The Defining Biocities course gave us a first insight on one of the main subjects of this master: “biocities”. During this course, we analysed and discussed several words related to biocities. These words were separated into three categories, food, energy and ecology. Through their analysis and discussion, we gained loads of knowledge, in terms of different examples all around the world as well as to what these words imply.
Additionally, we had some interesting guest lectures, which allowed further in-depth exploration of what biocities are. Furthermore, the quality of the presentations and visuals gave us examples and inspiration on how to tackle our own presentations.
During the ecology theme we studied the interaction between different species, their relationship towards the city and how they’re studied. A condensed version of their definitions can be found below.
BioBlitz
BioBlitz is a rapid event that focuses on creating an inventory by conducting a biological census while recognising and categorising as many species of organisms as possible within the given time period. Participants scour through a given site with a goal of identifying the species and overall counts of plants, animals, fungi and other organisms present.
BioBlitz events encourage a relationship between the community and their environment. Citizens spend time with scientists and study about the biodiversity of natural spaces. They gain skills and knowledge that eventually makes the community develop a stronger sense of connection with their home environment and stimulate ecological research by motivating the scientists’ work by adding human warmth to the dry and technical process.
Students: Alexander & Sveta
Biodiversification
Biodiversification is the process by which biodiversity is increased or developed within a specific region or group of organisms. Biodiversity is the variety of life on Earth in all its forms, from microorganisms to entire ecosystems, including human beings. Biodiversity can be measured in 3 levels: genetic diversity, species diversity, and ecosystem diversity. Why should cities strive for biodiversification within them? Biodiverse environments provide many benefits through ecosystem services, biological resources, and social benefits. Some of the ecosystem services are water and air purification, soil protection, nutrient cycling, and climate stability. For example, placing trees strategically in urban spaces can cool the air by 2-8 degrees Celsius. Additionally, cities have as little as 10-12 percent of oxygen compared to a normal 20-21 percent in other areas. One tree can absorb up to 150kg of carbon dioxide per year, therefore planting trees can can increase the levels of clean air. Biological resources include food, medicine, fibers, and breeding materials. Incorporating green roofs and green edible walls in an urban context can enhance biodiversity without taking too much space and be used for urban farming providing organic produce to residents. City dwellers have a 20 percent chance of suffering from anxiety and green spaces, like parks, can provide an escape from the fast paced city life. Parks also provide spaces for exercise and recreation, and act as hubs for biodiversity. These are some of the social benefits offered by green spaces.
Student: Vanessa
Biodiversity hotspots
Biodiversity hotspots are regions with high biodiversity characterised by a significant number of species, which are threatened, endemic or endangered species. To qualify as a biodiversity hotspot, a region must have at least 1500 endemic vascular plants, and have lost 70% or more of its original natural vegetation. Biodiversity hotspots make up to 2.5% Earth’s land surface, 44% of the world’s plants, and 35% of land vertebrates live in these regions. Some examples of biodiversity hotspots: Himalaya Region in Asia, Atlantic Forest in Brazil, Galápagos Islands Pacific Ocean, Ecuador. Biodiversity hotspot is less commonly applied to cities, however some urban areas are recognised for their efforts in the preservation and enhancement of biodiversity.
Students: Helen & Marianna
Biodiversity loss
Biodiversity, encompassing genetic, species, and functional variation, faces significant threats, primarily driven by human activities. Land use changes, particularly the expansion of agriculture to 50% of habitable land, contribute to habitat loss, pushing 24,000 species towards extinction according to the IUCN Red List. Other culprits include wildlife trading, overfishing, and climate change. While natural factors like seasonal shifts impact biodiversity temporarily, human-driven losses, notably through habitat conversion and invasive species, tend to be more severe and enduring. Over the centuries, ecosystem disturbances caused by humans, such as industrialization and resource exploitation, have altered landscapes globally, making climate change a looming threat. The consequences are pervasive, affecting ecosystems worldwide and underscoring the urgent need for sustainable practices to mitigate further biodiversity decline.
Students: Karla & André
Citizen science
Citizen Science is a scientific practice that involves volunteers in the collection and/or analysis of scientific data. It is a collaborative effort between professional scientists and the general public and spans diverse fields, with a particular emphasis on biology and conservation. Volunteers contribute to projects ranging from local to national scales, exploring the intricacies of individual species and entire ecological communities. The massive, dispersed collaborations that can occur through citizen science creates opportunities for research at unprecedented spatial and temporal scales.
Students: Alkiviadis & Oliver
Design for non-humans
The concept of “Design for non-humans” involves intentionally planning and creating urban spaces that consider the needs of non-human entities, promoting biodiversity and coexistence. Urban wildlife, street trees, stray animals, birds, microorganisms, fish, bats, bees, and fungi play essential roles. General design guidelines emphasise understanding users, adapting to environments, communication, ergonomics, safety, and ethical considerations. The “Non-human Personas” framework advocates for considering non-human species in smart city design. Middle-out engagement integrates knowledge from various stakeholders. The implementation involves redesigning systems with a focus on natural materials and observing and learning from non-human behaviours. Examples include Neri Oxman’s projects and the concept of a “Bee Highway” to support pollinators in urban areas, like the one created in Oslo, Norway.
