Abiotic drivers of ecological structure and function in urban systems

Abstract

The interactions between abiotic (nonliving) and biotic (living) factors define ecosystem ecology, and form an essential foundation for any effort to understand urban wildlife. The study of ecosystems considers the flow of energy and materials between organisms and their physical environment. For instance, how much energy enters an ecosystem through the process of primary production-the conversion of CO 2, water, and solar energy into biomass-by plants significantly influences how many organisms an ecosystem can support. The interactions between abiotic and biotic components of urban systems are both fundamental to understanding the ecological functioning of cities and are used to explain wildlife-related phenomena, including trophic cascades, biodiversity, and species distribution across the landscape.