, we show that expansion of C. formosanus is strongly associated with road transportation infrastructure, particularly the interstate highway system in Alabama, USA. We compiled 40 years of distribution records, primarily reported from the Alabama Cooperative Extension Service and the Alabama Pest Control Association. Since its first detection at the Port of Mobile in 1984, C. formosanus has been recorded in 32 of 67 counties, with an ongoing increase in detections. Our time-to-detection models indicated that climate, urbanization (e.g., road and population density), and the presence of interstate highways were associated with county-level C. formosanus infestation, whereas railway density was not. These results suggest that the expansion of C. formosanus was primarily linked to the interstate highway system, although early spread was often considered associated with railroad infrastructure during the 1980s and 1990s. Our study illustrates a steady northward progression of the species’ established range, highlighting the importance of continued monitoring of inland invasion pathways.

Urban metrics affect bee-plant network structure without shifting interaction dissimilarity - Sônia Guimarães Alves; Brenda Ratoni; Wesley Dáttilo; Maria Cristina Gaglianone (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)
Urbanization is one of the main drivers of anthropogenic transformation, reshaping the distribution and abundance of floral resources and, consequently, altering the composition and organization of bee-plant interaction networks. In this study, we evaluated how different characteristics of urban green areas associated with urbanization (i.e., the extent of surrounding paved surfaces, the number of tall buildings, and floral cover), affect the structure of bee-plant interaction networks across 12 urban green spaces in a medium-sized city immersed in an Atlantic Forest domain in the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. We also determined how interaction beta diversity varied among all sampling sites. We recorded 1,138 interactions between 39 bee species and 75 plant species. In general, we observed that higher pavement cover reduced the number of interactions, connectance, and modularity, while floral cover promoted more frequent interactions. Moreover, we found that the most frequent visitors and floral resources were dominated by a few widespread species among urban areas, while interaction turnover among sites was largely explained by rewiring rather than species replacement. In contrast, urban features did not significantly influence the beta diversity of interactions among green areas, suggesting bee flexibility to stablish interactions in city. The findings underscore the key role of structural and resource heterogeneity in sustaining ecosystem services in cities and indicate that increasing floral cover implementing thoughtful urban landscape management can help mitigate negative impacts on plant-pollinators interactions.

How urbanisation and host plants affect insect herbivore communities? a trait-based group analysis on a native tree of Central Argentina - Giovana María Galfrascoli; Ana Calviño; Alejandro Enet; María Silvina Fenoglio (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Artificial light at night and house sparrows (Passer domesticus): Association with species distribution and roost site selection - Komkrich Kaewpanus; Somboon Kamtaeja; Sutti Malithong; Thanayut Changruenngam (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Human-mediated vegetative dispersal of the liverwort Riccia treubiana in a tropical city - Xin-Yue Chen; Boon-Chuan Ho (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Investigating impacts of land use and land cover (LULC) transitions in the indian himalayan region (IHR): a comprehensive systematic review - Nishant Mehra; Tanish Kango (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Beyond BioBlitzes: expert-led and occasional citizen science both shape urban biodiversity data — a case study from Siena, Italy - Debora Barbato; Andrea Benocci; Giuseppe Manganelli (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Anurans in culturally managed temple and shrine waterscapes in Kyoto: integrated visual, acoustic, and environmental DNA surveys - Kae Okoshi; Satsuki Tsuji; Kanto Nishikawa (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Trophic downgrading in the city: urban structural simplification erodes the snake component of reptile assemblages - Leonardo Vignoli; Luca Luiselli (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)
Urbanization is widely recognized as a major driver of biodiversity loss, yet its effects on the trophic structure of reptile communities remain poorly understood. This study re-analysed reptile presence–absence data from urban green-space fragments in Rome, Italy, to examine how urban habitat simplification affects the snake component and the trophic and functional structure of reptile assemblages. Fifteen reptile species were classified into functional and trophic groups, and several assemblage metrics were evaluated, including snake richness, lizard and gecko richness, trophic complexity, community trophic index, and dominance of urban-tolerant species. These metrics were related to fragment size, woodland cover, wetland presence, connectivity, and distance from the city centre. Results revealed a sharp, data-supported transition in snake occurrence across the woodland-cover gradient. Small fragments with limited woodland cover were dominated by urban-tolerant lizards and geckos, while snakes were largely absent. In contrast, larger and more structurally complex fragments retained diverse snake assemblages, particularly where wetlands were present. Woodland cover and wetlands were the strongest predictors of snake richness, whereas snake occurrence was best explained by total fragment size and wetland presence. Additional sensitivity analyses showed that the main pattern was robust to the exclusion of empty fragments and to alternative trophic-scoring schemes, although the strength of the trophic-complexity signal was reduced under the most conservative classification. Overall, our results suggest that urbanization-related habitat simplification is associated with taxon-linked trophic and functional simplification: small fragments retain some urban-tolerant lizards and geckos, but largely lose the snake component of the assemblage. These findings indicate that reptile assemblages can provide useful information on functional erosion in urban landscapes, while also emphasizing that trophic position, taxonomic affiliation and habitat-use traits may be difficult to disentangle in small vertebrate assemblages.

Unraveling the spatial behavior and habitat selection of sympatric brown and roof rats in a major South American seaport - Tadeo J. Brühl Day; Mariel A. Tripodi; Lucía M. Pereyra-Civiello; Carolina B. Gomez; Diego Hancke; Olga V. Suárez; Emiliano Muschetto (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Artificial tree holes as a tool to assess spatial and temporal variation in cavity-associated invertebrate assemblages: a case study of two contrasting forest sites in Tokyo - Ryota Asano; Tomohiro Yoshida (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

More than just green: the role of vegetation heterogeneity for species richness and multidiversity in urban green spaces - Giulia Casciano; Janine Bolliger; Achilleas Psomas (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)
Urban green spaces (UGS) provide important ecological, social, and climatic functions, but their effectiveness depends not only on their extent but also on their vertical vegetation structure. To this end, we present a high-resolution urban green space typology (UGST) for four Swiss cities (Basel, Bern, Geneva, and Zurich) derived from remotely sensed thematic (NDVI) and structural (vegetation height and VCI) data, comprising 33 classes. The structural heterogeneity of the vegetation cover was consistently bimodal, with low-complexity vegetation (grass) or tall, high-complexity wooded areas dominating, while intermediate structures were underrepresented. The UGST was used to assess species richness across five taxonomic groups and a multidiversity score (mean normalized richness across all groups) using GAMs under varying thematic resolutions. Results indicated taxon-specific, generally non-linear associations between normalized recorded species richness or multidiversity and the individual component scores or percentage cover of several UGST classes. The fine-grained joint models had higher in-sample deviance and explained more variance compared to highly aggregated-class and total-green-cover formulations, although the formulations differed in complexity and were not evaluated out of sample.

Prioritizing ecological restoration in green belt areas via a connectivity approach - Seungwoo Son; Gilsang Lee; Sanghyuk Lee (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Bridging ecological function and social perception: mapping socio-ecological mismatches in Bucharest’s urban green infrastructure - Geta Rîșnoveanu; Dumitru-Mircea Dușcu (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)
Rapid urbanisation and the expansion of impervious surfaces are increasing pressure on urban green infrastructure (UGI), potentially reducing its capacity to provide regulating ecosystem services (RES) and contributing to socio-ecological inequalities. This study integrates biophysical structure, participatory mapping and population exposure to examine the spatial relationships between UGI availability, perceived RES provision and ecosystem disservices in Bucharest, Romania. Urban vegetation structure and RES potential were assessed using i-Tree Canopy, while citizens’ perceptions were collected through a Public Participation Geographic Information System survey involving 816 respondents. Spatial hotspot analysis, Random Forest and regression models were combined with a population-UGI classification to identify socio-ecological mismatches between existing green infrastructure, population pressure and perceived RES provision. Tree canopy covered approximately 18% of the city, whereas impervious surfaces represented the dominant land-cover type. Perceived RES hotspots were concentrated in the largest parks, while ecosystem disservices clustered along highly urbanised areas and major traffic corridors. Although vegetation cover was generally associated with positive RES perceptions, the spatial mismatch analysis revealed that several existing green spaces were not perceived as important RES providers. Moreover, neighbourhoods characterised by high population pressure and severe UGI deficits showed almost no overlap with perceived RES hotspots, highlighting areas of potentially unmet demand for RES. By integrating ecological structure, public perceptions and population exposure, the proposed framework provides a spatially explicit basis for identifying socio-ecological mismatches and supports evidence-based planning and management of multifunctional UGI in rapidly densifying cities.

Rethinking urbanization effects on pollinators: a comprehensive review - Amanda dos Santos Felix da Silva; Willian Moura de Aguiar; Rodrigo Nogueira Vasconcelos (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)
Urbanization exposes biodiversity to multiple, spatially heterogeneous environmental pressures, and pollinators provide informative models for evaluating these effects. We conducted a bibliometric and systematic review of 200 studies published between 2006 and 2024 to examine how urbanization affects pollinators, the response patterns reported, and persistent knowledge gaps. To provide a structured synthesis, we classified 328 environmental predictors into five non-exclusive, mechanistically informed dimensions—habitat loss and fragmentation (D1), resource modification (D2), thermal and abiotic stress (D3), biotic pressure (D4), and chemical contamination (D5)—and examined whether the consistency of reported responses differed among dimensions across 2,233 predictor–response relationships. D1 comprised 66.6% of all variables and generated the largest number of relationships; its high conflict rate (34.0%) was associated with the inclusion of both built-area and natural-area predictor subtypes. D3 exhibited the highest predictor-level conflict rate (60.0%), whereas D4 showed the highest proportion of negative effects (38.7%), a pattern concentrated in studies using honeybee abundance or managed-bee pressure as predictors. Among 19 studies evaluating pollination services, 52.9% reported divergent directions between service and diversity outcomes; Apis/Bombus -dominated studies showed 75% positive service outcomes, compared with 67% negative outcomes in studies without managed-bee dominance. The entire evidence base on urban pollination services originated from non-tropical cities. We organize these findings into a four-axis heuristic framework and three testable hypotheses, providing a structured basis for future empirical and quantitative evaluation of the sources of heterogeneity.

Micropolitan and ecoregional representation of urban biodiversity in the USA: a systematic literature review - Christine C. Rega-Brodsky (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)
Urban environments vary widely in their physical and ecological characteristics, yet understanding of urban biodiversity remains limited by uneven coverage of variables known to shape urban plant and animal communities. Building on and updating a global systematic review of urban biodiversity (Rega-Brodsky et al. 2022), this study synthesized 675 peer-reviewed publications reporting diversity trends of 12 taxonomic groups in cities across the United States to identify geographic (i.e., state, city), urban intensity (i.e., metropolitan and micropolitan core-based statistical areas), ecoregional, and taxonomic trends in the literature. Each study was classified by its corresponding core-based statistical area and ecoregion to assess spatial and taxonomic representation across urban systems. Results revealed that urban biodiversity research in the United States was heavily concentrated in a few major metropolitan regions (e.g., Chicago, Phoenix), with extensive gaps across the northern Intermountain West and Great Plains. Only 5% of biodiversity studies surveyed micropolitan regions, with just 1.6% focusing exclusively on these less population-dense urban systems. Over half of all urban biodiversity studies occurred within the Eastern Temperate Forest ecoregion, while the Mediterranean California ecoregion was disproportionately represented, relative to its land area. Plants and bird communities were the most frequently studied taxa, consistent with global research trends, whereas bat and arthropod communities were comparatively underrepresented across multiple ecoregions. Collectively, these findings highlight strong spatial and taxonomic imbalances in urban biodiversity research and underscore the need to expand work on understudied taxa, micropolitan areas, and ecoregions to improve understanding of how urban intensity and environmental contexts interact to shape ecological communities across the urban continuum.

Climate variability and air pollution threaten urban tree growth in a tropical city - Naeem Bin Mohammad; Jannatul Ferdous Rahi; Md. Qumruzzaman Chowdhury; Md. Imam Hossain Imran; Manuel Esperon-Rodriguez; Mahmuda Sharmin (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Assessment of urban cooling effect values of trees, shrubs, and paving materials: a case study of Bursa - Onur Aksoy; Kamil Erken (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Patterns of abundance of three reptile species inside the metropolitan area of Rome (Italy) - Francesco Gallozzi; Flavio Melchiorri; Carlotta Antinucci; Riccardo Castiglia (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)
Urbanization reshapes natural environments, impacting biodiversity and creating complex ecosystems where some species adapt while others decline. This study examines the abundance and distribution patterns of three reptile species — Podarcis siculus , P. muralis , and Tarentola mauritanica — within the metropolitan area of Rome, Italy. Data were collected from 36 plots representing different level of urbanization, categorized by green cover percentage. Results reveal P. siculus as the most widespread species, found across all vegetation cover categories, while P. muralis and T. mauritanica were more frequent in plots with over 50% of green cover. Vegetation type emerged as a primary factor influencing reptile abundance, with meadow and tree cover positively affecting Podarcis species, while bush cover promoted T. mauritanica abundance. Notably, P. muralis abundance increased with the number of urban features such as fountains and garbage bins, the latter suggesting potential exploitation of anthropogenic food resources. Possibly, species interactions also played a role, with P. siculus and P. muralis exhibiting a negative relationship in abundance, while P. muralis and T. mauritanica showed a positive association. The study highlights the importance of maintaining heterogeneous urban green spaces to support reptile biodiversity. These insights contribute to urban ecology and inform strategies to enhance biodiversity in metropolitan landscapes.

Spatial distribution patterns and influencing factors of phylogenetic diversity and structure of vegetation in Chongqing, China - Yu Zhang; Qing Wang; YaLin Guo; Jing Li; Min Yang; Bo Yang (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Urban botanical gardens as refugia for bird diversity: habitat-driven community structure and functional guild patterns in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia - Yihew Biru Woldegiorgis; Birara Muchie; Getachew Mulualem; Amare Gibru Mekonnen; Abadi Mehari Abrha (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

The role of urban parks and informal green spaces in supporting the biodiversity of spontaneous flora and insect pollinators: a case study in Prague, Czech Republic - Jiří Velebil; Terezie Arnoldová; Vladimír Vrabec; Tomáš Frantík; Jiří Dostálek (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)
Urban green spaces are essential components of green infrastructure and play a crucial role in supporting biodiversity and ecosystem services. This study examined spontaneous flora and insect pollinators in maintained urban parks and informal green spaces (IGSs) across eight types of urban development in Prague, Czech Republic. Floristic and entomological surveys were conducted at paired park and IGS sites, focusing on species richness, diversity, life forms, origin, invasive status, and Red List species. In total, 571 vascular plant taxa, including 380 native and 191 alien species (39 invasive), and 51 Red List species, were recorded. Overall, compared with parks, IGSs supported significantly greater plant species richness and diversity, although the differences varied among urban development types. Parks contained a higher proportion of native species, whereas alien and invasive species were more frequent in IGSs. Red List species were scarce and similarly represented in both habitat types. Pollinator abundance (honeybees, solitary bees, bumblebees, and butterflies) was generally higher in IGSs than in parks, with significant differences limited to certain urban development types. These findings suggest that habitat conditions influence their occurrence. Both parks and IGSs contribute substantially to urban biodiversity but differ in function: parks favour native species, whereas IGSs enhance overall species richness and pollinator abundance. These findings highlight the importance of incorporating informal green spaces into urban planning and biodiversity conservation strategies.

