Foundational Reading

Urban Evolutionary Biology

The first academic text to detail the emerging field of urban evolutionary biology; Includes case studies on plants, animals, and humans

Edited by Marta Szulkin, Jason Munshi-South, and Anne Charmantier

Urban Ecology: patterns, processes, and applications

The first major urban ecology textbook; emphasizes the importance of understanding cities as integrated social-ecological systems

Edited by Jari Niemela, Jurgen H. Breuste, Glenn Guntenspergen, Nancy E. McIntyre, Thomas Elmqvist, and Philip James

Urban Ecology: Science of Cities

This text explores the ecology of every aspect of a city and includes patterns and examples from numerous cities around the world

Written by Richard T.T. Forman

Urban Herpetology

This book is a collection of articles detailing how rapid urbanization has affected urban herpetofauna and the specific threats these species face as cities continue to expand.

Edited by Joseph C. Mitchell, Robin E. Jung Brown, and Breck Bartholomew

Urban Carnivores: Ecology, Conflict, and Conservation

This book brings together leading carnivore researchers to discuss the impacts of urbanization on a wide range of carnivore species and the management issues that may arise from urban expansion, such as human-wildlife conflict

Edited by Stanley D. Gehrt, Seth P.D. Riley, and Brian L. Cypher

Urban Raptors: Ecology and Conservation of Birds of Prey in Cities

This is the first text to review urban ecosystems in the context of raptor ecology and conservation. It addresses the role of birds of prey in cities and how best to handle their management and conservation concerns going forward.

Edited by Clint W. Boal & Cheryl R. Dykstra

Urban Bats: Biology, Ecology, and Human Dimensions

This book presents numerous research on bats in urban environments and explores the possible threats bats may face and present in the reality of continued urban expansion

Edited by Lauren Moretto, Joanna Coleman, Christina Davy, Brock Fenton, Carmi Korine, and Krista J. Patriquin

Darwin Comes to Town: How the Urban Jungle Drives Evolution

This book explains how urban environments are driving selection in many of their wildlife residents and gives incredible examples of these adaptations.

Written by Menno Schilthuizen

Nature All Around Us: A Guide to Urban Ecology

This book introduces readers to ecological concepts by applying them to a scale ranging from your backyard to big cities as a whole

Edited by Beatrix Beisner, Christian Messier, and Luc-Alain Giraldeau

Wild Urban Plants of the Northeast: A Field Guide

A field guide that details the urban plants present in Northeastern cities and unveils the plants that will dominate the future flora landscape based on predicted environmental conditions

Written by Peter Del Tredici

Guía de Biodiversidad Urbana: especies en ciudades y bosques urbanos de Puerto Rico

A field guide presenting the urban flora and fauna present in Puerto Rican cities

*only available in Spanish*

Edited by Rafael L. Joglar and Ana V. Longo

Urban Aviary: A modern guide to city birds

This field guide provides facts about urban birds that reside in cities throughout the world, along with beautiful watercolor illustrations for each species

Written by Stephen Moss

Illustrations by Marc Martin

Field Guide to Urban Wildlife: Common Animals of Cities & Suburbs

This field guide includes 135 of the most common urban mammals, birds, and insects in North America and explains how some have adapted to thrive in urban ecosystems

Written by Julie Feinstein

The Urban Tree Book: An Uncommon Field Guide for City and Town

This field guide includes descriptions and illustrations for more than 200 tree species found across the streets of urban and suburban North America

Written by Arthur Plotnik

Illustrations by Mary Phelan

Urban Lichens: A Field Guide for Northeastern North America

This field guide introduces readers to over 60 lichen species present in cities across northeastern North America

Written by Jessica L. Allen & James C. Lendemer

Illustrations and photographs by Jordan R. Hoffman

Chasing Bats and Tracking Rats: Urban Ecology, Community Science, and How We Share Our Cities

This book introduces kids to the excitement of searching for urban wildlife, the wacky tools of urban fieldwork, and the impact societal injustice can have on urban ecology

Written by Cylita Guy

Illustrations by Cornelia Li

Unseen City: The Majesty of Pigeons, the Discreet Charm of Snails & Other Wonders of the Urban Wilderness

This book aims to open up readers’ eyes to the incredible unseen organisms all around us in urban environments and bring childlike wonder back to simple city walks

Written by Nathanael Johnson