Abstract
Fragmentation of natural landscapes during urbanization processes has been well linked to biodiversity loss and changes in ecological and ecosystem function. Fragmentation can also have profound effects on provision of ecosystem services and on human social dynamics and well-being within cities. The ways in which ecological, ecosystem service, and social factors and the interactions among these are affected by fragmentation is not well studied. Understanding these relationships is particularly important in cities where high densities of human population create intense and dynamic interactions within green spaces. Using the rapidly developing campus of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) in Mexico City as a case study, we examine the effects of natural area fragmentation over time on ecosystem services, human well-being, and biodiversity. We compare fragmentation of the campus natural areas between 1954-2015 to non-native plant species distribution maps, models of water infiltration, and mobility and citizen-science data. We found that the loss and fragmentation of the campus’s natural areas from has had varied effects on ecosystem services, and negative effects on human well-being and biodiversity. The relationships between fragmentation and ecosystem services depends on the ecosystem service being measured; water infiltration was negatively impacted by fragmentation but engagement with biodiversity was greatest in areas with a mix of natural and urban land covers. Our human well-being variable, mobility (the average travel time within the campus of walkers, bicyclists, and cars), was negatively affected by fragmentation. Walkers and cyclists spend significantly more time traveling across campus in 2015 compared to 1954. Finally, the most fragmented areas of the campus’s natural areas support large populations of invasive exotic species, indicating negative effects of fragmentation on biodiversity. Although campus urban development is necessary for supporting the academic community at this growing university, we suggest a renewed focus on sustainable campus development in which land sparing in emphasized; connecting instructional, research, administrative and other campus facilities within urban clusters and providing sustainable transport systems. Thus, eliminating further loss and fragmentation of the natural areas on campus, supporting both human well-being and the unique biodiversity of the region.
Highlights
Urban landscapes are rapidly expanding around the world and one major consequence of the urbanization process is the loss and fragmentation of natural areas
We evaluated the relationship between fragmentation of the campus natural areas and ecosystem services, human well-being, and biodiversity
This type of urban development resulted in fragmentation of the natural areas on campus (Figure 3)
Summary
Urban landscapes are rapidly expanding around the world and one major consequence of the urbanization process is the loss and fragmentation of natural areas. The ecological effects of fragmentation are primarily negative on all taxa and have been well-documented, ranging from habitat loss, reduction in species richness of plants and animals (Collinge, 1996; Haddad et al, 2015), alterations to life-history dynamics, dispersal, social systems, metapopulation dynamics, and species interactions to population decline and regional extirpation (Fischer and Lindenmayer, 2007) Ecosystem processes such as nutrient cycling and productivity are reduced compared to connected landscapes (Haddad et al, 2015), often resulting in diminished ecosystem services provision (Mitchell et al, 2013). To our knowledge, have linked habitat fragmentation to human wellbeing in urban landscapes
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