Spatial clustering and drivers of herpetofauna road mortality in a tropical university landscape - Florina Anthony; Sze Huei Yek; Evan Seng Huat Quah (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

More diverse diets and duller colours: seasonal insights into great tits urban life - Lisa Sandmeyer; Laurine A. Mathieu; Samuel P. Caro; Christophe de Franceschi; Johan R. Michaux; Adrien André; Anne Charmantier; Arnaud Grégoire; Claire Doutrelant (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Evaluating soilGrids predictions along urban gradients in tropical africa using a convergence-of-evidence approach with field vegetation and remote sensing data from two nigerian cities - Ochoche Shaibu; Anatoly Aleksandrovich Kirichuk (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Species richness and host plant interactions of butterflies in the Bangkok Metropolitan Region, Thailand - Rattanapong Jennarongsak; Paradorn Dokchan; Chanchanok Sudta (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Experimental exposure to anthropogenic noise disrupts early-stage prey localization in the orb-weaving spider Argiope trifasciata - Poulami De; Todd A. Blackledge (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)
Anthropogenic noise can disrupt how predators use environmental cues to detect and localize prey. In vertebrates, noise pollution has been shown to reduce foraging efficiency and alter predator–prey dynamics through masking and distraction; much less is known about how acoustic noise influences invertebrate predation where significant sensory filtering occurs outside the central nervous system. Here, we investigate how an added anthropogenic noise affects prey capture behavior in the orb-weaving banded garden spider ( Argiope trifasciata) . In a controlled laboratory setting, spiders were exposed to playback of recorded traffic noise while live crickets jumped into their webs. We quantified prey detection latency, approach behavior, and attack execution using high-speed videography. Spiders exposed to acoustic noise responded slower to prey compared to control spiders hunting in quiet conditions and noise-exposed spiders also showed increased variability in duration of predation attempts. However, once spiders initiated an approach to prey, their attack execution times were comparable across treatments. This suggests that anthropogenic noise primarily interferes with early-stage prey detection and localization in web‑building spiders, likely by masking biologically relevant vibratory cues. As spiders rely on peripheral sensory filtering before signals reach the central nervous system, such interference may alter how prey information is processed at the onset rather than during later motor execution. Our results provide a foundational baseline suggest that human-made noise can disrupt essential behaviors in invertebrate predators, such as the ability to detect and capture prey. This interference could alter predator-prey interactions in natural habitats, a significant indirect impact of urbanization.

Spatial structure partially explains niche variation in urban Neotropical stingless bees - Raquel Bendocchi Alves; Vladimir Eliodoro Costa; Raul Costa-Pereira (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)
The geographic distribution of consumers and their resources shapes the spatial signature of trophic interactions in heterogeneous landscapes. Bees are central place foragers that consume a wide variety of plant species around their nests, thus, bee communities in urban landscapes are an opportune system for understanding intra- and interspecific spatial variation in resource use. Here, we investigated how the spatial distribution of nests of four species of Neotropical stingless bees ( Tetragonisca angustula , Plebeia droryana , Nannotrigona testaceicornis , Scaptotrigona postica ) and their taxonomic identity combine to shape resource use variation in an urban landscape. We predicted that, within species, geographically closer nests consume more similar trophic resources. Also, because niche partitioning favors local coexistence of similar species, we expected to observe interspecific trophic partitioning between the studied species. We used stable isotopes of carbon (δ¹³C) to measure trophic differences between nests, which allowed us to quantify both intra and interspecific patterns of trophic divergence. Although we found a relatively narrow range of isotopic values within and across species, there is significant isotopic partitioning between species. Interestingly, for only two ( T. angustula and S. postica ) of the four studied species, we found that nests with greater spatial distance have larger isotopic distances than nests closer to each other. This result suggests that these two species are partitioning their niche with conspecific nests in response to resource changes across the landscape. Thus, our results reveal a lack of a general spatial structure of isotopic niches across species, offering new insights into the ecology and conservation strategies for Neotropical stingless bee species in urban landscapes.

Spatial attenuation of noise and PM2.5 in roadside pocket parks - Wanqi Gao; Xinhao Yang; Yao Fu; Xiaodong Lu; Yuan Zhang (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Synchronised pan trap sampling in domestic gardens: Sunlight exposure shapes wild bee captures - Mathieu Lachaise; Quentin Dutertre; Muriel Deparis; Emmanuelle Baudry; Blanche Collard (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Correction to: Alien Euphorbia hyssopifolia as a threat in arid peri-urban and urban ecosystems - Bader Z. Albogami; Wesal S. Tanko; Yehia Hazzazi; Amr Elkelish; Suliman Mohammed Suliman Alghanem; Sami Asir Al-Robai; Luís González; Amany H. A. Abeed; Maha H Khalaf; Inas M. Abou El-Enain; Mahmoud O. Hassan (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Comparative growth, biodiversity and cooling effects of native and adaptive Miyawaki microforests and a constructed wetland in a urban park (Reggio Emilia, Italy) - Giulia Santunione; Federico Zanardi; Francesco Reyes; Elisabetta Sgarbi (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)
Urban greening is increasingly promoted within European and international regulations as ‘Nature-Based Solutions’ (NBS) concept, to enhance biodiversity and mitigate the urban heat island (UHI) effect. Within the LIFE CityAdap3 project, the city of Reggio Emilia (Italy) implemented “Climate-Friendly Parks” interventions across public green areas. This study focuses on one of these green areas, Marco Biagi Park, where multiple NBS were established between 2021 and 2022, including two Miyawaki microforests —a Native Forest (NF) and an Adaptive Forest (AF) —, a wetland system, rural hedgerows and trees rows. An environmental monitoring program was conducted to evaluate: (i) growth performance and structural development of the two microforests through mortality rate, relative growth rates (RGR H and RGR DBH ) and slenderness ratio (SR); (ii) floristic dynamics and ecological composition of the wetland area; and (iii) microclimatic regulation across different NBS sites and surrounding built-up areas. Linear mixed-effects models were applied to detect spatial and interannual patterns. Three years after planting, both microforests showed very low mortality and comparable overall growth, confirming successful establishment. However, differences in growth allocation emerged: AF species invested relatively more in diameter growth and structural stability, while NF species displayed greater variability and more height-oriented development. Both forests exhibited a decline in SR over time, a typical adjustment under high-density conditions. The wetland showed a rapid floristic enrichment (+ 69% species richness in one year), with early functional zonation and an increase in Mediterranean chorotypes, suggesting a dynamic community assembly in response to urban environmental conditions. Microclimatic results showed consistently cooler and more humid conditions within microforests compared to built-up areas, while differences between NF and AF were limited and influenced by interannual variability. Overall, the findings highlight and quantify the capacity of integrated blue–green infrastructures to enhance biodiversity, support rapid vegetation development and mitigate urban heat, supporting the combined use of native and climate-adaptive species in future urban afforestation strategies.

Microbial inoculation in green roofs: progress, challenges and ecological regulation strategies - Nan Yang; Hechen Li; Yihan Wang; Pingrui Jiang; Shaobo Gao; Hongyuan Li; Rui Hua; Xinjian Shi; Guang Hao (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Carbon storage potential in urban parks and green corridors: A systematic review - Hoai Thu Nguyen; Malay Pramanik; Vilas Nitivattananon; Rajendra P. Shrestha (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Urbanization and Apis mellifera roles in plant-animal interaction networks in an urban forest - Laura Ramírez-Vieyra; Marysol Trujano-Ortega; Uri O. García-Vázquez; Omar Ávalos-Hernández (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Increasing vegetation cover masks ecological degradation during urban expansion - Enner Alcântara; José Roberto Mantovani; Newton La Scala Jr; Caio Faria da Cunha Barbosa Adorno (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)
Urban vegetation cover is widely used as an indicator of environmental condition, yet vegetation gains may not necessarily reflect improvements in ecological functionality. Urban expansion can simultaneously alter connectivity, hydrological processes, landscape structure, and the spatial organization of anthropogenic pressure, generating ecological degradation that remains undetected by land-cover metrics alone. Here, we investigated long-term ecological transformation in São José dos Campos, southeastern Brazil, using remote sensing, spatial statistics, and spatial regression analyses to reconstruct land-cover trajectories, fragmentation patterns, hydrological functionality, connectivity dynamics, and urban-conversion pathways between 1985 and 2024. To integrate these dimensions, we developed a spatially explicit Natural Capital Index (NCI-BR) that combines vegetation integrity, vegetation condition, hydrological regulation, fragmentation resistance, connectivity persistence, and anthropogenic pressure into a unified framework for assessing ecological functionality in urban landscapes. Native vegetation increased at the municipal scale during the study period, yet fragmentation, ecological disconnection, hydrological alteration, and anthropogenic pressure remained strongly concentrated along urban-expansion fronts and peri-urban transition zones. The results revealed a persistent territorial asymmetry, with preserved and connected ecological corridors contrasting sharply with fragmented and highly urbanized landscapes. Spatial regression analyses further showed that urban expansion behaved as a spatially dependent process propagating preferentially through previously transformed anthropogenic corridors. Rather than relying on vegetation extent alone, the proposed framework reveals how ecological functionality is reorganized into spatially coherent territorial gradients during long-term urban expansion, providing a more comprehensive basis for evaluating urban natural capital and ecological resilience.

Urban forest management in Butembo (DR Congo): Environmental concerns and social perceptions drive young adults’ intentions to plant and conserve trees - Moïse Musubao Kapiri; Elcanah Katembo Kavingwa; Rogan Nzovoli Lwanzo; Norbert Kambale Ndavaro; Walere Muhindo Sahani (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Urban flower meadows as a climate change adaptation measure: a pilot study from Olomouc, Czechia - Dominik Novotný; Michal Lehnert; Martin Jurek; Veronika Květoňová (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Urban areas filter out the ground- and shrub-nesting birds: A case study on tropical Hainan Island - Sidan Lin; Bo Zhou; Wei Liang (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Environmental drivers shaping seasonal odonata diversity dynamics in India’s largest urban park - Tarak Samanta; Lina Chatterjee; Arpita Biswas; Abhik Rong; Asim Giri; Arjan Basu Roy; Punarbasu Chaudhuri (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Digging in to urban soil health through a soil testing project with community gardeners - Eric Vukicevich (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)
Although urban gardening has become more popular, uncertainty about the health and safety of urban soils can limit the effectiveness and sustainability of urban food sovereignty efforts. Community-based learning projects to examine urban garden soils can simultaneously help students learn about soils in a local context while providing a valuable service to local gardeners. This paper describes a class-based soil testing project (developed for an undergraduate ecological agriculture course) that engages students in partnership with local community gardeners to investigate soil properties such as pH, organic matter, nutrients, and toxic elements, and ensure crop safety, while giving students meaningful context to apply soil science knowledge. Students develop project plans, sample soils, conduct basic analyses or send out for analysis, interpret data, and make recommendations about soil management for current and potential garden sites, while learning about gardening practices in the context of the local community. The project supports conversations about urban soil health and food justice, and celebrates locally grown food. In this paper, the context, instructor preparation, project steps, and further connections, are described with reflections provided on the project to inspire implementation of similar urban soil learning opportunities for students while providing a service of soil testing for urban gardeners.

Acorn woodpeckers alter resource use, group size, and spring productivity across an urban landscape - Olivia R. Knapp; Kendra E. Forster; Alexander J. Rurik; Isabelle Hugoniot; Eric S. Reyes; Peter B. Schramm; Corban A. Muthiah; Aaron Wong; Seth C. Wilmoth; Sophia L. McRae; Caleb Courson; Theodore J. Patterson; et al. (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)
Access to suitable resources shapes the evolution and maintenance of avian cooperative breeding by influencing whether an individual will have a greater chance of survival and reproduction by dispersing or remaining on a natal territory. Cooperatively-breeding species exhibit altered dispersal according to food availability and habitat quality, but the relationship between resource use, group size, and reproduction in human-altered landscapes remains to be studied. We examined how urbanization, key resource availability, and resource use relate to differences in group size and number of offspring in an urban population of facultative cooperatively-breeding acorn woodpeckers. Acorn woodpeckers shifted to increased use of ornamental trees, palms, and anthropogenic structures for granaries in more urbanized areas and where oak trees, a key historic food and granary resource, are in lower abundance and proximity. Pair breeding was more prevalent in urbanized areas and seemed to be primarily associated with use of utility poles for granaries. In general, territories with utility poles as granaries and higher urbanization levels hosted smaller group sizes. In contrast, while the number of fledglings was higher in larger groups, it did not vary with urban resources when controlling for group size. Our findings suggest that land conversion levels and the relative availability of historic and novel resources shape habitat quality, resulting in differing patterns of group living and subsequent productivity across the urban landscape. This indicates that while novel resources may enable wildlife to occupy urban areas, they may also influence the social behavior of facultative cooperative breeders.

Land use legacies shape wild boar (Sus scrofa) diet along a forest-urban gradient in Singapore - Jasmine J. M. Ong; Max D. Y. Khoo; Li Si Tay; Bryan T. M. Lim; Charles J. Marsh; Melvyn Aik San Tan; Wen Xuan Chiok; G. Kenny Png; Matti A. Niissalo; Gillian S. W. Khew; Marcus A. H. Chua; Malcolm C. K. Soh; et al. (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Physiological and behavioral effects of road construction on a small wild rodent - Ana Lis Lopez Etcheves; Cristian Eric Schleich; Roxana Rita Zenuto (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Entomophilous plants mediate the impacts of urban pressures on cavity-nesting insect diversity - Alejandro Sotillo; Etienne Chanez; Kenji Fujiki; François Chiron; Laurent Hardion; Audrey Muratet (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Habitat buffering of under-canopy microclimate and ground temperature along urban–rural gradients in short-term urbanized area: a case study of Hengqin island - Xiangping Dong; Siu-Tai Tsim; Jill M.Y. Chiu; Cristina S.C. Calheiros; Xun Li; Chi Man Leong (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

The school campus as a living laboratory: Examining opportunities and challenges for Urban Civic Ecology Education using a case study from Singapore - Yun Hye Hwang (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Building better homes for pollinators using native-based landscapes in new suburban developments - Mykayla Hagaman; Patrick J. Bohlen; Jennifer McNamara; Alessandra Pandolfi; David G. Jenkins; Victoria Cope; Basil V. Iannone (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)
Maintaining healthy pollinator communities is vital for both agricultural and natural ecosystems, but there are many threats to pollinator communities globally. Urbanization is a one of these major threats, but urban green spaces present opportunities for pollinator conservation. The effectiveness of designed urban landscapes in supporting pollinators largely depends upon plant selection and design, and there is an increasing emphasis on incorporating more native plants. To provide guidance on how landscape designs and plant selection influence pollinator communities in new residential developments, we compared floral visitors in two recently established neighborhoods: one with conventional landscaping consisting of turfgrass and mostly non-native ornamental plants, and one without turfgrass and mostly native plants. We recorded visual observations of insects visiting blooming flowers and identified 1,361 individuals from 88 different species. While floral abundance was similar between the two communities, pollinator abundance and diversity was 2–3 times higher in the native plant-dominant landscape, showing that plant species selection was more important than floral abundance. Pollinator communities in the conventional landscapes were a subset of the more diverse communities in the native-based landscapes. The short-term addition of potted flowering native plants to the two neighborhoods increased the observed pollinator diversity in the conventional landscapes. Our results show that incorporating diverse native plantings into new and expanding residential developments can lead to the rapid assembly of diverse, abundant pollinator communities.

