Understanding Urban Habitats and Wildlife

When we think of plants or animals, our minds generally visualise forests or lakes devoid of human activity. We tend to consider cities as spheres of purely human life, but the truth is actually far from this.

Squirrels, pigeons, trees, ponds – it may be tricky to pay attention to it amidst our busy lives, but nature is all around us no matter where we are. The topic of urbanisation is often placed parallel to nature, but the truth remains that despite the destruction of natural habitats or the displacement of animals due to human activity, elements of nature do not simply vanish with the onset of urban settlements. Plants and animals having been subjected to our interference for centuries now have learned to adapt and coexist with us, thereby allowing cities to harbor various life forms in increasingly complex and interesting ways.  

Indeed, towns and cities offer different habitats for plants and animals to thrive with conditions that are vastly different from those found in natural habitats. Especially in a country as geographically and culturally diverse as India, cities offer a variety of diverse habitats, such as parks, gardens, cemeteries, landfills, lakes or streams, and fields among others. It’s difficult to precisely define what constitutes an “urban habitat” as population density varies in different regions with consequent differences in the flora and fauna available, but it generally refers to the ecosystems that shelter plants and animals amidst an area of mostly human population with built infrastructure. 

Ecologists specialising in human systems often find themselves studying urban flora and fauna in different parts of urban settlements to learn more about the conditions that allow them to thrive. It’s a field of increasing importance today, with the UN’s projected figures of 68% of the human population predicted to be living in cities by 2050. Since halting urbanisation is not an option, our best bet of finding ways to coexist with plants and animals is by studying what conditions they require to survive, their capacity to adapt, and ensuring that these systems remain intact and undisturbed by human activity. Urban habitats thus require special attention and care and fortunately, they’re accessible all around us. 

The wildlife composition of cities varies with the ecological, social, and economic condition of the area as these factors affect the types of habitats available. Biodiversity patterns also shift over time due to human activity, but the general composition tends to stay constant while species populations may be affected. Frogs and toads are the most commonly occurring amphibians in cities, found in nearly any place with water sources. Invasive species like pigeons have increased with an adjacent decline in the population of other birds such as sparrows. Crows, pigeons, Mynas, and Black Kites are among the most common city birds that have developed increasingly bold dispositions to adapt to human environments. Chameleons, snakes, and house lizards are the most common reptiles on the list. In India, Rhesus Macaques are often seen in groups in apartment complexes. While a lot of animals manage to thrive in densely populated areas, urban wildlife also includes animals that prefer living on the edge of settlements, such as deer. Thus, urban settlements are not only influenced by biophysical factors but human population density in the area as well.

On the surface, it may seem obvious that animals would prefer to live in isolation from human interference. While this was an option for most wildlife in the past, as resources grew scarce over time, they had no choice but to approach settlements and adapt to human activity in their surroundings. While the destructive side of this relationship is often highlighted, there exists a closer and more vital bond between mankind and wildlife with an undertone of interdependence. For instance, a study on urban amphibians in Melbourne, Australia found an increase in species richness with an increase in pond size but a decrease when the species was isolated from human activity. Similarly, scientists have found that a lot of the species of commonly occurring urban wildlife thrive better in urban settlements than in non-human-dominated areas. Due to the availability of food, water, warmer temperatures, shelter, and protection from other wildlife, many socialised species make homes in different corners of cities.

Scientists have categorised animals into “specialists” and “generalists”. “Specialists” are animals that prefer a particular diet which makes urban living difficult for them. For instance, wolves are less likely to meet their nutritional needs within the confines of what’s available in a city. On the other hand, “generalists” are less picky about what they eat and can satisfy themselves with anything that they come across, making life in cities easier with the more ready availability of scraps of food than what would be found in the wilderness. Rats, mice, pigeons, and squirrels would comprise this category.

Urban habitats provide more than just food, however. It’s fascinating to learn how animals have used manmade environments and inventions to their advantage. For instance, falcons build nests on skyscrapers and use street lights at night to help them hunt. The city’s warm air currents help them glide easily in the air. Many urban birds have developed louder or higher pitched mating calls to be audible over the city’s commotion. Mice and rats have channeled the city’s sewer system to travel safely and avoid the danger of traffic. In North America, coyotes have learned to be more active at night due to less human activity and a greater chance to find prey. There is still much more to learn about the incredible ways in which animals have learned to adapt and take advantage of urban habitats, and it warrants years of research and study of animal behavior. 

But urban habitats do so much more than just cater to the needs of animals. Apart from the obvious function of being our homes, cities and their habitats also indirectly affect us. By sheltering wildlife, they allow pollinators like bats, insects, and birds to thrive which is vital for plant reproduction – a process which we rely on for food. Bats and amphibians feed on disease-spreading insects like mosquitoes and flies. Foxes and pigeons feed on mice and rats which helps control and prevent rodent-spread infections and diseases. Essentially, each species has a role to play regardless of the kind of habitat it occupies, without which the whole system would fall apart.

Urban habitats are thus areas of ecological study that demand immediate attention so they can be better understood and protected. As systems that are constantly changing due to technology and rising human populations, they are vastly different from the habitats that we have studied and understood over the years. They also face unique problems of social and economic variation which aren’t as prevalent in naturally occurring habitats. The wellbeing of our urban wildlife now depends on how well we are able to understand and sustain the homes that they have made alongside ours in cities.