Metropole Ecology

Course manual 2020/2021

Course content

An increasing part of Earth’s terrestrial surface is taken up by urban and peri-urban land use, forming large agglomerates known as metropoles such as Tokyo, Shanghai, Delhi, Mexico city, São Paulo, New York, London and Paris. These intensively-used areas are dynamic ecosystems with distinct properties, hosting particular species and communities, but also creating nuisances e.g. through invasive species or human-wildlife conflicts. At the same time, metropolitan ecosystems are pivotal in supporting human well-being, as over half of the global human population lives in cities, facing challenges related to e.g. air quality, heat, storm water, and space for leisure. Urban ecosystems can provide services to address some of these challenges. In this course we use an interdisciplinary approach to understand specific challenges and opportunities of an urbanizing world for both biodiversity, ecosystem processes, and people.

Specifically, we will learn about 1) the opportunities and challenges of the urban environment for biodiversity and human-wildlife interactions; 2) the environmental challenges associated with urbanization and human well-being, and the role of ecosystems and their services in addressing these challenges.

Study materials

Literature

• See canvas for detailed required literature per module.

Practical training material

• All material will be provided via canvas

Objectives

• Describe how the built-up environment is distinct from otherenvironments and provide concrete examples of effects thereof on flora/fauna species composition, ecosystem processes, and people’s well-being.
•  Explain the mechanisms that allow certain kinds of species to establish themselves successfully in urban contexts.
•  Explain the role urban ecosystems play in people’s well-being in different socio-economic and biophysical contexts.
• Provide examples of human-wildlife conflicts in metropolitan contexts, describe the conditions under which these may arise, and formulate solutions to address these.
• Illustrate how metropoles directly and indirectly affect land use and biodiversity in other areas.
• Apply an interdisciplinary approach in addressing metropolitan environmental and ecological challenges and identify actions required to create biodiversity- and adaptation-friendly cities and towns for the future.

Teaching methods

• Lecture
• Computer lab session/practical training
• Fieldwork/excursion
• Presentation/symposium
• Self-study
• Working independently on e.g. a project or thesis

Lectures and related related reading material and discussions are used to learn about different topics covered in the course and can be applied to the final metropole assignment. Presentations provide students an opportunity to develop more in depth knowledge in a species topic and gain skills in communicating key information and teaching each other. Practical exercises are used to analyze specific questions and apply knowledge.

Learning activities

Attendance

This programme does not have requirements concerning attendance (TER part B).

Additional requirements for this course:

Attendance of practicals and presentations given by students is mandatory, this includes the biodiversity excursion.

Attendance of lectures is highly recommended. Currently due to COVID-19 all course interactions will be conducted online, except for the excursion which we aim to conduct in person.

Assessment

See canvas for more details about grading. If allowed the exam will be conducted in person.

Assignments

See canvas for more details. Most assignments are group assignments. Groups will be assigned by the course coordinators.

Fraud and plagiarism

The 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' applies to this course. This will be monitored carefully. Upon suspicion of fraud or plagiarism the Examinations Board of the programme will be informed. For the 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' see: www.student.uva.nl

Course structure

Contact information

Coordinator

• dr. Judy Shamoun-Baranes

UvA

Prof. dr. Judy Shamoun-Baranes

E-mail: J.Z.Shamoun-Baranes@uva.nl

Science Park 904,  Kamernummer: C4.209

1098 XH Amsterdam

VU

Dr. Verena Seufert

E-mail: verena.seufert@vu.nl