Dietary adaptation of the South American gray fox to invasive rats and hares: a 20-year comparison in a peri-urban landscape in Southern Chile - Alfredo H. Zúñiga; Pablo M. Vergara; Alberto J. Alaniz; Claudia Hidalgo-Corrotea; Madelaine Quiroz; Francisco Encina-Montoya; Jeremy Gárate-Lagos; Cristian Borquez; Andrés Fierro; Gonzalo Southerland; Alexis Barrios-Saravia; Darío Moreira-Arce (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Woody composition, structure, and carbon storage potential of urban green space across sectors in a high-altitude ridgeline city, Aizawl, Eastern Indian Himalaya - Paul Lalremsang; Lalruatliana Khawlhring; Demsai Reang; Uttam Kumar Sahoo; Pushkal Baghchie (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Food or urbanization? assessing the diversity of urban insectivorous bats in a Neotropical city - Rebeca Selene Miguel-Méndez; M. Cristina MacSwiney G.; Víctor Rosas-Guerrero; Yvonne Herrerías-Diego; Miguel Angel Salinas-Melgoza; Alejandro Salinas-Melgoza (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Temporal shifts in bumblebee community composition more likely explained by climate change than by increasing urbanization - Jenny Matikainen; Juha Tiainen; Johan Ekroos (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)
Bumblebees ( Bombus spp.) play an essential role in pollinating a wide range of flowering plants, but many bumblebee species have declined across Europe. Here, we assessed temporal changes in farmland bumblebee community composition alongside increased urbanization of the landscape context over a 19-year period. We repeated a bumblebee survey in 2024 that was originally conducted in 2005 in a farmland area in Helsinki metropolitan area in Finland. We found a significant increase in species richness and a shift in bumblebee community composition over the period. These changes took place in parallel with a significant change in temperature preferences but not tongue lengths or habitat preferences of the bumblebee species. Based on Community Temperature Index (CTI) estimates, the relative abundance of warm-dwelling bumblebee species increased. Most of the new species observed in the study area were species with southern distributions in relation to Finland, suggesting that the increase in species richness may be related to climate change rather than to increased urbanization in the surrounding landscape. Our results suggest that bumblebee community composition may change rapidly with rising temperatures. The increase in species richness and the persistence of several bumblebee species that have declined strongly elsewhere in Europe also suggest that farmland bumblebee species are not necessarily particularly sensitive to urban land use in the surrounding landscape, and suitable habitats in urban areas might play a role in bumblebee species conservation.

Micro-habitat structure and environmental context of semi-urban landscapes shape sex-specific habitat use and basking behaviour in African rainbow lizards - Ogaga Dean Efenakpo; Abigail Ogogome Okoro; Daniel Etim Jacob; Fabio Petrozzi; Luca Luiselli (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Toward a resilient city: the role of urban sprawl in shaping ecological resilience in the Guanzhong Plain urban agglomeration - Heng Wang; Yu Wang; Yuan Wang; Weiru Qi; Xiaohui Ding (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Co-construction of social dimensions of environmental quality for urban riverbanks - Natalia Rodriguez; Ángela Juárez; Laura de Cabo (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Assessing the role of urban garden management and environmental conditions on ground-dwelling invertebrates - Mirela Sertić Perić; Tin Lukačević; Damjana Levačić; Vesna Gulin Beljak (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Urban land surface temperature and landscape features shape pathogen occurrence among honey bees and three wild bee species - Beatrice Colombo; Nicola Tommasi; Davide Maggioni; Andrea Galimberti; Giovanni Cilia (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Variations in landscape features and user evaluations at viewing points across different urban green spaces - Chongyu Zhao; Shu Li; Yu Gao; Zhi Zhang; Weikang Zhang; Huan Meng; Tong Zhang (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Urban indicators are linked to certain pollination-related plant and floral traits in traffic-exposed green spaces - Annika Nylund; Oksana Skaldina; Wendy E. Moya Bastos; Satu Ramula (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)
Urban environments exert selective pressures on the functional composition of plant communities. Green spaces associated with traffic are widespread in cities and could therefore support pollinator biodiversity. This emphasizes the need to characterize the diversity of pollination-related traits within plant communities occupying these habitats. Hence, we investigated how pollination-related functional traits are associated with urban indicators in green spaces exposed to traffic, and how the functional diversity of these traits influences pollinator richness. Data on vascular plant communities and insect pollinators were collected from 90 traffic-exposed locations, including traffic islands, parking lots, and road verges, in three Finnish cities. We recorded information on six pollination-related plant and floral traits for each plant species. These functional traits and their diversity, calculated from presence-absence data, were then explored in relation to three urban indicators: imperviousness, length of roads, and distance to city centers. We observed that species with larger floral units, yellow-colored flowers, and hymenopteran pollination were positively associated with imperviousness and/or length of roads. Furthermore, species were generally shorter and more commonly short-lived (i.e., annuals or biennials) in traffic islands than in road verges. Functional richness (FRic) and functional dispersion (FDis) of traits decreased with increasing imperviousness, suggesting that altered environmental conditions related to high imperviousness might filter plant species with less adaptive trait combinations. Pollinator richness was positively linked to FRic, but decreased with increasing FDis of pollination-related traits. Our results suggest that in traffic-exposed plant communities, species with certain pollination-related traits adapted to urban conditions may be selectively favored.

Therapeutic cultural environments as a framework for indigenous-informed urban biodiversity design in Aotearoa New Zealand - Bruno Marques; Jacqueline McIntosh (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)
Urban biodiversity is increasingly recognised as essential to both ecological resilience and human well-being. Yet much of the discourse around urban biodiversity design, nature-based solutions, and therapeutic landscapes remains grounded in Western epistemologies, overlooking the depth and sophistication of Indigenous knowledge systems. In Aotearoa New Zealand, Māori, as the tangata whenua (people of the land), hold a long tradition of relational knowledge that integrates ecological understanding, cultural practice, spiritual connection, and community well-being into a coherent, place-specific worldview. Drawing on three related empirical and theoretical studies, this paper develops and advances a Therapeutic Cultural Environments (TCE) framework as an applied design model for Indigenous-informed urban biodiversity planning and nature-based solutions. The framework synthesises findings from a systematic literature review of sense of place and belonging, qualitative focus group research with Māori kaumātua (elders), and narrative interviews with rongoā Māori (traditional healing) practitioners, all conducted in the Wairarapa region. The paper argues that effective urban biodiversity design must move beyond species counts and green infrastructure metrics to engage with the cultural, spiritual, and intergenerational dimensions of human–nature relationships. Five intersecting principles, whakapapa (genealogy and relational knowing), mātauranga and tikanga (knowledge and customs), hinengaro and wairua (mind and spirit), tinana and tāngata (body and people), and whenua (land), are presented as actionable design drivers for biodiverse urban environments that serve both ecological and cultural health. The TCE framework offers a transferable methodology for co-designing with Indigenous communities to produce landscapes that are biologically rich, culturally meaningful, therapeutically effective, and socially just.

Passive, non-invasive mammal hair collection provides opportunities for research and outreach in urban areas - Anna R. Carlson; Jocelyn E. Behm (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)
Urban expansion creates novel ecosystems which place large human populations and urban mammals in closer proximity than ever before. Mammalian ecology research is needed to better understand the relationships and effects this proximity creates. The collection and analysis of mammal hair can provide useful insight into aspects of urban mammalian ecology, yet many hair collection methods face barriers to use in urban areas. In this study, we validated the use of passive, non-invasive hair collection equipment in urban spaces for small mammals and medium-sized mesopredators. We also describe an opportunity for public outreach through QR codes, which were attached to our sampling equipment. We deployed small mammal hair tubes (SMHT) and predator hair snares (PHS) in greenspaces across the rural-urban gradient of Philadelphia, PA. We successfully collected hair samples across the gradient, indicating SMHT and PHS perform well in urban areas. Trail camera images revealed the highest sampling success for red foxes ( Vulpes vulpes ) followed by Virginia opossums ( Didelphis virginina ) and northern raccoons ( Procyon lotor ). These cameras also captured positive interactions between members of the public and QR codes included on our equipment, suggesting QR codes can connect the public with science occurring in local greenspaces. We describe methodology for the design and implementation of passive, non-invasive hair collection equipment for urban mammals and guidelines for using field equipment to foster connections between community members and research using QR codes. Overall, our methods provide tools to facilitate mammal ecology research in understudied urban areas and potentially engage underrepresented stakeholders in that research.

Human–weasel conflict in Egypt: analyzing public reactions on social media to Mustela subpalmata presence in urban areas - Firas Hayder; Zimkitha J. K. Madikiza; Emmanuel Do Linh San (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Bird breeding behaviors provide opportunities to examine trade-offs of human-wildlife relationships in urban areas - Eduardo Guimarães Santos; Isadora Zavan Santieff; Matheus Ponce Janoto; Marco Aurelio Pizo (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Silent extinctions: how neglecting the ecological value of habitat trees threatens urban biodiversity and ecosystem services - Claudia Canedoli; Davide Corengia; Elisa Maria Clotilde Cardarelli; Emilio Padoa-Schioppa (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)
Urban biodiversity is critically undermined by the loss and mismanagement of habitat trees—living or dead trees providing essential microhabitats for specialized organisms. Despite large-scale tree planting initiatives, mature and senescent trees remain largely neglected in urban planning and tree management practices. This paper highlights the irreplaceable ecological role of habitat trees in urban landscapes and analyse how current tree management practices often prioritize perceived risk and aesthetics over ecological integrity. We identify the lack of practical recognition of their ecological value—as well as the absence of standardized evaluation methods—as major obstacles to effective conservation. Building on recent evidence, we propose management approaches that combine ecological criteria with arboricultural practice, promoting uneven-aged urban forests and the recruitment and mapping of habitat trees as key strategies for long-term resilience. We also frame concepts such as ecological non-substitutability , the net-benefit balance in tree management, and the 4R rule (Respect, Retain, Reassess, Reduce) as tools for integrating biodiversity goals into routine care operations. We argue that the loss of habitat trees should be regarded as equivalent to the loss of threatened species, as they represent key functional elements in the urban landscape and their loss cannot be replaced in the short to medium term. Finally, we argue that fostering public and professional education on the cultural and ecological value of habitat trees is essential to advancing a conservation-oriented culture of urban tree management.

Physicochemical gradients in urban prairie wetlands support the need for water-chemistry-based stormwater wetland classification - Abisola Allison; Sara Valizadeh; Ariane Cantin; Jan J. H. Ciborowski; Felix C. Nwaishi (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Locally migrant Grey Herons as urban sentinels: Non-invasive evidence of escalating metal(loid) contamination in a coastal urban wetland - K. A. Rubeena; K. M. Aarif; Nadiyah M. Alabdallah; Omer Reshi; Mudasir Nayeem Mir; Luai M. Alhems (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

High occupancy of non-native carnivores in riparian ecosystems along an urban gradient in Chile - Gisselle A. Castillo-Sandoval; José Infante-Varela; Mauricio R. Soto-Gamboa; Eduardo A. Silva-Rodríguez (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Urbanization as an ecological filter: community structure and synanthropic potential of phyllostomid bats in an Atlantic forest urban landscape of Northeastern Brazil - Jeanneson Sales; Natan Diego Alves de Freitas; Giuseppe Rolim de Araújo Barreto; Emmanuel Messias Vilar; Hannah Larissa Nunes de Lima; Pedro Cordeiro-Estrela; Fabiana Lopes Rocha; Patrício Adriano da Rocha (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)
Urbanization is a leading driver of habitat loss and environmental change, transforming natural landscapes into built areas and disrupting ecological processes. Bats, particularly Phyllostomidae, respond variably to these changes due to their ecological roles, dietary diversity, and roosting flexibility. In Brazil, 42 phyllostomid species have been documented in urban areas, often associated with green spaces. We assessed the composition, abundance, and habitat use of phyllostomid bats in João Pessoa-PB, northeastern Brazil, comparing Atlantic Forest fragments (FF) with urbanized matrix areas (UM). During 106 capture nights, 4,315 individuals representing 14 species were recorded. The median richness per sampling night was significantly greater in FF than in UM. Assemblages were dominated by generalist species, particularly Artibeus planirostris . Multivariate analyses revealed clear differences in community composition between environments ( p < 0.001), with an average Bray–Curtis dissimilarity of 61.47%. Beta diversity (β-sor = 0.217), indicating relatively low overall dissimilarity, was entirely explained by nestedness, indicating that urban assemblages represent reduced subsets of forest communities. Artibeus planirostris was recorded in 100% of urban samples and was the only species consistently distributed across the urban matrix, indicating a high synanthropic potential and the ability to maintain populations in highly urbanized environments. Other species occurred only sporadically in urban areas and depended on structurally complex green spaces and connectivity with FF. In contrast, forest-associated species were recorded exclusively in FF and at low frequencies. These results indicate that urbanization acts as an ecological filter, favoring generalist and behaviorally flexible species while highlighting the importance of FF and complex green spaces for maintaining bat diversity and ecosystem services in cities.

Urban habitat use by bats at species and community levels across multiple spatial scales - Fabrizio Gili; Laura Garzoli; Stefano Mammola; Antonio Rolando; Sandro Bertolino (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)
Urbanisation is an extreme form of land-use change and a major driver of biodiversity loss, yet it remains unclear which specific urban features most shape bat communities and at what spatial scales. We used passive acoustic monitoring to investigate how habitat types influence bat occurrence and activity within a large metropolitan area in northern Italy. Sampling encompassed eight main urban habitats and multiple spatial scales, ranging from 100 to 5000 m around sampling sites. Species- and community-level patterns were analysed using regression and meta-regression models. Pipistrellus , Hypsugo , and Tadarida species were the most frequently contacted. However, P. kuhlii and P. nathusii activity peaked in suburban areas and green spaces, while P. pipistrellus was closely linked to water. Only T. teniotis was positively associated with dense urban fabric, with activity peaking during colder nights. Rare and specialist taxa such as Barbastella , Myotis , Plecotus , and Rhinolophus avoided urban cores, remaining confined to forest patches and green spaces. At community level, water distance was the main driver of bat distribution, with stronger effects at broader scales. Species mobility determined the optimal scale for modelling occurrence, with broad-scale models better explaining long-ranging and widespread taxa and fine-scale models fitting habitat specialists. In contrast, bat activity was best explained at finer scales (≤ 500 m). Our findings underscore the ecological value of urban green and blue spaces and highlight the importance of fine-scale habitat heterogeneity. Incorporating species-specific ecological requirements and scale-dependent responses into urban planning is essential for effective bat conservation.

Context matters: emotional responses to urban greening interventions depend on city setting - Freya M. Thomas; Luke Greenacre; Georgia E. Garrard; Richard A. Fuller; Adrian G. Dyer; Ascelin Gordon; Christopher D. Ives; Lee Harrison; Rodney Van der Ree; Sacha Jellinek; Jacinta E. Humphrey; Sarah A. Bekessy (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)
Urban green spaces deliver a remarkable range of human health and well-being benefits, and there is substantial, global effort into incorporating urban greening into the design of cities. However, intense competition for space in cities means small interstitial gaps in the urban fabric are being used for many contemporary green spaces, such as planter boxes or raised garden beds. These small urban greening interventions have become increasingly popular in recent years, especially following the COVID-19 pandemic when access to nature in cities became a key public concern. It is not yet known whether planter boxes in urbanised settings can provide well-being benefits as traditional parks and reserves have been found to. Here we show, using manipulated images, that as much as a 60% difference in a participant’s ( n = 1200) emotional response to a planter box green space is due to changes in city context. This indicates that small green spaces in cities may provide quite different well-being benefits depending on their specific urban setting. As planting context is more important than the focal details of small green space interventions for creating emotional responses in urban residents, city planning could strategically consider not just whether , but where to integrate nature into urban areas to maximise well-being outcomes for residents.

Anthropized riparian forests show non-timber forest product potential in an industrial hub of the Eastern Amazon - Julia Isabella de Matos Rodrigues; Walmer Bruno Rocha Martins; Francisco de Assis Oliveira; Gracialda Costa Ferreira (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)
Understanding the non-timber use potential of riparian forests is essential for advancing the sociobioeconomy in anthropized regions of the Amazon. This study assessed the use potential of species recorded in riparian forests and identified the factors associated with their distribution in an industrial hub in the Brazilian Amazon. Species with the highest importance value index along the region’s main rivers and with some conservation status were classified according to their potential uses (food, medicinal, cosmetic, and handicraft). Potential distribution modeling was performed using maximum entropy, considering hydrological, topographic, and land-use variables. A total of 25 species were evaluated, of which only 18 presented at least one use category. The most frequent uses were medicinal, food-related, handicraft, and cosmetic, respectively. The palms Euterpe oleracea and Mauritia flexuosa stood out for their use potential across all categories, whereas Byrsonima spicata , Eschweilera coriacea , and Apuleia leiocarpa exhibited only a single known use. The most commonly used plant parts were bark (13 species), associated with medicinal purposes; fruits (10 species), mainly for food; and leaves (6 species), primarily used in phytotherapy. However, only three species met the criteria for modeling: E. coriacea , M. flexuosa and Symphonia globulifera . Thus, E. coriacea and S. globulifera showed negative influence from land use, while M. flexuosa exhibited a positive relationship with slope. The functional and use diversity identified highlights the high bioeconomic potential of Amazonian riparian forests; however, the negative influence of land use underscores the importance of integrated conservation strategies and sustainable management of non-timber forest products in anthropized areas.

