A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
Urban landscape organization is associated with differences in avian-mediated regulating ecosystem services
Authors: Izquierdo, Lucía; Díaz, Mario; Benedetti, Yanina; Jokimäki, Jukka; Kaisanlahti-Jokimäki, Marja-Liisa; Morelli, Federico; Pérez-Contreras, Tomas; Rubio, Enrique; Sprau, Philipp; Suhonen, Jukka; Tryjanowski, Piotr; Ibáñez-Álamo, Juan Diego
Publisher: Elsevier
Publication year: 2026
Journal: Landscape and Urban Planning
Article number: 105540
Volume: 267
ISSN: 0169-2046
eISSN: 1872-6062
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2025.105540
Publication's open availability at the time of reporting: Open Access
Publication channel's open availability : Partially Open Access publication channel
Web address : https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2025.105540
Self-archived copy’s web address: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/506161755
Self-archived copy's licence: CC BY NC
Self-archived copy's version: Publisher`s PDF
Urbanization alters ecosystems through multiple biotic and abiotic changes that directly affect urban biodiversity. However, we still lack information on how urban areas influence the ecosystem services provided by wildlife, particularly regulating ecosystem services (RES) such as seed dispersal, pollination, pest control, and scavenging. Recent studies have shown marked differences in animal communities depending on urban landscape configuration, which ranges from land-sharing (low-density housing with small, fragmented green areas) to land-sparing (high-density housing with large, unfragmented green areas). Because this gradient affects animal communities, we expect it to also influence potential ecosystem service provision. In addition, several local urban attributes may influence these communities and, consequently, could also affect RES provision. To address these research questions and their potential temporal variation, we collected bird assemblage data from nine European cities during the breeding and non-breeding seasons. We used bird diets and abundances to identify the main species providers of the four avian-mediated RES mentioned above and analyzed their variation in potential service provision along the urban landscape organization gradient. Land-sharing areas provided higher potential scavenging (both seasons), seed dispersal (non-breeding), and pest control (non-breeding). Several urban attributes (e.g., abundance of fleshy fruit-bearing plants) significantly enhanced RES, while others (e.g., built cover) reduced them, although these effects varied seasonally. These findings provide new insights into the debate on how cities can be more biodiversity-friendly and can help to implement measures based on local urban attributes that promote RES provision, both of which are vital for urban ecosystems and citizens’ well-being.
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Funding information in the publication:
This study is part of the LANDCITIES project (CEXP-375-UGR23), funded by Consejería de Universidad, Investigación e Innovación and by ERDF Andalusia Program 2021-2027. It was also partially funded by the project PID2019-107423GA-I00 of the MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033.