Students: Lotte & Ludovic
Ecological corridors
Ecological corridors are landscapes that connect fragmented habitats, enabling the movement of diverse life forms and ecological processes across otherwise isolated areas. These pathways are vital connections, facilitating gene flow, migration, and ecosystem biodiversity exchange. In urban environments, ecological corridors are integrated into city planning to mitigate the impacts of urbanisation on biodiversity.
Students: Kristina & Maya
Ecohydrology
Ecohydrology is an interdisciplinary scientific field aiming at sustainable water management within societies. It involves a holistic understanding of the interplay between hydrological and ecological processes, where the movement patterns of water bodies in various states impact the populations and relationships within ecosystems. Likewise, ecological elements, such as vegetation , farming or cities distributions, have a reciprocal influence by regulating hydrological cycles. As a sub-discipline of hydrology, ecohydrology focuses on the ecological dimensions of the water cycle, operating under the premise that hydrological processes serve as fundamental abiotic forces shaping natural ecosystems.
Student: Mustafa
Endemic species
Endemic species are geographically constrained to one particular place on the planet. They often form in biologically isolated areas such as islands and large bodies of water, though humanity has pushed some continent-based animals to an endemic state through hunting and habitat loss.
Student: Anushreya
Forest Ecology
Forests, landscapes influenced by trees, regulate ecological processes and habitats, contributing to biodiversity. Forest Ecology studies the relationship between tree species and their environment, examining how forest components interact. It primarily focuses on the population, community, and ecosystem levels. Forest ecosystems, ranging from local stands to continents, are characterized by the complex influence of trees on their structure and functions.
Students: Toni & Sebas
Habitat fragmentation
Habitat fragmentation is the alteration of habitat, which results in the division of a continuous habitat into smaller, isolated fragments. While natural causes can contribute to habitat fragmentation, humans are the main cause. Human activities such as roads, mining, agricultural land conversion and urbanisation contribute greatly to fragmentation.
Students: Sharvari & Varun
Invasive specie
An invasive species is an organism that is not indigenous, or native, to a particular area. Invasive species can cause significant economic and ecological damage to new areas. To be invasive, a species must adapt to the new area easily. It must reproduce quickly. It must harm property, the economy, or the native plants and animals of the region.
Student: Anushreya
Multi-species interactions
Multi-species interactions in an ecosystem are the interactions that occur between organisms and themselves and organisms and the environment. These interactions are important for the health of the ecosystem. There is a vast number of interactions between species. Some interactions are direct and they result as positive, negative or neutral. Six main types are noticed: predation, competition, parasitism, herbivory, mutualism and commensalism.
Students: Lamprini & Nishi
Nature based solutions
The term “nature-based solutions” means utilizing nature’s capabilities as solutions to enhance the efficiency of cities and the human living environment in terms of natural issues, preservation, and provision of sufficient resources for life, as well as addressing economic and social issues.
“Nature-based solutions refer to actions that aim to protect, sustainably manage, or restore natural ecosystems. These actions address societal challenges such as climate change, human health, food and water security, and disaster risk reduction in an effective and adaptive manner. Simultaneously, they provide benefits for both human well-being and biodiversity.” ( Law insider Dictionary)
“Nature-based solutions are defined as actions to protect, sustainably manage, and restore natural or modified ecosystems that address societal challenges effectively and adaptively, simultaneously providing human well-being and biodiversity benefits.” (International Union for Conservation of Nature, 2016).
Student: Alireza
Urban biodiversity
Urban biodiversity refers to the variety of living organisms and their genetic variations, as well as the variety of their habitats in and around dense human settlements. Taking care of biodiversity within the city, entails a beneficial interaction with humans.
Urban biodiversity considerations can be woven into various aspects of urban planning and architectural development, promoting a more sustainable and ecologically conscious approach to building and expanding cities. By promoting urban green spaces, such as parks, gardens, and green roofs, a broad variety of native species can be supported and habitats for pollinators, birds, and other animals can be provided.
Students: Alfred & Emma
Urban ecosystem services
Urban ecosystem services refer to a range of specialised functions designed for the unique dynamics of cities, providing vital advantages for human well-being and urban operations. Categorised into provisioning, cultural, supporting, and regulating types, these services find expression in urban green spaces, offering solutions to challenges like economic resilience, health enhancement, social cohesion, and ecological sustainability within urban landscapes.
In urban scenarios fragmentation occurs when large blocks of habitat are cut into smaller pieces by development such as roads or housing. The remaining blocks of habitat may be too small to sustain populations of a variety of species and the fragmentation often results in barriers to species movement.
Student: Diana