Urban sprawl and wetland loss in Dormaa, Ghana: causal drivers and cascading climate risks - Clement Issaka Anaba; Michael Addaney; Amos Tiereyangn Kabo-bah; Abdul-Wadood Moomen (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

The urban paradox: high alpha diversity masks low beta diversity in tropical epiphytes - Julia Machado Vieira; Vinícius José Silva Barbosa Moreira; Emma Ladouceur; Flavio Nunes Ramos (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)
Urbanization is a major driver of biodiversity change, yet its impacts on tropical vascular epiphyte communities remain poorly understood. We investigated how vascular epiphyte diversity responds to increasing anthropogenic pressure along an urbanization gradient in southeastern Brazil, ranging from secondary forest fragments to a managed urban park and highly urbanized street-tree environments. Using standardized field surveys and a scale-explicit framework, we quantified alpha, beta and gamma diversity and examined their relationships with host tree structure. Urban habitats—particularly the urban park and isolated street trees—supported higher local (alpha) epiphyte richness and abundance than forest fragments, while overall regional (gamma) richness remained broadly similar among habitats. This apparent maintenance of regional richness, however, was accompanied by marked biotic homogenization: urban communities were dominated by a few disturbance-tolerant generalists, resulting in low species turnover (beta diversity) among sites. In contrast, forest fragments, despite their lower alpha diversity and degraded, secondary status, preserved higher beta diversity and hosted microclimate-sensitive specialist taxa absent from urban environments. Contrary to a well-established ecological paradigm, tree size (DBH and height) was not a significant predictor of epiphyte richness in any habitat, suggesting that urbanization and landscape disturbance can override classical size–diversity relationships. Overall, our findings show that urbanization reshapes epiphyte communities in multifaceted ways, promoting richness at local scales while reducing compositional distinctiveness at broader scales. These results underscore the need to conserve even disturbed forest fragments as reservoirs of regional uniqueness, and to strategically manage urban green spaces to enhance their value for canopy biodiversity.

Dynamics of urban greening in public squares: sustainable planning and the provision of ecosystem services in urban centers - Jéssica de Oliveira; Micael Silva de Freitas; Frederico Augusto Guimarães Guilherme; Jonathan Souza Oliveira; Laura Beatriz Oliveira; Erica Virginia Estefane de Jesus Amaral; Eder Marcos da Silva; Wendy Carniello Ferreira; Anderson Ribeiro Diniz; Carlos Rogério Andrade; Deivid Lopes Machado (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)
Urban greening in public squares is a vital component of urban green infrastructure, which provides essential ecosystem services that promote human well-being and biodiversity conservation. However, the effectiveness of these benefits is intrinsically linked to technical criteria for species selection, which are frequently neglected in municipal planning. In this context, we evaluated the temporal dynamics of urban greening in public squares in the town of Jataí, Goiás state, Brazil, by comparing floristic parameters and the provision of ecosystem services between two surveys (2010 and 2024). A complete floristic census of 14 public squares was conducted, and species were classified according to origin (native or exotic), provision of edible fruits (edible or inedible), and deciduousness (evergreen, semideciduous, or deciduous). The results showed changes in floristic composition and diversity over time. Although no differences in total abundance were found (range: 1,030–1,274 individuals), a significant increase in species richness (range: 79–121) was observed. Consistently, diversity profiles based on Hill numbers also indicated higher effective numbers of species in 2024 compared to 2010. The most representative families in both years were Arecaceae, Bignoniaceae, and Fabaceae, while the most abundant and frequent species were Syagrus oleracea , Cenostigma pluviosum , and Moquilea tomentosa . In 2010, there was a tendency toward higher density of native trees, but by 2024 this pattern had shifted to an equivalent density of native and exotic trees, while species richness increased significantly for both origins. A similar trend was found for deciduous species, with increases in both parameters, especially richness. In contrast, for individuals with edible fruits, density increased in 2024, while species richness remained stable. The results indicate that, despite positive advances in density and species richness, urban greening management has prioritized exotic and deciduous species to the detriment of ecosystem attributes fundamental to sustainable planning, such as permanent shading and the valuation of the regional flora. The findings highlight a critical gap in technical planning, underscoring the urgent need to integrate ecological criteria into species selection. This shift is essential to ensure the provision of vital ecosystem services and to foster more functional and sustainable urban landscapes.

Urban forest remnants: key refuges for reptile conservation in the highlands of southern Mexico, local and landscape environmental factors effects - Erandi Monroy-Hernández; Susana Maza-Villalobos; Marco Tulio Oropeza-Sánchez; José Rogelio Cedeño-Vázquez (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Ecology matters: a long-term study on population trend of feral pigeons (Columba livia) in Pisa (Italy) - Luca Marinoni; Lorenzo Vanni; Giulia Cerritelli; Sara Cioccarelli; Anno Gagliardo; Resi Mencacci; Enrica Pollonara; Dimitri Giunchi (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Understanding perceptions of salt marsh in the coastal residential landscape - Mary-Margaret S. McKinney; Cynthia A. Grace-McCaskey; Megan E. Geesin; Meghan A. Nadzam; Rachel K. Gittman (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)
Residential landowner behaviors can influence the viability of increasingly fragmented ecosystems. Understanding the complex drivers of landscaping preferences is necessary to develop successful outreach efforts that encourage landowners to retain or restore natural ecosystem components and avoid community-scale socio-ecological losses. We aimed to determine how perceptions of coastal residential lawns with and without fringing salt marsh were related to environmental attitudes, lived experience, aesthetics, perceived danger, and demographics and how knowledge of salt marsh ecosystem services and disservices might influence those perceptions. We surveyed 160 respondents in Carteret County, NC, and completed 16 follow-up semi-structured interviews to examine respondents’ perceptions of salt marsh in lawns, environmental worldview, knowledge of the ecosystem services and disservices of salt marshes, and associated sociodemographic factors. Survey respondents found images of lawns with fringing salt marsh to be more attractive than those without, and interviewees commonly cited aesthetics as a salt marsh ecosystem service. Wildlife habitat was the most frequently cited salt marsh ecosystem service by interviewees, while reduced utility, nuisance species, and odors were the most commonly cited disservices. This study provides insight into the complex perceptions of salt marshes within the residential, coastal landscape and strengthens prior findings that knowledge of ecosystem services alone may be insufficient to influence landowner perceptions and thus conservation behaviors. Future research should examine whether promoting bird habitat could influence landowner decisions to retain or restore fringing salt marsh on their lawns.

Spatial analysis of environmental factors at found locations of orphaned mammals (Didelphis virginiana, Procyon lotor, Sciurus carolinensis, and Sylvilagus floridanus) in Champaign County, Illinois, USA - Stephanie Heniff; William E. Sander; Colleen Elzinga; Csaba Varga; William Marshall Brown; Samantha J. Sander (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)
Interactions between people and wildlife are increasing as development encroaches on natural habitats. Concurrently, young mammals suspected to be orphans are brought to wildlife rehabilitation centers. Four common orphaned mammals presented to rehabilitation facilities in North America are the Virginia opossum ( Didelphis virginiana , DIVI), common raccoon ( Procyon lotor , PRLO), eastern gray squirrel ( Sciurus carolinensis , SCCA), and eastern cottontail rabbit ( Sylvilagus floridanus , SYFL ) . This study examined the spatial relationship between the originating locations of orphans presented to the University of Illinois Wildlife Medical Clinic within Champaign County from 2015 to 2020 (99 Virginia opossums, 80 common raccoons, 441 eastern gray squirrels, and 602 eastern cottontails) and their environment. Environmental factors evaluated included land development, distance to water, and percentage of tree canopy. Spatial and multinomial logistic regression analysis showed that human-wildlife interactions frequently occurred near human developments and varied based on species-specific habitat preferences. Human-wildlife interactions tend to cluster around ecosystems that are selected by both parties. Our findings can inform outreach strategies aimed at reducing unnecessary wildlife admissions and improving resource allocation.

Older urban forest fragments support parasitoid wasp spillover into adjacent landscapes - Caleb J. Wilson; Kenton Sena; Zoe McComas; Zachary McComas (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

⁠Institutional coordination in urban citizen science: a case study within the Italian City Nature Challenge - Roberto Costantino; Sara Scapinello; Nunzio Agostinacchio; Riccardo Alba; Simona Alberti; Fabio Alfieri; Franco Andreone; Daniele Bertolino; Lorenzo Bianco; Simona Bonelli; Pierpaolo Brenta; Carlo Cabella; et al. (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)
Citizen science is increasingly used to document biodiversity in urban ecosystems while simultaneously promoting public engagement with nature. However, how institutional coordination relates to participation levels and the resulting representation of urban biodiversity remains poorly understood, particularly in European cities. The City Nature Challenge is a global annual bioblitz that engages citizens in recording urban biodiversity through the iNaturalist platform. Using the first City Nature Challenge edition in Turin (north-western Italy) as a case study, we examined how coordination by a natural history museum influenced participation and biodiversity data collection within an urban context, and compared participation patterns across eight City Nature Challenge editions in Italy. During the 2025 event in Turin, 123 observers collected 4,085 observations representing 1,086 taxa (940 identified at species level), including 377 species newly recorded for the area, corresponding to a 20.8% increase in reported urban biodiversity on iNaturalist. Records included 55 species of conservation concern (5.8%) as well as non-native species typical of urban ecosystems (21.4%), and the first iNaturalist record of Agathidium laevigatum for the platform. Across Italy, City Nature Challenge editions coordinated by museums consistently showed higher participation levels than non-coordinated initiatives. Our results suggest that museum coordination is substantially associated with participation intensity and the composition of biodiversity records generated through urban citizen science. By potentially shaping how urban biodiversity is sampled and documented, institutional actors may play a key role in determining the ecological picture of cities emerging from citizen science initiatives.

Diversity of social wasps and recent trends in human–wasp conflicts in Seoul, South Korea: Implications for urban pest management - Hyeonsuk An; Jaehee Kim; Ji Hyoun Kang; Ohseok Kwon; Moon Bo Choi (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Biochar amendments increase diversity of epigeic green roof arthropods - Wynn Murakami; Sean C. Thomas (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Short- and long-term dynamics of taxonomic and functional diversities of dung beetles in an urbanized landscape of the Brazilian Cerrado - César Murilo de Albuquerque Correa; Pedro Giovâni da Silva; Pedro Lucas Moreira de Oliveira; Fernando Z. Vaz-de-Mello; Kleyton Rezende Ferreira (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)
Urbanization alters the ecological dynamics of greenspace sites by filtering species and their traits, ultimately reducing community differentiation and driving biodiversity homogenization. We assessed short- and long-term changes in the taxonomic and functional diversity of dung beetles in urban greenspaces of the Brazilian Cerrado. Dung beetles were sampled annually in the same sites during two three-year periods (2013–14-15 and 2023–24-25). A total of 4,333 individuals from 32 species were collected: 1,012 individuals (21 species) in the first period and 3,321 (25 species) in the second. Species richness varied among years but not between periods, whereas abundance increased 3.3-fold in the second period. Functional richness declined by nearly 40% between 2013 and 2025, functional evenness decreased significantly across years and periods, while functional divergence remained stable. Taxonomic beta diversity was lower in the second period, with species replacement increasing between periods but declining within them. Functional beta diversity showed no overall differences, though functional replacement rose between periods and fell within the second. Beta diversity was strongly shaped by extirpations and colonizations, with incidence-based changes exceeding abundance-based ones. Within-period shifts were more pronounced, initially driven by colonization of frequent species, and later by extirpations of common and colonization of rare species. Overall, dung beetle communities in urban greenspaces exhibited dynamic shifts, with abundance gains and long-term reductions in functional and taxonomic distinctiveness. These findings stress that conserving or restoring species with unique functional traits is essential, as maintaining richness alone may not safeguard ecosystem functioning in urban landscapes.

Impact of urbanisation on the diversity and abundance of butterflies along an urban gradient in Guwahati, Assam, India - Nayanjyoti Moran; Renu Gogoi; Narayan Sharma (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Carbon sequestration potential of urban roadside trees: a comparative study of Samanea saman and Pterocarpus indicus in Indonesia - Prana Nala Shekina; Fida Rachmadiarti (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Urban environmental filters shape plant functional composition and diversity in dryland riparian habitats - Joaquín Asad; Solana Tabeni (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Urban green roofs as habitat and foraging sites for ants - Grace H. Walusis; Chelse M. Prather (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)
Urbanization has caused significant habitat loss for insects and other taxa, prompting interest in engineered green spaces, like green roofs (roofs with plants on them). Green roofs may provide habitat for insects, but there is debate as to how they compare to surrounding ground urban habitat (green strips along sidewalks, street medians, planters, and lawns) and how green roof building height, size, and age affects the biodiversity or nutritional preferences of insects that use these habitats. We sampled ant communities on nine green roofs and their adjacent ground-level habitats in three cities in southwestern and central Ohio, USA to understand how green roofs function as habitat, and tested the ants' nutrient preference (salt or sugar). We found no effect of building height, size, or green roof age on ant abundance or genus richness. While green roofs did have lower abundances and lower genus richness in comparison to ground-level sites, NMDS revealed that roof and ground communities are largely overlapping. Additionally, green roof and ground-level ant communities both preferred sucrose over salt. These results indicate that green roofs are able to support similar ant communities as ground-level urban habitats. Ground and roof ant colonies could be connected, with green roofs acting as foraging sites for ant workers. Together, these results indicate that green roofs support ant communities similar to those at ground level, and that roof and ground populations may be connected through worker foraging across building heights. Our findings highlight the potential of urban green roofs to serve as foraging habitat for ants and contribute to a broader understanding of how insect communities are structured and interconnected across heterogeneous urban landscapes.

Influence of urbanization and local environmental factors on ground-dwelling spider assemblages in coastal forests - Shinsaku Koji; Asahi Yamada; Kazuyuki Kudô (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Domestic cat density is not associated with variation in avian risk assessment in a mega-city - Pranav Bellur; Mario Díaz; Travis Longcore; Daniel T. Blumstein (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)
Domestic cats ( Felis catus ) kill an estimated 1.3–4.0 billion birds annually in the United States and are a major source of mortality for urban birds. While their lethal impacts are well documented, fewer studies address sublethal effects such as changes in avian risk assessment. We analyzed a dataset of 1,120 experimental approaches by human observers on 48 bird species across 11 sites in the Los Angeles metropolitan area, which varied in free-roaming cat and human population densities. Using Bayesian mixed models, we examined ecological and intrinsic predictors of avian flight initiation distance (FID). At the community scale, cat and human population densities had no significant effects on FID, suggesting that predator and human presence may already exceed a threshold across the urban landscape beyond which additional variation does not produce detectable changes in avian escape behavior. Species-specific analyses revealed that black phoebe ( Sayornis nigricans ) FID increased with human population density. We found no community-level interaction effect of human density and cat density, but house finches ( Carpodacus mexicanus ) and rock pigeons ( Columba livia ) tolerated closer approaches in areas with both high human and cat density, suggesting that habituation to humans may lower perceived predation risk for some urban species. Heavier species, ground-foraging individuals, and actively foraging birds had shorter FIDs. Birds also flushed at greater distances as the time of day progressed. These results highlight the complex interplay of intrinsic and environmental factors shaping avian escape behavior and underscore how behavioral adaptation in megacities may alter predator–prey dynamics in urban landscapes.

