L1_What is urban ecology and patterns of urbanization

Page 1: Course Information

  • Course: PLS 162: Urban Ecology

  • Instructor: Professor Cadenasso (MLCadenasso@ucdavis.edu)

  • Schedule: Tuesday/Thursday, 8:30 - 9:50 AM

  • Location: 3215 TLC

Page 2-6: Introduction to Urban Ecology

  • What is urban ecology?

    • Focuses on the interaction between human-created environments and natural ecosystems.

Page 7-9: Ecology Definition

  • Ecosystem Types

  • Ecology Defined:

    • Scientific study examining:

      • Distribution and abundance of organisms

      • Interactions among organisms

      • Interaction between organisms and energy/matter transformations

    • Urban as a specific ecosystem type

  • Key Point: Not all cities are the same; variations in context (physical, biological, cultural, social) influence urban ecology.

Page 10-18: Defining a City

  • City Definitions:

    • Various definitions to encompass:

      • Total population

      • Land area occupied

      • Population density (people per area)

      • Structural/functional characteristics (built structures, human habitation, economic activities)

  • Inclusivity in Definitions: A broad approach will be taken in the class.

Page 19-21: Urbanization Trends

  • Global Urbanization:

    • 2007: Over 50% of global population was urban.

    • By 2030: 61% projected urban population.

  • Urbanization Regions: Most rapid in Asia and Africa.

  • Urban Expansion Timeline:

    • 60 years (1950-2010), charting growth of urban populations by country.

  • Urban Population Visualization: Nighttime photographs highlight urban impact.

Page 23: Personal Connection

  • Reflection: Think about the city you are from or are familiar with.

Page 24-34: History of Urbanization

  • Drivers of Urbanization:

    • Water: Essential for transportation, trade, energy generation, and waste removal.

    • Transportation (Post-1865): Enabled industrial centers to develop away from water, facilitating movement of goods and people.

    • Downtown Growth (1920s): Population over 50%, centers of industry and finance emerge; access to mortgages and streetcars encourage suburbs.

    • Suburbanization (Post-WWII): Influenced by car ownership and the Federal Highway Act, leading to growth in suburban populations surpassing urban areas.

    • Exurban Development (1970s): Characterized by large lots/houses, commercial hubs.

Page 30-32: Case Study: Sacramento

  • Sacramento Location Factors:

    • Importance of rivers for transportation and resources.

    • Gold Rush influenced urban growth and location determination.

  • Urban Footprint Expansion:

    • Growth of densely populated areas; the urban footprint in the Sacramento region expanded significantly over the last decade.

Page 33-34: The Importance of Studying Cities

  • Why Study Cities?:

    • Challenges in understanding urban environments due to their multidisciplinary nature.

    • Test ecological theories in innovative settings.

    • Contributing to global discussions on sustainability and understanding its impact on surrounding non-urban landscapes.