Comparative urban ecology: developing methods to assess urban social-ecological networks across realms and regions

• Applicant: Professorin Dr. Tanja Straka
• Subject Area: Ecology and Biodiversity of Animals and Ecosystems, Organismic Interactions ; Ecology and Biodiversity of Plants and Ecosystems ; Urbanism, Spatial Planning, Transportation and Infrastructure Planning, Landscape Planning
• Term: since 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 513853423

Interdisciplinary studies are needed to design cities that can meet the challenges of climate change and the biodiversity crisis, but also the needs of citizens. Social-ecological networks are a promising interdisciplinary approach to understand the relationships between animals, plants, other species, people and human institutions in urban and other areas. However, the application of this approach requires specific methods, for example to enable comparisons between cities and to better analyze global trends. Such methods are lacking thus far. Further, in both ecology and the social sciences, there are different approaches to analyze networks – the integration of these approaches has yet to be achieved. This is where our interdisciplinary network comes in with the following aims: 1. A network with scientists from the fields of urban ecology (terrestrial, freshwater, marine), social sciences and urban design, as well as experts in social-ecological networks; including several already established scientists and early career researchers from different cultural contexts. 2. At least two publications that analyze social-ecological networks for different ecosystems in urban areas and also recommend standardized methods for such analyses. 3. Continuation of this network in comparative studies in which we use, test, validate and, where necessary, adjust the standardized methods for analyzing social-ecological networks. We hope that our network of renowned experts in urban ecology and social-ecological networks will markedly advance both research fields and will also be a stimulus for both researchers and practitioners working with different urban ecosystems and actors in different cultural contexts.

• DFG Programme: Scientific Networks
• Co-Investigator: Professor Dr. Jonathan Jeschke