Comparative analysis of ecological corridor evolution and environmental quality in an urban small watershed: A case study of the Jiyu River, Hefei (2019–2024) - Guoxu Chen; Kaidi Yang; Ruirui Li; Li Cao; Xincheng Gao; Yongqi Fan; Kesheng Zuo; Li’ao Quan (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Functional traits mediate pollinator community responses to urban development in Central Arkansas - Mary-Margarete McSpadden; Mia Alikhan; Coleman Z. Little; Opeyemi A. Adedoja (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

The effect of urbanization on dislodged abundance of two flea species in arboreal squirrels - Hirotaka Katahira; Yu Takahata; Yuya Eguchi; Yuma Ohari; Tatsuki Shimamoto; Kenta Uchida (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)
Urbanization influences not only free-living organisms, but also various pathogens, including those with limited visibility to humans. Although previous research on urban parasites has primarily focused on human-specific and zoonotic species, a comprehensive understanding of parasite ecology in urban settings requires attention to inconspicuous enzootic species. In this study, we investigated two flea species, Aenigmopsylla grodekovi and Ceratophyllus ( Monopsyllus ) indages indages , parasitizing Eurasian red squirrels Sciurus vulgaris orientis in and around Obihiro City, Hokkaido, Japan. These fleas, dislodged during the routine handling of host squirrels, were collected and quantified during spring and autumn surveys to assess seasonal and spatial patterns of infestation across urban and rural sites. Over the course of a four-year survey (2017–2020), 317 squirrels (168 males and 149 females) were examined, with 284 individuals of A. grodekovi and 214 of C. ( M. ) indages indages recovered. The former was rarely observed in spring but showed a pronounced increase in autumn, with rural areas exhibiting 14.06 times more dislodged individuals than urban areas, on average. In contrast, the latter was more prevalent in spring (2.50 times higher than in autumn) and displayed no consistent difference between urban and rural habitats. Our results revealed distinct dislodgement patterns in two flea species in response to habitat and seasonal variations, indicating species-specific responses to urbanization. While direct quantification of flea abundance remains ideal, the number of dislodged individuals may serve as a useful indicator for assessing the effect of urbanization on host-parasitic interactions and infrapopulation dynamics.

From city centre to urban edge: habitat heterogeneity and environmental filtering determine breeding bird community structure in an expanding Mediterranean city - Luis M. Carrascal; Xabier Esparza; Juan Arizaga (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)
Urban expansion alters animal communities through habitat fragmentation, environmental filtering and functional homogenisation. Understanding how urban habitats shape species assemblages is essential for urban planning that balances development with biodiversity conservation. We analysed the breeding bird community in Pamplona, northern Spain, a Mediterranean city that has experienced 40% population growth over the last five decades, examining how assemblages responded to habitat structure across the centre-periphery gradient. We detected 66 species organised according to the species-sorting paradigm, with two main Mediterranean assemblages: urban core specialists ( Passer domesticus , Columba livia , Motacilla alba , Delichon urbicum ) and peripheral species linked to natural habitats ( Sylvia atricapilla , Troglodytes troglodytes , Luscinia megarhynchos , Hippolais polyglotta ). Water cover had the strongest positive effect on richness (+ 3.2 species per 10% habitat coverage), followed by gardens (+ 1.6 species per 10%), while building and street cover reduced richness (-1.0 to -1.5 species per 10%). Centre-periphery differences in species richness were measurable only at scales greater than 50 hectares, with 60 species in 120 ha in the urban periphery versus 40 in the centre, reflecting pronounced habitat filtering favouring birds with preferences for wooded habitats and wetlands. Water bodies and well-wooded green areas functioned as biodiversity hotspots. The city’s outskirts contributed to gamma diversity with rare species, highlighting the need for ecotonic and permeable urban boundaries, which should be established by landscape conservation strategies in expanding Mediterranean cities.

Local conditions drive quantity-oriented reproductive strategies and pollen diet of a solitary cavity-nesting bee in a Mediterranean peri-urban environment - Martino Maggioni; Oana Catalina Moldoveanu; Massimo Martini; Felix Fornoff; Paolo Biella; Andrea Galimberti; Matilde Massetti; Giulia Guerri; Gennaro Albini; Marco Morabito; Francesca Romana Dani (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)
Green areas in urban and peri-urban landscapes are increasingly recognized as important habitats for wild bees, but the extent to which species adjust their reproductive behavior to local conditions in these environments remains poorly studied. We studied the reproductive output, offspring’s body size, sex allocation, and larval diet (assessed using pollen morphology and DNA metabarcoding) of the solitary bee Osmia caerulescens (Linnaeus, 1758) in a Mediterranean peri-urban environment using trap nests and local-scale environmental descriptors. Based on a total of 215 nests and 648 brood cells, females increased their reproductive output with greater floral resource availability and increasing openness of the habitat, but this was accompanied by a reduction in offspring body size (ITD) and a sex allocation skewed toward males. These findings are consistent with a trade-off between offspring number and per-offspring investment and contrary to general expectations that higher resource availability should favor larger and more female-biased offspring. Together, these responses indicate a shift toward quantity-oriented reproductive strategies, in contrast to patterns reported for this species in agricultural systems, where higher resource availability is typically associated with greater per-offspring investment and more female-biased sex ratios. Pronounced among-site variation in pollen diet, reflecting differences in local floral resource composition, further highlights how use of floral resources varies at a fine spatial scale and may shape reproductive strategies and, ultimately, population persistence. Our results show that the ecological value of urban habitats for solitary bees depends not only on the amount of floral resources available, but also on how local conditions influence species-specific reproductive responses. These findings highlight the value of species-specific reproductive analyses in abundant, functionally important solitary bees as a complementary approach to evaluating habitat quality at local scales in urban and peri-urban environments. Understanding how solitary bees adjust reproductive strategies to urban conditions is essential for supporting their conservation and long-term persistence in urban green spaces.

Urban landscape heterogeneity can modulate the invasive potential of non-native species - Piatã Marques; Christine Boston; Nicholas E. Mandrak (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Assessing urban riparian degradation, using an indicator-based species approach in a West African suburban area - Collins Ayine Nsor; Racheal Opoku-Afriyie; Micheal Asigbaase; Dorcas Peggy Somuah; Frederick Gyasi Damptey; Louis Addae-Wireko; Frank Osei Danquah (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Assessing urbanization impacts on dung beetle communities: insights from a neotropical Andean city - Andres Guarín-Anacona; Carlos A. Cultid-Medina; Andrea Lorena García-Hernández (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Morphological shifts in orchid bees linked to urbanization compromise pollination services - Álvaro Hernández-Rivera; Diana Ivette Domínguez-Plandiura; Pedro Henrique de Oliveira Ribeiro; Wesley Dáttilo; Bibiana Montoya; Daniel González-Tokman (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Spatial mapping and community structure of urban forests: Implications for restoration amidst urbanization - Agnes B. Ngailo; Catherine A. Masao; Samora M. Andrew (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Trait-based sensitivity analysis of urban trees using the i-tree eco model: insights from a tropical urban green space - Wencelito Palis Hintural; Byung Bae Park (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Species–park networks reflect the spatial structure of urban green infrastructure - Edy Fantinato; Elisabetta Zendri; Rosario Rummo; Federico Fiorin; Peter Glasnović; Giovanna Aronne; Andrea Della Bella; Simone Marino Preo; Gabriella Buffa (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)
As cities expand, natural and semi-natural habitats are increasingly restricted in extent and connectivity, posing major challenges for biodiversity conservation. Urban parks, as nodes of green infrastructure, improve ecological connectivity in the urban landscape, yet their functional role in supporting urban plant communities remains challenging to quantify. This study aimed to investigate whether differences in the functional role of urban parks are reflected by their spatial location within the green infrastructure. We applied a bipartite species-park network approach to assess the role of urban parks in supporting plant species in three historic cities in north-eastern Italy. In 2024, we surveyed 57 parks, recorded vascular plant species in nested plots and measured park attributes including area, distance to the city centre, distance to other parks and tree canopy cover. Species–park networks were used to quantify the functional role of each park through park specialisation, importance, compositional representativeness, and colonisation potential. Statistical models showed that parks further from the city centre supported richer plant communities and hosted species more dependent on individual parks, while parks at intermediate distances from the centre acted as compositional links between parks closer and further from the city centre. Parks with greater tree canopy cover tended to host species that achieved comparatively higher local cover but showed reduced compositional representativeness to other parks. Our results revealed that the functional role of parks in supporting plant communities was strongly associated with their spatial location within the green infrastructure, providing insights for urban biodiversity conservation and landscape planning.

Impacts of vegetation management on pollination network structure and robustness in urban parks: A case study from Beijing Wenyu River Park - Yaxuan Li; Meiling Shu; Chenxi Li; Liwen Liu; Yan Zhou; Lan Wu; Yuyu Wang (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Does visiting an urban park in a large city influence people’s perception of common birds? - Gabriely M. Duarte; Daniela Biondi; Iran J.C. Lopes; Eduardo R. Alexandrino (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)
Many urban parks in large cities are created to promote human recreation and well-being by offering nature-like environments. Over time, urban-tolerant birds establish populations in these spaces. Although strengthening citizens’ connections with urban birds may enhance park-related well-being, it remains a central question whether visit frequency among the general public (i.e., non-birders) increases their perception and interest of local common species. Using an urban park in a large Brazilian city as a case study (Barigui Park, Curitiba), we selected seven very common local species to create a picture-based interview, which we administered to 242 visitors. We asked whether they had seen or heard these species and whether they could correctly name them. Most respondents perceived between two and four species (3.4 ± 1.5 species). Rare visitors (fewer than 12 visits per year, with no regular frequency) perceived significantly fewer species than frequent visitors, however, visiting more than monthly did not result in significant differences. Importantly, visit frequency showed no association with the ability to correctly name species, suggesting that park visitation may not be the only factor to foster interest in local common birds. The lack of consistent perception also suggests a gap in public awareness that may not be overcome by passive exposure alone. Therefore, we advocate that park management should incorporate educational actions—such as providing informational materials about birds and offering periodic birdwatching tours—to prevent citizens’ disconnection from this component of urban biodiversity.

Effects of land use on aeroecological patterns in a semiarid ecotone: a comparative analysis of urban and agricultural landscapes - Adem Bicakci; Semih Bekil; Hasan Akgul; Aycan Tosunoglu (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)
Land-use change is a critical driver reshaping aeroecological patterns in semiarid ecotones worldwide. Understanding these dynamics is essential as global biodiversity loss projections suggest that Mediterranean ecosystems are increasingly vulnerable. This study comparatively analyses the aeroecological signatures of two contrasting land-use models (urban and agricultural) within a semiarid ecotone in Southeastern Türkiye. We propose the “Aeroecological Paradox” as a conceptual framework to describe the structural divergence between these landscape types. Atmospheric pollen data from Gaziantep (2010–2011; urban) and Kilis (2018–2019; agricultural) were analysed using a space-for-time substitution approach to assess land-use effects within comparable ecological settings. Moving from the urban landscape (Gaziantep) to the agricultural landscape (Kilis), total pollen load decreased by 76%, while taxonomic diversity increased. Urban Platanus dominance was replaced by agricultural Olea europaea dominance. Key herbaceous taxa in agricultural areas exhibited longer pollen seasons (e.g., Gramineae) compared to the urban site. High-intensity peak days became less frequent, indicating a contrast in the exposure regime. Land use shapes distinct pollen dynamics, generating a “high-load, short-season” regime in urban landscapes and a “low-load, long-season, high-diversity” regime in agricultural landscapes. These findings suggest that ecological monitoring and urban–regional planning strategies in drylands should consider long-term landscape structure and land-use patterns, rather than focusing solely on short-term pollen peaks.

Green area size rather than urbanization ecological index modulates the specialization of flower-visitor networks of Leguminosae trees in a tropical metropolis in Brazil - Thaís Caroline M. de Andrade; Jéssica Luiza S. e Silva; Luanda Pinheiro; Talita Câmara; Ariadna Valentina Lopes (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)
Urbanization and the size of green areas can alter numerous environmental and biological factors, including the ecological interactions between plants and animals in urban areas. Urban green areas contribute positively to the maintenance of biodiversity, provide resources for pollinators, and bring numerous benefits to the population in terms of ecosystem services. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of urbanization and the size of green areas on the interaction networks between Leguminosae trees pollinated by bees and their floral visitors. The study was carried out in eight urban green spaces in Recife, a Brazilian metropolis, in northeastern Brazil, with 10 species of native and exotic Leguminosae trees. In general, (1) Trigona spinipes and Xylocopa frontalis showed greater interaction with the Leguminosae; (2) increases in urbanization reduces the number of flower/inflorescence, the number of total visits and the generality, despite increasing interaction evenness between the Leguminosae pollinated by bees and their floral visitors; (3) increases in the size of urban green areas favours the interaction evenness of networks, the selectivity of occasional pollinators and harbour more specialized plant species; (4) simultaneously, reductions in urbanization and increases in urban green area size are associated with increased specialization of Leguminosae species. Our study highlights that urban green areas in tropical cities have enormous potential to sustain plant communities and floral visitors/pollinators, especially native bees. To manage urban biodiversity in the long term, cooperation between policymakers, conservation organizations, scientists and the population is essential to understand how species interact in complex and diverse urban landscapes and their importance for human well-being.

Using stable isotopes to investigate the seasonal diet of Southern African rodents across natural and Peri-urban landscapes - Mmatsawela Ramahlo; Michael John Somers; Andre Ganswindt; Grant Hall (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)
Dietary studies on wildlife using minimally invasive techniques can elucidate the impacts of anthropogenic activities on ecosystems and native species. Investigating diet-related resource partitioning of biological indicator species can improve our understanding of mechanisms employed by animals to survive in a rapidly changing world. We compared carbon (δ 13 C) and nitrogen (δ 15 N) isotope ratios from hair tissue of four dominant southern African rodent species from the Magaliesberg Biosphere, North West province, South Africa. Hair was collected over three years during both dry and wet seasons across different land-use types: natural and peri-urban. There was significant isotopic variation between the four species across land-use types and seasons. Pairwise post-hoc comparisons of within-site diet proportions showed increased homogeneity of two synanthropic species ( Lemniscomys rosalia and Mastomys coucha ) in the peri-urban site, suggesting exploitation of robust, low-quality grasses and grains. Niche overlap was significantly variable between seasons at the peri-urban site, with an increased intake in grasses and maize grains during the planting and growing wet season, suggesting the rodents are more selective with increased food availability. During the dry season, food sources were shared by two non-commensal species ( Aethomys ineptus and Micaelamys namaquensis ), and the two synanthropic species shared three food sources. Overall seasonal variation across sites may indicate variable diet plasticity in the four generalist species, but specialists in increasingly encroached upon and urbanized seasonal landscapes may struggle to adapt to available food and face extirpation.

