The growth of cities and the rising phenomenon of urbanization cannot be denied.

However
this process has huge implications for the conservation of biodiversity for which it is
imperative to first evaluate the exact impact of this phenomenon on underlying biodiversity
in the neighbourhood. It is widely believed that urbanization is one of the major reasons
responsible for dwindling biodiversity; however the relationship is not that simplistic (Dover
& Settele, 2009). One of the negative impacts of urbanisation on biodiversity is that
urbanization tends to reduce the green spaces available which can serve as habitat for the
flora and fauna (Clarke, Fisher & LeBuhn, 2008). These green spaces tend to get replaced
with concrete structures thus destroying the natural habitat of native species. Another
negative impact of urbanisation on biodiversity is in the form of structural simplification with
regards to vegetation. This is caused primary due to human settlements in urban areas that
tend to prefer grasses and herbs and thus lead to dwindling quantity and diversity of shrubs
and dead wood (DSouza & Nagendra, 2011). As a result of this selective vegetation, the
flora and fauna which are dependent on various shrubs and dead wood would tend to suffer
loss of natural habitat which would adversely impact their population (Chamberlain et. al,
2007).

However urbanisation also tends to have certain positive impacts on the biodiversity. It
results in the addition of normative species which tend to regenerate faster than the native
population of the region (Sperling & Lortie, 2010). Further since the land is put to various
uses and also used for growing myriad plants, hence a spatial diversity is produced which has
the potential of producing high beta diversity (Smith et. al., 2006). Additionally this also has
positive impact in terms of diversity in the nearby rural areas surrounding the urban area.
Moreover, the productivity of urban areas is comparatively higher due to availability of
adequate and timely natural resources along with artificial fertilisers and other scientific
interventions which tend to enhance biodiversity (McIvor & Lundholm, 2011). Finally
human settlements in urban areas tend to introduce normative species which are not
originally found in the habitat and thus contribute to increased biodiversity (Scanlon & Petit,
2008). However the introduction of normative species may in certain cases be detrimental
for the native species and thus cause a decline in the biodiversity.

In a study based on temporal data it was found that from 1836 to 2002 in Adelaide city, the
richness of plant species has not decreased but in fact enhanced by 46% as new species have
been continuously introduced thus outnumbering those which have become extinct
(McKinney, 2008), Further there are studies which tend to evaluate the impact of
urbanisation on biodiversity by focusing on the rural urban gradients. 51 such studies were
compiled which dealt with urban rural gradient with regards to insects. Out of these, 31
studies i.e. 61% proved that the richness of species in urban areas is lower than those in
comparatively more pristine rural areas while the remaining studies either showed greater
richness in urban areas or no significant difference in the urban rural gradient (Thompson &
McLachlan, 2007).

References

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Chamberlain, D.E., Gough, S., Vaughan, H., Vickery, J.A. & Appleton, G.F. 2007.
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DSouza, R. & Nagendra, H. 2011. Changes in public commons as a consequence of

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