Urban ecosystem

High school (ages 12+)
Environment & Earth

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/urban-ecosystem

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the ecological classification?Functional group within intensive land-use biomes, characterized by human dominance and modification
2. What are city critters and why do they live in concrete jungles?City critters are animals and plants that find homes in parks, alleys, and even rooftops. They live there because cities have many green spots and food from people.
3. How do parks help city animals and people?Parks give animals food, water, and shelter. They also cool the city, clean the air, and make people feel happy.

Socio-ecological system: A system comprising humans and nature, where social and ecological components are interconnected and influence each other.
Emergent properties: Characteristics of a complex system that arise from the interactions of its components and cannot be predicted from the components alone.
Urban heat island effect: The phenomenon where urban areas are significantly warmer than their surrounding rural areas due to human activities and structures.