Dual urban and topographic gradients shape spatiotemporal vegetation phenology in a subtropical megaregion - Qinshan Li; Haicheng Zhang; Nanfeng Liu; Jing Xie (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Role of ecological revetment in ecosystem recovery and microclimate regulation along the urban river in Vinh City, Vietnam - Van Tai Tang; Tran Ngoc Binh; Afshin Maleki; Kazem Godini; Thương Nguyen (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Testing barrier leaking and negative connectivity in biogeographical urban homogenization - Roberto Zeferino; Aitor Gastón; Miguel Berdugo; Felipe Domínguez Lozano (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Homogenisation and loss of specialisation in terrestrial isopods along an urban gradient: The role of local and landscape factors - Pietro Gardini; Pallieter De Smedt; Simone Fattorini; Paolo Audisio; Simone Sabatelli (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)
Urbanisation is a major driver of biodiversity change; however, its impact on soil macrodetritivore communities and their functional composition still remains overlooked. Terrestrial isopods, key soil macrodetritivores involved in decomposition processes, are increasingly used as model organisms to assess environmental change. In this study, we investigated the influence of landscape-scale urbanisation and local environmental variables on terrestrial isopod communities in Rome (Italy) to test three hypotheses: (H1) community composition vary along the urbanisation gradient, leading to biotic homogenisation; (H2) local factors contribute more to these changes than landscape-scale urbanisation; and (H3) species show non-random associations with the urban gradient. We examined variations in taxonomic and functional β-diversity, multivariate composition, and species-habitat association from 48 plots across 16 sites sampled in spring and autumn. Each plot was characterised in terms of landscape characteristics and local microhabitat and edaphic chemo-physical conditions. Overall, 42 species were collected in the study area. In accordance with H1, urbanisation affected isopod communities, increasing taxonomic and functional homogenisation. Taxonomic and functional β-diversity decreased with increasing urbanisation, driven by greater contributions of richness differences and loss of the most sensitive species. Local-scale variables accounted for a general larger proportion of community variation than landscape-scale variables, partially supporting H2. Finally, we found non-random associations between species and urbanisation, with habitat specialists thriving only in semi-natural and suburban forests, while urban areas were mostly dominated by tolerant generalist species, confirming H3. In summary, our study revealed that urbanisation filters isopod communities through the combined influence of landscape-scale gradients and local environmental conditions, especially soil properties and habitat structure, highlighting the conservation importance of structurally complex urban green spaces for soil macrodetritivores and related soil ecosystem functions.

Alien Euphorbia hyssopifolia as a threat in arid peri-urban and urban ecosystems - Bader Z. Albogami; Wesal S. Tanko; Yehia Hazzazi; Amr Elkelish; Suliman Mohammed Suliman Alghanem; Sami Asir Al-Robai; Luís González; Amany H. A. Abeed; Maha H Khalaf; Inas M. Abou El-Enain; Mahmoud O. Hassan (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Trait-mediated responses of frog communities to urbanisation in a tropical biodiversity hotspot, the Western Ghats of India - Madhushri Mudke; Aravind NA (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Modulating Nitrification-denitrification potential in urban secondary wetlands: The role of disturbance intensity - Aiju You; Lei Hua; Jingwen Hu; Junsong Tian; Zewei Gan; Haoran Gong; Lifang Hu (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Urban wildlife gardeners successfully support native bees in their backyards - Julian Brown; Caragh G. Threlfall; Jess Baumann; Ken Walker; Nicholas S. G. Williams (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)
Residential gardens provide significant opportunities for biodiversity conservation. They cover substantial portions of urban landscapes, and it is well-established that wildlife species respond to specific habitat characteristics of residential gardens such as vegetation structure. However, wildlife responses to the full suite of landscaping decisions comprising the intentional creation of a garden for wildlife are less well-understood. We compared habitat and bee community structure, and importance in a site-species landscape network, between residential gardens described by their owners as wildlife gardens, nearby residential gardens not intended for wildlife (control gardens), and nearby remnant vegetation in Melbourne, Australia. We found that vegetation diversity was higher in wildlife and control gardens compared to remnants, and the proportion of native vegetation was higher in wildlife gardens and remnants compared to control gardens. Bee diversity, but not abundance was higher in wildlife gardens and remnants compared to control gardens. Wildlife gardens and remnants had similar numbers but different suites of bee species, with wildlife gardens supporting more above ground- compared to below ground-nesting species, suggesting that each is missing key habitat elements. Landscape mosaics comprising both habitat types may therefore maximise bee diversity at the landscape scale. Analysis of the landscape network revealed that wildlife gardens and remnants supported more habitat specialist bee species (i.e. higher node strength) compared to control gardens and contributed more to network robustness. Residents that created wildlife gardens achieved their aims of supporting more wildlife compared to control gardens. They created small habitat patches that nonetheless complemented existing urban remnants, supported habitat specialists, and enhanced the robustness of the landscape network. Local governments can achieve biodiversity conservation goals at the landscape scale by supporting residents to create and maintain wildlife gardens.

Diversity and abundance of airborne pollen and fungal spores at different heights, outdoors and indoors - Athanasios Charalampopoulos; Athanasios Damialis; Danai-Eleni Michailidou; Despoina Vokou (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Local biodiversity in a metropolitan landscape: habitat and trait drivers of butterfly communities - Juli Mauri; Marc Gallardet; Cristina De Gracia; Constantí Stefanescu; Andreu Ubach (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Semi-aquatic mammals in the face of urbanization in Illinois - Samantha J. Clark; Phil Nicodemus; Alexander D. Clark (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)
Throughout their range, the North American River Otter ( Lontra canadensis ), Common Muskrat ( Ondatra zibethicus ) and North American Beaver ( Castor canadensis) , have been exploited for their fur for centuries, leading to local-scale extirpations. More recently, these species have begun to return to landscapes where they have been absent since the commercial fur trade. The reappearance of these species in human-dominated, heavily-altered landscapes merits attention both for conservation science and potential ecosystem services. In particular, these species have begun to reappear throughout urban waterways in some of the most densely populated cities in North America, particularly in Chicago, Illinois (USA). This review examines the ecology of these species, their historical interactions with humans, and synthesizes the available case study data that assesses their occurrence in urban areas. These urban landscape appearances also facilitate discussion on human conflict mitigation and potential conservation practices moving forward. We highlight the need for continual population surveys of these animals, to both better understand how semi-aquatic mammal populations cope in such human-altered landscapes and anticipate their activities when city planning. Additionally, this review emphasizes the benefit of urban green spaces and offers practical solutions, with examples like floating wetlands, which serve an ecological function both for humanity and wildlife. The occurrence of these species in our urban waterways may be an indication of their adaptability, or conversely, a sign of how little natural wetland and riparian habitat remains for them. Research is underway, and more is needed, to better answer this question.

Enhancing cultural ecosystem services through urban riverscapes optimization: evidence from perception survey and value assessment - Xuebin Zhang; Xinlong Jin; Xianfei Chen (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Assessing urban biodiversity patterns using citizen science data and a hierarchical urban habitat analysis - Torben Schubert; Angela Hof; Peter Kaufmann (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Native-plant landscaping enhances floral visitation by insects and birds in residential yards - Esmeralda Reyes; Noriko Smallwood; Eric M. Wood (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Comment on the paper “Low interaction in an interdisciplinary research field: a scientometric view of 80 years of publication in urban ecology” by Marques & Collevatti (2026) - Ian MacGregor-Fors; Christine C. Rega-Brodsky; Mary L. Cadenasso; Martin Dallimer; Kevin J. Gaston; Nancy B. Grimm; Dagmar Haase; Steward T.A. Pickett (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Sensitivity of habitat suitability-derived connectivity models to three-dimensional measures of urban landscape structure - Morgan L. Rogers; Amy E. Frazier; Amanda J. Zellmer; Susannah B. Lerman (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Floral resources in four urban green spaces: an exploratory comparative case study of species composition, pollen, and nectar availability - Alicja Flur; Katarzyna Roguz (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Herpetofaunal diversity and habitat associations in an urban protected area: a case study from Asola-Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary, Delhi - Feba K S; Rashi Nautiyal; Shubham Kumar Maletha; Mukesh Chand; Parvaiz Yousuf; Abhijit Das; Bhupendra Singh Adhikari (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Exploring the impact of tree presence and configuration on ambient NO₂ and O₃ concentrations in urban parks: a case study in Montreal - Lingshan Li; Angela Kross; Samuel Evan Gonzalez-Fleurant; Niraj Dayanandan; Ursula Eicker; Matthew Adams; Carly D. Ziter (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Bridging the gap between cultural reverence and scientific care for sacred heritage trees - Chunping Xie; C. Y. Jim (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Future climate impacts on carbon sequestration dynamics across urban ecosystem types in Finnish cities - Aarni Koiso-Kanttila; Leif Backman; Esko Karvinen; Leena Järvi; Liisa Kulmala (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Connecting urban green spaces: the importance of irregular settlements in biodiversity and peri-urban planning - Risty Khoirunisa; Eka Permanasari; Muhamad Risqi U. Saputra; Maria H. Hällfors; Michaela F. Prescott; Alex M. Lechner (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Coexisting and competing? Relationship of urban and anthropogenic variables and House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) abundance with the abundance of native Rufous-collared Sparrow (Zonotrichia capensis) in a small Mexican town - Vinajel Torres-Alba; Claudia I. Rodríguez-Flores; Leonardo D. Bacigalupe; Luis-Bernardo Vázquez; Ian MacGregor-Fors (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Perceptual effects of biophilic design in urban public spaces: assessing the environmental component in the historic centre of Cartagena - Mar Melgarejo-Torralba; Dolores Parras-Burgos; Daniel G. Fernández-Pacheco; Emilio López-Salmerón; Francisco J. F. Cañavate (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Wealth does not buy richness: plant and soil bacterial diversity in temperate suburban yards are not influenced by income - Alassane Sow; Kate Gorman; Brandon Kristy; Elsa Youngsteadt (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)
Patterns of biodiversity in suburban areas have been increasingly linked to the behaviors and affluence of their residents. Residents of affluent neighborhoods tend to plant more flowering plant species and generally live in neighborhoods with cooler temperatures and more tree cover. These factors, among others, lead to increased plant, bird, arthropod, and lizard biodiversity in affluent neighborhoods. Here, we investigate whether this pattern exists in plant and soil bacterial communities in suburban yards in Raleigh, North Carolina. We surveyed the diversity of plants and soil bacteria across 30 homes, located in census block groups with median household incomes from $22,000 to $208,000. Overall, we detected 144 plant genera and 7,908 bacterial OTUs. Although we identified an indirect effect of household income on bacterial OTU richness, mediated by soil pH, household income was nevertheless a poor predictor of plant and soil bacterial diversity. The lack of a strong correlation between income and plant or bacterial diversity in our humid, subtropical study area is consistent with a broader literature suggesting that effects of affluence on biodiversity are most pronounced in arid climates.

Where dogs roam: Exploring the ecology of free-ranging dogs through the lens of the Resource Dispersion Hypothesis - Jayanti Ray-Mukherjee; Rahul Joseph Fernandez; Ashish Nambiar; Shomen Mukherjee (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Concrete Jungle: habitat heterogeneity acts as environmental filter on multidimensional diversity of fruit-feeding butterflies in urban Savannahs of Cerrado biome - Geraldo de Brito Freire; Israel Pereira dos Santos Ribeiro; Ana Carolina Lacerda de Matos; Sofia Coradini Schirmer; Eduardo Guimarães Santos; Fernanda Vieira da Costa; Felipe M. Gawryszewski; Lee A. Dyer; Onildo J. Marini-Filho; Pedro Togni (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Modelling the impacts of soil sealing and climate change on urban tree growth and cooling in public squares of Munich - Vjosa Edelmann; Hans Pretzsch; Stephan Pauleit; Thomas Rötzer (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Wild bees (hymenoptera, apoidea, anthophila) and flowers: evaluation of visit frequencies in urban nature reserves in Rome - Lorenzo Fortini; Flavia Bartoli; Andrea Di Giulio (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

What role can cemeteries play in conserving plant biodiversity in different urbanisation contexts? - Jeanne Vallet (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)
Some cemeteries have been recognised as biodiversity hotspots but few studies contextualise their biodiversity value across larger geographical scales. The objective of this study was to examine the diversity of vascular plant species in cemeteries in the Île-de-France region, the contribution of cemeteries to urban flora diversity and the distribution of species in cemeteries in response to an urban-rural gradient. The study was conducted in the Île-de-France region (France) with a dataset comprising 40,802 entries of vascular plants collected in 760 cemeteries between 2000 and 2021. Indicator value analysis was used to assess species’ preferences for cemeteries or other urban areas. A niche model analysis was employed in conjunction with a randomisation procedure to describe species-specific responses to the urban-rural gradient. Of the 696 spontaneous species recorded (45% of the regional flora), 593 (85%) were found to be native. Of these, 66 could be considered as species of conservation concern. Cemeteries in urban contexts harboured a pool of naturalised species rarely found in rural cemeteries. The flora of cemeteries included species rarely found in other urban areas, and particularly species that are associated with semi-natural habitats (e.g. heathlands, dry grasslands on acidic or calcareous soils, and meadows). These species, some of which are of conservation concern, were clearly associated with rural cemeteries. In conclusion, this research highlights key issues for plant biodiversity conservation in cemeteries, according to their urbanisation context, and recommendations for management to maintain their original contribution to urban biodiversity.

Science supporters as key actors in urban biodiversity research: stories and lessons from bird acoustic monitoring in coastal Chile - Giorgia Graells; Celina Aznarez (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)
Urban ecology researchers have increasingly sought collaboration from the public, recognizing the relevance of expanded participation from diverse urban stakeholders. In the “ecology with cities” framework, public engagement is fundamental for data collection and sustaining other research processes. This article introduces and explores the roles of science supporters : individuals and institutions who do not participate in data collection but collaborate with researchers by providing logistical, social, or material support. Based on a bird acoustic monitoring project conducted in Greater Valparaíso, Chile, we report on partnerships with 24 science supporters, including local governments, public institutions, universities, businesses, and private households, that made the monitoring effort possible. We examine how this type of collaboration enhances ecological research in a metropolitan area and fosters connections through civic engagement, trust-building, reciprocity, patience, and gratitude. We conclude that science supporters are a foundational level within the continuum of participation methods in citizen science and that their contributions align with the values of ecology with cities through emphasizing collaboration beyond data collection and considering others’ perspectives about and needs in urban environments.

Influence of garden composition and gardening practices on the biodiversity of residential garden: a systematic map - Muriel Deparis; Quentin Dutertre; Mathieu Lachaise; Romain Sordello; Emmanuelle Baudry (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Establishing biotic baselines in urban catchments using eDNA - Chantelle Hardy; Shaun P. Wilkinson; Nicole McMahon; Joseph D. DiBattista (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

A SWOT analysis of a citizen science BioBlitz event for recording biodiversity on green roofs in Portugal - Ana I Leal; Vânia Proença; Cristina M Silva; Vitor Sousa; Diogo Vilar; Margarida Rei; Viviana Padinha; Sara de Sousa; Albano Soares; Cândida Ramos; Eva Monteiro; Rui Félix; et al. (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Architecture for biodiversity conservation in the Galapagos: integrating animal-aided design and climate-responsive strategies - Zeynep Naz Alkan; Mauricio Morales-Beltran (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Sustaining biodiversity: the role of treehole microhabitats in Belizean anthropogenic landscapes - Latha Thomas; Gianellie Anderson; Ainsley Ferguson (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Residents’ attitudes toward diverse wildlife and implications for urban coexistence - Kelli L. Larson; Susannah B. Lerman; Carter Henry; Jeffrey D. Haight; Heather L. Bateman; Paige Warren; Mariah Beltran (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Suburban land management impacts bee community composition and cucumber (Cucumis sativus) pollination - Sheryl C. Hosler; Megan Garfinkel; Michael Roberts; Christopher J. Whelan; Emily S. Minor (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)
Urban green spaces can provide quality habitat for insect pollinators. However, few studies have investigated the quality of pollination services provided by urban insect pollinator communities or compared pollination services between different types of urban green spaces. We evaluated both the taxonomic and functional trait diversity of flowering plant and bee communities in two common types of suburban green space: residential backyards and electric powerline corridors. We also quantified seed set from sentinel cucumber plants as a measure of pollination services. We analyzed the response of the flowering plant community to site type and impervious surface cover, as well as the response of the bee community to flowering plant taxonomic and functional diversity and impervious surface cover. Seed set was analyzed in response to bee abundance, species diversity, and the community-weighted mean of bee body size. Site type affected floral resource diversity. Bee abundance was negatively affected by both impervious surface cover and floral resource functional evenness, and pollination services were negatively affected by bee total abundance. Our findings suggest that certain suburban management practices and site characteristics can lead to bee communities with highly abundant but mostly ineffective pollinators. Ultimately, these results also reinforce the need for more urban ecology studies that directly measure ecosystem functions and attempt to trace the mechanistic relationships between those functions and the organisms facilitating them.

