Urban Ecology: An Introduction Seeks To Open The Reader's Mind And Eyes To The Way In Which Nature Permeates Everyday Urban Living, And How It Has To Be Understood, Cared For, And Managed To Make Our Towns And Cities Healthier Places In Which To Live And More Resilient To Environmental And Other Changes. The Authors Examine How Contact With Nature Can Improve Our Health, The Air We Breathe, The Waters We Use And Our Enjoyment Of Parks And Gardens. The Texts Sets Out The Science That Underlies The Changing Natural Scene And The Management Tools Used To Ensure That Cities Become Both Capable Of Adapting To Climate Change And More Beautiful And More Resilient Places In Which To Live. The Work Begins With A Discussion Of The Nature Of Urban Places And The Role Of Nature In Towns And Cities. In Part 1 The Authors Consider The Context And Content Of Urban Ecology, Its Relationship To Other Foci Of Interest Within Ecology And Other Environmental Sciences, And The Character Of City Landscapes And Ecosystems. In Part 2 The Authors Set Out The Physical And Chemical Components Of Urban Ecosystems And Ecological Processes, Including Urban Weather And Climate, Urban Geomorphology And Soils-- Preface -- Introduction: The Nature Of Urban Places And Nature In Urban Places -- Part One: The Context Of Urban Ecology (1. Cities And Ecology; 2. Cityscapes: Places For Nature; 3. Cities As Systems) -- Part Two: The Physical Environmental Factors Affecting Life In Towns And Cities (4. The Urban Atmosphere: Weather, Climate And Air Quality; 5. Urban Geomorphology And Urban Soils: Knowing The Ground You Build On And Which You Cultivate; 6. Urban Hydrology; 7. Urban Biogeochemistry) Part Three: Urban Habitats, Plants And Animals: Species Diversity In Urban Environments (8. Urban Habitats; 9. Urban Flora; 10. Urban Fauna) -- Part Four: Values And Uses Of Urban Ecosystem Services (11. Urban Ecosystem Services And The Asessment Of Their Values; 12. Contact With Nature: Human Health And Well-being; 13. Restoration Ecology And Creative Conservation: Local And Regional Collaboration) -- Part Five: Caring For The Urban Environment: Progress Toward Sustainable, Liveable Cities: Responsibilities And Planning (14. Urban Ecology Stewardship; 15. Adapting To Change; 16. The Role Of Urban Ecology In Future Cities) Ian Douglas And Philip James. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.