Habitat suitability as an indicator of urbanisation potential in four UK mammals
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
1. Urban environments provide opportunities for some species but are inhospitable for others. However, those which thrive can be found at higher densities in human-dominated landscapes than in more rural habitats. This highlights the importance of understanding species responses to human environments. It is not only important for the conservation of urban wildlife but also may provide fundamental insights into human-wildlife coexistence globally.
2. Here, we use citizen science data to predict the habitat suitability of Greater London for the West European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus), the red fox (Vulpes vulpes), the European badger (Meles meles) and the Eastern grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis).
3. Results indicate that the four target species prefer different urban habitats, indicating different levels of urbanisation potential. Foxes and grey squirrels are able to thrive in inner urban areas, with the highest values of habitat suitability for these species found in central London, whereas for hedgehogs and badgers, the highest habitat suitability occurs in suburban and more rural habitats in outer London, respectively.
4. These results highlight a gradient in urban tolerance, from squirrels and foxes to hedgehogs and badgers. This work also shows the importance of urban green spaces as habitats for wildlife.
2. Here, we use citizen science data to predict the habitat suitability of Greater London for the West European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus), the red fox (Vulpes vulpes), the European badger (Meles meles) and the Eastern grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis).
3. Results indicate that the four target species prefer different urban habitats, indicating different levels of urbanisation potential. Foxes and grey squirrels are able to thrive in inner urban areas, with the highest values of habitat suitability for these species found in central London, whereas for hedgehogs and badgers, the highest habitat suitability occurs in suburban and more rural habitats in outer London, respectively.
4. These results highlight a gradient in urban tolerance, from squirrels and foxes to hedgehogs and badgers. This work also shows the importance of urban green spaces as habitats for wildlife.
Date Issued
2024-04-01
Date Acceptance
2023-11-20
Citation
Mammal Review, 2024, 54 (2), pp.105-120
ISSN
0305-1838
Publisher
Wiley
Start Page
105
End Page
120
Journal / Book Title
Mammal Review
Volume
54
Issue
2
Copyright Statement
© 2023 The Authors. Mammal Review published by Mammal Society and John Wiley & Sons Ltd. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
License URL
Identifier
10.1111/mam.12334
Subjects
BADGERS MELES-MELES
citizen science
CITY
DISTRIBUTION MODELS IMPLICATIONS
Ecology
Environmental Sciences & Ecology
FOXES VULPES-VULPES
Greater London
GREY SQUIRRELS
habitat suitability
Life Sciences & Biomedicine
POPULATIONS
PROTECTED AREAS
RED
Science & Technology
species distribution
SPECIES DISTRIBUTION MODELS
urban ecology
URBAN FOX
Zoology
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2023-12-11