Assessing spatial equity by balancing accessibility, vitality, and connectivity of pocket parks in a high-density city - Yilin Chen; Yongmei Cao; Bowen Zeng; Lingli Peng; Yinghui Huang; Saixin Cao; Dongpu Lin; Yike Wang; Kai Li; Xi Li (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Trait-mediated associations between Ligustrum lucidum invasion and functional diversity in urban Atlantic Alluvial Forests - Aline Cristina Stocki; Joelmir Augustinho Mazon; Luciano Farinha Watzlawick (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)
Invasive alien species are drivers of biodiversity loss and can alter forest functioning. Despite the expansion of Ligustrum lucidum across South America, its effects on the functional organization of tree communities in urban Atlantic alluvial forests remain poorly understood. Here, we examined how variation in L. lucidum abundance relates to functional trait composition and diversity across a 103-plot permanent monitoring network in southern Brazil. We quantified leaf and structural traits, calculated community-weighted means and functional diversity indices, and combined multivariate analyses with structural equation modeling to evaluate direct and indirect relationships among invasion intensity, community assembly, and functional structure. L. lucidum exhibited trait values distinct from those of native species, occupying one extreme of the community functional space and accumulating substantially greater biomass. Increasing invader abundance was associated with declines in native species richness and with reductions in functional dispersion (FDis) and Rao’s quadratic entropy (RaoQ), indicating contraction of trait breadth and increasing similarity among native assemblages. However, invasion intensity was not directly associated with functional diversity. Instead, changes in FDis and RaoQ were mediated indirectly through shifts in species richness and dominant trait composition, demonstrating that functional reorganization emerges from trait-mediated community reassembly rather than direct suppression by the invader. Together, these findings indicate that L. lucidum acts as an ecological filter that reshapes trait structure, reduces functional redundancy, and may weaken ecosystem resilience in urban alluvial forests. Integrating functional metrics into monitoring and management is therefore critical for early detection, risk assessment, and restoration.

A review of roadside green space ecological benefits using citespace: research hotspots and future trends - Junjie Zhang; Meng Yi; Guiwei Zhang; Guoxin Tang; Junji Liu (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Environmental and tree-specific drivers of Bet v 1 allergen in Betula pendula pollen - Jana Ščevková; Michal Hrabovský; Matúš Žilka; Jozef Dušička; Natália Štefániková; Eva Zahradníková (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)
Betula pendula is a short-lived tree that is often planted in urban environments due to its rapid growth and low ecological requirements. However, the Bet v 1 protein contained in its pollen is one of the main allergens in such environments, with a high variation in allergen content among individual trees. We investigated the factors driving variation in allergen content in individual birch trees in Bratislava and its surroundings. Bet v 1 levels in the pollen samples collected from 98 trees were determined by ELISA and statistically correlated with site- and tree-specific variables. We found that distance to the nearest water body and building shade were the strongest environmental predictors of pollen allergen content: greater distance from water bodies was associated with lower allergen content, while building shade was associated with higher allergen content. Other important parameters included building coverage in the area around the trunk, distance from the nearest road and building, and fungal infection. Significant variation in Bet v 1 concentrations was observed between urban and peri-urban/rural areas, with some differences among urban districts. The identified environmental parameters provide information about stress factors that cannot be directly measured for each tree, the most important being drought and heat/radiation stress. The findings are significant for the management of urban green spaces, highlighting the need for an individualised approach to reducing the allergenic potential of urban green zones.

Management matters: homogenized plant–soil linkages constrain carbon cycling in urban green spaces - Chia Hsieh; Matthew A. McCary; Mei-Hui Li (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)
Urban green spaces (UGSs) have been promoted as nature-based solutions for climate change mitigation and biodiversity conservation. Most UGS planning and studies use vegetation cover as a proxy for soil ecosystem function, yet management practices may alter aboveground-belowground interactions that underpin soil biodiversity and biogeochemical processes, limiting the effectiveness of UGSs in delivering ecosystem services. Here, we trace aboveground-belowground linkages through a comprehensive assessment of plant composition, ground invertebrate communities, soil dissolved organic matter (SDOM), microbial enzyme activities, and surface soil organic matter (SOM) across tree and grass covers in three managed urban parks. We hypothesized that tree cover would enhance soil carbon sequestration through recalcitrant litter inputs and ground invertebrates, while grass cover would foster rapid nutrient cycling with lower SOM through labile litter inputs. Contrary to expectations, SOM was significantly lower under tree cover, accompanied by homogenized ground invertebrate abundance, SDOM composition, and microbial C: N acquisition strategies compared to grass cover. Structural equation modeling revealed that SOM accumulation was not linked to woody inputs but instead to rapid microbial processing of degraded labile inputs mediated by soil moisture. By integrating multiple above- and belowground properties, our study highlights how routine management of leaf litter removal can homogenize plant-soil linkages, regardless of plant traits, and constrain carbon cycling in UGSs. These findings underscore the need for urban landscape design and adaptive management to preserve functional connections from plants through microbial processes to sustain ecosystem multifunctionality.

Bee diversity patterns in urban and adjacent natural ecosystems: high species turnover makes urban parks biodiversity refuges - Carlos Hernández-Castellano; Marina Aguilar; Ezequiel González; Guille Peguero; Júlia Batlle-Benaiges; Júlia Coromina; Rafael Carbonell; José Luís Romero; Michal Knapp (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)
Bee populations are declining worldwide due to multiple stressors, such as urbanization. However, urban parks are regarded as potential biodiversity refuges, although the evidence remains contradictory. In this study, we used a biogeographic approach to evaluate the effectiveness of urban parks as refuges for bees and whether this varies across the early and late seasons. To do so, we characterized bee communities in urban parks and adjacent natural areas in a medium-sized city in the Iberian Peninsula during the whole period of bee activity. We assessed species richness, the nested structure of bee communities, and the contribution of nestedness versus turnover to beta diversity. Urban parks hosted lower bee richness than natural areas, but only in the late season. Despite this, bee communities in urban parks were not nested subsets of communities from natural areas, as more than 30% of species were idiosyncratic in both seasons. Such idiosyncratic species were rare in distribution and abundance, so that most of them were unique to specific urban parks or natural areas. Communities in urban parks strongly differed from those in natural areas, mostly due to species turnover. Thus, in our study system, urban parks functioned as biodiversity refuges throughout the year, hosting distinct communities with many unique species. Improving bee diversity and conservation in cities may rely on enhancing species turnover by establishing a network of scattered urban parks and on providing effective flowering and nesting resources for bees, especially to prevent the local extinction of idiosyncratic species.

Peri-urban sustenance: unexpectedly broad overlap in dwarf chameleon (Bradypodion) diets between natural and transformed habitats - Matthew G. Adair; Peter R. Teske; Krystal A. Tolley (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)
Urban sprawl can fundamentally alter local biodiversity, resulting in food web shifts. Consequently, one would expect organisms living in peri-urban areas to experience a functional dietary shift compared to their counterparts inhabiting natural habitats. Here, the diets of two dwarf chameleon species, Bradypodion damaranum and B. ventrale , were assessed using eDNA metabarcoding of faecal material. Both species have well established peri-urban and natural populations, making them well suited for dietary comparisons. Assuming prey assemblages differ between natural and peri-urban areas, chameleons may have enough flexibility to take advantage of new prey resources. This would be reflected in corresponding differences in dietary composition. Two primer combinations amplifying portions of the mitochondrial COI gene, mlCOIintF/jgHCO2198 (universal) and ZBJ-ArtF1c/ZBJ-ArtR2c (arthropod-specific), were used to explore their diets. A total of 40 arthropod prey species and one nematode species were identified from 22 chameleon individuals. The mlCOIintF/jgHCO2198 primers produced a greater number of taxonomic identifications, whereas the ZBJ-ArtF1c/ZBJ-ArtR2c primers identified rarer taxa, with limited taxonomic overlap between primer sets. This suggests that combining multiple primer sets will enhance diversity exploration in future studies, however, relative costs have to be balanced with intended outcomes. Three major soft-bodied insect orders (Neuroptera, Thysanoptera, and Trichoptera) were identified in the dwarf chameleon diets. No significant differences in the composition of prey items were found between peri-urban and natural populations of B. damaranum . A relative abundance of lepidopterans was found in peri-urban B. ventrale populations, however, other prey items remained consistent between populations. Overall, our findings suggest that prey items consumed by the peri-urban population are not overtly different to their natural counterparts.

What we see is not all there is: Toward perception-based indicators of bird biodiversity - Xuezhu Zhai; Eckart Lange; Ross W Cameron (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Visitor perception of lake water quality in two highly managed urban lakes in Saint Paul, Minnesota - Gaston E. Small; Jacques C. Finlay; Bonnie L. Keeler; Erin Niehoff; Rebecca Forgrave; Spencer A. Wood (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Segregation, socioeconomics, and urban design produce spatial bias in community science biodiversity data: A case study in Saint Louis, Missouri, USA - William A. Slatin; Sacha K. Heath; Anahi Aviles Gamboa; Robin B. McDowell; Elora K. Robeck; Elizabeth G. Biro; Solny A. Adalsteinsson (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)
Community science is a powerful tool to understand biodiversity and species richness globally and in urban settings. Community science initiatives deployed as smartphone apps such as iNaturalist are increasingly used by both members of the public and scientists. Previous research shows that socioeconomic factors affect biodiversity patterns and that people of varying ages, racial, and ethnic backgrounds use smartphone applications in different ways; combined, these patterns may produce systematic biases in community science databases. Recently, spatial biases in community science data have been linked to user identity, income, race, or 20th century housing segregation practices. Here we investigate social and environmental factors driving the spatial distribution of iNaturalist data across census tracts in Saint Louis, Missouri, USA. We gathered 11,066 iNaturalist observations and 18 potential predictor variables from 106 U.S. census tracts and built generalized linear models based on a priori hypotheses about the effects of predictor variables. We compared models using Akaike Information Criterion and determined that the best predictors of iNaturalist observations are socioeconomic status, racial and ethnic diversity, relative location to historically residentially segregated areas, and open accessible green space. Metrics that quantify local segregation and inequality are critical to describe the uneven distribution of iNaturalist observations within Saint Louis. Results have significant implications for how researchers incorporate community science data into biodiversity studies, how they interpret spatial trends of community science databases, and how they might strategize future campaigns to advocate for increasing involvement in community science social networks.

Land use effects on epiphytic bryophyte diversity in riparian Andean ecosystems of southern Ecuador - Marlon Vega; Marina Mazón; Carlos Sarango-Tandazo; Wilson Álvaro-Alba; Ángel Benítez (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)
Land-use change related with anthropogenic activities is considered one of the main drivers of biodiversity loss in tropical montane forests. Riparian zones provide essential ecosystem functions, offers a variety of ecosystem services and contributes to high diversity of different taxa, including bryophytes. We analyzed the richness and composition of epiphytic bryophyte communities in respond to land use intensity in riparian vegetation in southern Ecuador. We selected four land-use intensities (forest, forest-pasture, pasture and urban), where the presence/absence and cover of epiphytic bryophytes was recorded in 10 trees distributed in 12 sites with a total of 120 trees. Generalized Mixed Linear Models (GLMMs), Linear mixed-effect models (LMMs) and multivariate analyses were used to assess changes in the richness, diversity and composition of epiphytic bryophyte communities in different land uses. A total of 44 bryophyte species were recorded, with high richness in forest sites with 40 species, decreasing to 23 species in urban sites and 16 species in forest-pasture and pasture, respectively. The composition of bryophyte communities responded to land use intensity, with marked differences in forest assemblages compared to other land uses. The results confirmed the important role of riparian forests in maintaining drought-sensitive species of bryophytes, for example, species of the Plagiochilaceae family that were the best indicators of forests. Alpha and beta diversity of epiphytic bryophytes can be effectively used as indicators of the effects of land use change on riparian vegetation in tropical regions.

Complex interactions between local habitat features, landscape factors and seasonality shape soil microarthropod communities in urban green areas - Francesco Lami; Laura Zavatta; Agata Morelli; Andrea Ciurli; Giovanni Giorgio Bazzocchi; Matteo Vecchi (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)
Biodiversity conservation in cities is complicated by the many anthropogenic stressors and by climate change amplification in urban environments. Low-mobility taxa sensitive to soil sealing, pollution and drought, such as soil microarthropods, are especially vulnerable to the impacts of urbanization, and urban green areas are pivotal for their preservation. When planning management actions for urban soil fauna, however, it should be considered that local, landscape and climate variables may interact in complex ways. In this study, we sampled soil microarthropods in 15 urban green areas of Bologna, Northern Italy, testing how their communities were affected by local habitat (urban parks v. urban farms), soil clay content, percentage of green areas in the landscape and seasonality (dry v. wet season). In terms of abundance and diversity, soil fauna was more sensitive to the dry season in farms than in parks. Both the percentage of green areas and soil clay content, however, were able to partially buffer the impact of the dry season, likely because of temperature mitigation and improved soil moisture, respectively. Additionally, clay reduced soil biological quality in highly urbanized landscapes, possibly due to a higher level of contaminants, whose toxicity is amplified by clay. Finally, the morphological and molecular approaches used to characterize microarthropod taxonomic richness gave markedly different results, suggesting that these methods are complementary. Overall, our results underline the importance of a widespread network of green areas for the conservation of urban soil microarthropods in a climate change context, especially when considering urban farms and clay-rich soils.

The impact of urban forest corridors on the richness of urban bird populations in Baltimore forest patches - Beatriz M. Shobe; Matthew E. Fagan; Colin E. Studds (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Using native Lomas species to enhance ecosystem services of green roofs in Lima - Sofia Flores; Julian Maurer; Koenraad Van Meerbeek (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

The interplay of geography and urbanization shapes morphological variation in the common toad, Rhinella arenarum - Laura C. Pereyra; Mario R. Ruiz-Monachesi; Rebeca Acosta; Dionel Aguiar; Clarisa L. Bionda; Ana G. Boggio; Rocío P. Demartín; Romina Ghirardi; Pablo R. Grenat; Javier A. López; Guillermo Natale; Lorena B. Quiroga; et al. (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Towards an improved understanding of the magnitude and drivers of carbon and nitrogen storage and accumulation in urban saltmarshes: a case study from New England (USA) - Jahson B. Alemu I; Conor Ofsthun; Grace Medley; Alison Bowden; Alex Cammett; Emma Gildesgame; Samuel E. Munoz; Aron Stubbins; A. Randall Hughes (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Illuminated landscapes: urbanization’s influence on predator and prey behavior - Alys Granados; Zara McDonald; Catherine Le; Benjamin Cohen; David Stoner (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Bridging the grand canopy! How does plant canopy width affect the cooling capacity of green walls? - Powshana Kunasingam; Ross Cameron (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)
Growing plants on buildings provides a range of ecosystem services. In addition to offering wildlife habitat, green walls insulate buildings and reduce their thermal load in summer. But how does plant choice/design affect building cooling? While some research indicates the importance of foliage width (foliar density), limited information is available on what density optimises cooling. This research aims to determine how plant canopy width impacts wall cooling. Cooling was estimated by comparing wall panel temperatures behind plant foliage against control panels exposed to direct solar irradiance; the plant canopy width varying by the addition of extra plants, i.e. altering Wall Leaf Area Index (WLAI). The value of wall cooling per unit leaf area for six contrasting taxa was estimated, and factors affecting these attributes were identified. The potential to cool a wall increased with additional canopy layers, but was not proportional to the greater leaf area. Greatest cooling was recorded with Heuchera micrantha cv. Palace Purple, with 21 °C of cooling provided by a single canopy layer when control wall temperatures were 45 °C. Adding two more canopy layers increased the cooling differential to 24 °C under these conditions. Shading accounted for much of the cooling, but variations in cooling capacities for taxa with similar leaf areas suggest variable evapotranspiration was also influencing cooling. This study concludes that for those taxa that cool primarily via shading additional canopy layers are beneficial, but for those that cool via evapotranspiration, then a single layer suffices.

