Chicago Lifestyle and Sustainability
As the world's population has grown it has become increasingly concentratedin large urban areas. The extent to which urbanization impacts theecosystems of these cities is an important emerging area of study. Accessto nature is vital to the physical, mental, emotional and social health ofhumans and their communities. Our increasing urbanization is deprivingcurrent and future generations of exposure to functional, productive greenspace, contributing to rising crime, violence, social alienation, poverty,hunger, and other individual and community-level dysfunctions (Kuo, 2001).This session will examine the effects of urbanization on Chicago, an olderWhile it may seem strange to use the term "ecosystem" when discussing amajor city, but urban ecosystems exist around the country (PBS, 2003). Anurban ecosystem is the community of plants, animals, and humans thatinhabit the urban environment. It is an area physically dominated by man-made structures, such as buildings, roads, sewers, and power lines.However, it also contains a rich patchwork of green spaces - parks, yards,street plantings, greenways, urban streams, commercial landscaping, andundeveloped lots - that make up the urban ecos
Invasive species are non-native species that people haveintentionally or accidentally introduced to Chicago. Buildings,roads, parking lots, and other constructions form an impenetrable coveringof the soil that affects how water flows through the urban landscape andwhat can survive there. Some of the greatestthreats include poorly planned development, invasive species, landmanagement challenges and pollution. Urban ecosystems aretypically highly disturbed systems, subject to major changes in soil andplant cover, as well as temperature and water availability. "Chicago's natural areas have been vastly altered by humans (ChicagoWilderness, 1999). Despite these harsh conditions, city green spaces are filled with life -some of it quite diverse and biologically significant. According to:"Particularly problematic invaders in the Chicago region include buckthorn,Asian honeysuckle and garlic mustard, which are reducing the diversity andhealth of local forests and savannas. This has decreased the ability of these areas to supportdiverse plant and animal communities. Runoff from residences, lawns, businesses, construction sites, andindustries carries sediment, nutrients, pesticides, metals, grease, oilbacteria, salts and debris to streams. The rapid development of land for urban uses is the main threat to theremaining unprotected natural lands of Chicago, and in some cases it iscausing serious degradation of protected lands, too (Chicago Wilderness,1999). Invasive, non-native species are a threat to Chicago's ecosystem (ChicagoWilderness, 1999). Animal and birdpopulations are inhibited by the loss of habitat and food sources, toxicsubstances, and cars. However, a major challenge for the future will be to reduce the impact ofdevelopment-related runoff. Storm water that runs off the roofs of buildings, pavedsurfaces, and chemically treated landscaping becomes polluted along theway.
Common topics in this essay:
Chicago Wilderness,
,
According Particularly,
chicago wilderness,
chicago wilderness 1999,
urban ecosystems,
wilderness 1999,
invasive species,
2003 urban,
non-native species,
pbs 2003 urban,
chicago's natural,
natural communities,
pbs 2003,
Mississippi River,
chicago's ecosystem chicago,
ecosystem chicago wilderness,
particularly problematic,
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Acceptance Essays