Rethinking ‘suburban’: on the regional perception of the suburban concept across the world - Christine C. Rega-Brodsky; Luis-Bernardo Vázquez; Ian MacGregor-Fors (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)
Urban gradients vary widely across cities globally, yet standardized definitions remain elusive for sites along these gradients, particularly for the term ‘suburban’. This study investigated how those publishing in the urban ecology literature defined ‘suburban’, with regard to the geographic location, economic features, and urban (i.e., built cover) intensity of the referenced site, and how these definitions varied across the world. We analyzed digital survey responses from 431 researchers from 67 countries. Findings indicated that ‘suburban’ was commonly associated with low-human and building density residential areas on the urban periphery, characterized by greenspaces, automobile dependence, and functional links between urban and non-urban zones. Economic interpretations differed regionally—Northern American and Western European scholars associated ‘suburban’ with affluence, while Southern European and Latin American respondents described lower-income suburban areas. Hierarchical clustering of definitions revealed five major regional perspectives, with the most distinct interpretations found in Africa and Latin America. The study highlights the lack of a universal definition of ‘suburban’ and initiates an important conversation about the cultural and contextual nuances of this term, providing a foundation for future efforts to clarify terminology, mitigate ambiguities, and improve comparability in global urban ecology research.

Sector expert and public perceptions of greening of grey infrastructure: a case study in Britain’s Ocean City - Jessica R. Allen; Anaëlle J. Lemasson; Melanie J. Bishop; Katherine A. Dafforn; Kate C. Dodds; Mick E. Hanley; Antony M. Knights; Mariana Mayer-Pinto; Abigail McQuatters-Gollop; Maria L. Vozzo; Louise B. Firth (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Reaping the cost of expansion: How rapid urbanization in Bangkok is reducing ecosystem services - Malay Pramanik; Harekrishna Manna; Koushik Chowdhury (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Citizen perceptions of urban raptors: Chimango Caracara as a study case - Eugenia A. Bonetti; Carla A. Paterlini; María S. Bó; Laura M. Biondi (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Minimizing N2O and CO2 emissions from urban lawns through sustainable management strategies - Tom Künnemann; Patrice Cannavo; Vincent Guérin; Yvette Barraud-Roussel; Lydia Brialix; Lucas Gilberton; Dominique Lemesle; Paul Legain; René Guénon (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)
Lawns, which can represent up to 50–70% of urban green spaces, provide key ecosystem services. However, their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions depend strongly on management practices. Conventional practices—such as mineral fertilization and irrigation—increase soil nitrous oxide (N 2 O) emissions and contribute to the carbon footprint of lawns. In contrast, alternative approaches—such as organic fertilization, reduced mowing frequency, and recycling of grass clippings and tree litter on soil surface—may improve carbon storage and reduce GHG emissions. However, litter decomposition may also lead to N 2 O emissions. This study aimed to assess the impact of 11 conventional and alternative lawn management practices, on carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) and N 2 O emissions, with a particular focus on comparing the effects of mineral and organic fertilization. GHG fluxes were measured in spring, summer, and autumn, and analyzed in relation to soil temperature, moisture and mineral nitrogen concentrations. Organic fertilization induced 8.1 times less cumulative N 2 O emissions (2–5 mg N m − 2 ) than mineral fertilization (34–70 mg N m − 2 ). Recycling of grass clippings and tree litter on soil surface did not increase CO 2 and N 2 O emissions. Lawns mowed once a year emitted 1.5 times less CO 2 (752 mg CO 2 m − 2 h − 1 ) than conventional lawns mowed weekly and receiving mineral fertilizer (1147 mg CO 2 m − 2 h − 1 ). The results suggest that mineral fertilization should be replaced by organic alternatives to reduce N 2 O emissions, and that spring applications should be delayed or avoided to enhance N use efficiency. Furthermore, reducing mowing frequency and recycling litter on lawns appear to be sustainable alternatives, as they have a low potential for GHG emissions while also supporting soil fertility, carbon storage, water cycling, and biodiversity.

Little things in the cities: green spaces management shapes species centrality in ant-diaspore network in a vast Tropical City - B. M. Dolabela; G. M. Lourenço; T. Cornelissen; F. V. Costa (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)
Species interactions play a critical role in ecosystem functioning, where mutualistic relationships shape ecological dynamics. We assessed structural changes in the myrmecochoric network due to urbanization by exploring ant-diaspore interactions across urban green spaces with varying management practices and vegetation heterogeneity. Thus, we tested whether species importance and dispersal effectiveness is jeopardized by urbanization impact. We hypothesized that urbanization intensification, characterized here as habitat simplification through frequent and intense local management, would disproportionately affect large-bodied ants (> 10 mm), thereby reducing seed dispersal efficiency. We studied 14 green spaces in a Brazilian metropolis, recording ant behavior towards artificial diaspores to assess seed dispersal effectiveness. We calculated ant centrality for each green space and type of behavior upon the diaspores. We also computed diaspore removal efficiency (DRE) across the management and urbanization gradient. We found the core of central ant species changed between preserved and managed green spaces and according to the behavior towards diaspores. The management intensity also differed in terms of dispersal efficiency. We classified ants into six functional groups, where epigaeic generalist predators stood out, removing diaspores for longer distances, especially in the most preserved areas. The change in the composition of central species among urban green spaces underlines the importance of urban heterogeneity acting as a filter that selects species with different niche specificities and efficiency in their functional roles. Altogether, our results suggest that the functional structure of ant assemblages significantly influences the spatial dynamics of diaspore removal in the city, underscoring how the quality of biotic interactions, particularly those performed by epigaeic generalist predators, contributes to long-distance diaspore dispersal, even within a highly modified urban matrix. With 70% of humanity projected to inhabit urban areas by 2050, our results underscore the urgency of designing green infrastructures that support ecological functionality. This need is particularly important in tropical cities, which simultaneously harbor the highest biodiversity and threatened ecosystems on Earth.

From functional zones to the region: Ecosystem service supply-demand assessment and differentiated management strategies in the Fuzhou Metropolitan Area - Xinxin Li; Jiale Li; Yuqing Zhao; Zesong Xu; Weibin You (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Selenium bioaccumulation in industrialized urban forests: case study of five tree species used for phytoremediation - İsmail Koç; Hakan Sevik; Constantin Nechita; Ugur Canturk; Andreea Maria Iordache; J. Julio Camarero (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)
Heavy metal pollution poses significant risks to ecosystems and human health, necessitating effective monitoring and mitigation strategies. This study focused on the priority pollutant selenium (Se) content, evaluating five tree species ( Tilia tomentosa , Robinia pseudoacacia , Cedrus atlantica , Pseudotsuga menziesii , and Fraxinus excelsior ) to assess their capacity to biomonitor and mitigate Se in urban parks of Düzce (Türkiye). We quantified Se accumulation in the outer bark, inner bark, and wood across the four cardinal directions of the stem. Results showed striking inter-species variation: R. pseudoacacia and C. atlantica woods accumulated exceptionally high Se concentrations (91.9 and 77.4 mg·kg⁻¹, respectively), while P. menziesii and F. excelsior showed non-detectable levels. Strong directional effects were pronounced, e.g., with the north aspect in C. atlantica accumulating 2.7× higher Se than the east aspect (77.40 vs. 28.09 mg·kg⁻¹). Se was generally higher in bark than wood. C. atlantica is recommended for phytoremediation due to constrained inter-tissue translocation (e.g., north-south differential: 45.39 vs. 36.10 mg·kg⁻¹). In comparison, R. pseudoacacia showed high bioavailability but high variability by cardinal direction (66.40–91.92 mg·kg⁻¹). These findings reveal species-specific Se accumulation patterns influenced by microenvironmental factors, emphasizing the targeted use of R. pseudoacacia and C. atlantica for pollution monitoring and Se mitigation in urban areas.

Urban greening and heat mitigation in arid cities: environmental impacts of FIFA World Cup stadium developments in Qatar - Xuying Liu; Ammar Abulibdeh; Saied Pirasteh; Shengdong Zhang; Zhaoxi Fang (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Boxed in or branching out? Movement and resource selection of eastern box turtles (Terrapene carolina carolina) in an urban green space - Max D. Jones; Kenneth B. Ferebee; W. Mark Ford; Elizabeth A. Hunter (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)
The eastern box turtle ( Terrapene carolina carolina ) is a long-lived terrestrial turtle species distributed throughout the eastern United States that has experienced widespread population decline. Many eastern box turtle populations are persisting as remanent populations in small, fragmented urban green spaces. We investigated the movement and resource selection of eastern box turtles within a mid-Atlantic region urban forest in the eastern United States. We used a combination of turtle occurrence data (via visual encounter surveys) and radio telemetry to create resource selection functions. Additionally, we applied a simulation modeling approach and modeled activity areas via dynamic Brownian Bridge Movement Models to quantify interactions between turtles and roads or trails. We also used these models to determine the propensity for turtles to move outside of the managed urban forest boundary and into surrounding development. We observed that turtles selected for deciduous forest patches and avoided roads and trails despite the urban forest having very little available areas where anthropogenic features could be avoided. We also demonstrated observed (and probable) movements outside of the urban forest boundary. Although eastern box turtles are persisting within the urban green space we examined, our work determined that interactions with roads and trails, and movements outside of protected boundaries into developed areas present challenges to individuals navigating the urban forest.

Dispersal flights of termites in an urban ecosystem in Northeastern Brazil - Rozzanna Esther Cavalcanti Reis de Chaves; Israel Soares da Silva; Alane Ayana Vieira Oliveira de Couto; Antônio Carvalho; Emanuelly Félix de Lucena; Alexandre Vasconcellos (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)
Termite alate flights represent the main means of population dispersal and may be influenced by multiple factors, such as climatic dynamics and the intrinsic structure of colonies. This study aimed to record termite flights within the urban matrix and evaluate their relationship with different levels of urbanization. Sampling was conducted over three consecutive years (2019 to 2022) at 57 locations in João Pessoa (PB), northeastern Brazil. The city contains a significant number of Atlantic Forest remnants within its urban perimeter. Termite alates were sampled during the rainy season using rooftop pools (12–48 m high), water bodies, and active searches in buildings and public squares. A total of 43 termite alate species were exclusively sampled within the urban matrix. In terms of feeding groups, 16 species were wood-feeders, 16 were soil-feeders, seven were wood–soil interface feeders, and four were wood-leaf interface feeders. Alates of all species were sampled in the most urbanized areas of the city (75% to 100% urbanization), and 83.7% of the total species were found exclusively in these areas. Furthermore, among native species, only Nasutitermes corniger is considered a pest. The other species play important ecological roles, such as decomposers or serving as food resources for other organisms, thus contributing to the maintenance of urban biodiversity.

Fine-scale analysis of the coupling between habitat quality and urban development intensity in a metropolitan city - Yongge Hu; Guohang Tian; Enkai Xu; Qian Chen; Nalin Dong (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Impacts of urbanization on soil fungal communities in Guangzhou, China: Changes in composition, functional groups, community assembly, and network properties - Shitao Xu; Kexin Wang; Fangjie Luo; Caimao Luo; Jing Luo; Binger Li; Yiran Xu; Siwei Ye; Linjing Yu; Yiyuan Cao; Ming Li; Yongjian Chen (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Artificial light induces nighttime signaling in a diurnal katydid - Keisuke Nakaoka; Masayuki Senzaki (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)

Spatial distribution of the invasive hornet Vespa velutina along a rural-urban gradient in a coastal Spanish City - Yaiza R. Lueje; Sara Rodríguez-Sánchez; María J. Servia; Jaime Fagúndez (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)
Urban areas are characterized by distinct environmental constraints that influence biodiversity and its spatial distribution patterns. Air, light, and noise pollution, together with reduced vegetation cover, are among the stressors defining urban ecosystems. Such conditions may facilitate the establishment of opportunistic species, including invasive alien species. In this study, we assess how the rural-urban gradient of the city of A Coruña (Spain) influences the spatial distribution of Vespa velutina , a species that has invaded large areas of East Asia and Europe. We combined spatially explicit data on air pollutants, day and night noise levels, artificial light intensity, and vegetation cover derived from satellite imagery. Vespa velutina abundance was quantified using 199 traps, and spatial clustering was analysed using hotspot analysis. Citizen-reported nest density was included as a control variable to account for proximity to established colonies. Relationships between hotspot intensity and environmental predictors were assessed using regression models that account for spatial autocorrelation. Vespa velutina hotspot intensity was negatively associated with vegetation cover and positively with noise and air pollution. In contrast, light pollution and nest density were not statistically significantly associated with hotspot intensity when spatial dependence was accounted for. Overall, results suggest that V. velutina is not negatively constrained by urban environments, consistent with its generalist ecological behavior. These findings suggest that increased urban naturalization, promoted through green infrastructure and a reduction of urban stressor intensity, may help modulate the success of invasive species such as V. velutina in cities.

Spatial use of African Woolly-necked Storks (Ciconia microscelis) in a South African mosaic landscape - Jonah Gula; Colleen T. Downs (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)
African Woolly-necked Storks ( Ciconia microscelis ) were conventionally considered shy and secretive, occurring in natural wetlands and swamp forests. However, these storks rapidly colonised urban areas of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, since the early 1990s. We studied the spatial use of Woolly-necked Storks in the colonised region using telemetry, hypothesising that the abundance of urban food (e.g., supplementally-fed anthropogenic food, refuse, and natural prey in residential gardens) has led them to be highly sedentary. Using measures of utilisation distribution size, nesting foraging trips, and nocturnal roost site fidelity, we found that adults had much more limited spatial use than immatures. Furthermore, adults strongly selected for urban and rural residential habitats, whereas immatures showed weaker selection for more types of habitats, yet seasonal effects were weak for both age groups. Urban areas of KwaZulu-Natal clearly confer meaningful fitness benefits to breeding adult woollynecks that are not yet realised during the immature life stage. Immatures move widely during the post-dispersal period because they are not constrained by breeding considerations, and their spatial use may be influenced by social aspects. Given KwaZulu-Natal’s rapid natural habitat loss and urban sprawl, our findings offer a fairly unusual perspective on the effect of urbanisation on wildlife and their persistence in urban mosaic landscapes with natural and managed green spaces in South Africa.

The potential of participatory science data for modelling wildlife habitat selection in a rapidly urbanising area - Jade Simoen; Gabriella R. M. Leighton; Zoë A. Woodgate; Laurel E. K. Serieys; Deborah Wettlaufer; Jacqueline M. Bishop (Urban Ecosystems, 2026)
Increasing urbanisation challenges biodiversity conservation, especially for wildlife adapting to fragmenting habitats. Carnivores are particularly affected, due to their large spatial needs and low densities. Solitary felids are particularly cryptic and detecting them is challenging; traditional methods often face financial and logistical constraints necessitating alternative approaches for species monitoring. Participatory science (PS) may offer a cost-effective, scalable solution; however, spatial bias, non-representative observations, and observer expertise remain concerns. This study assessed PS data reliability and applicability for modelling caracal ( Caracal caracal ) habitat selection within the rapidly urbanising Cape Peninsula of Cape Town, South Africa. We compared location data from PS ( n = 897) and GPS collars ( n = 14,253) using a framework to conduct a systematic assessment of spatial and temporal coverage, aptness, and application of the datasets. Resource selection functions for both datasets were evaluated for directionality, significance, and standard error to compare output similarity. Results showed general agreement between models for key habitat variables (e.g., distance to urban edge, roads, and vegetation greenness), suggesting that PS in cities is a useful complementary method to provide valuable longer-term ecological insights into habitat use by adaptable urban wildlife. While GPS telemetry captured finer-scale movement in our study system, PS data offered broader temporal and sufficient spatial coverage. Our assessment highlights both strengths and limitations of crowdsourced occurrence data, emphasising PS’s potential in urban carnivore ecology research when data limitations are carefully considered.