The iEcoLab recently published a new paper titled “Crumb bums? Context dependence in ecosystem services supplied by common urban animals”. The paper was authored by lab alumni Dr. Timothy Swartz and previous undergraduate researcher Alison Blaney, as well as PI Dr. Jocelyn Behm. In urban areas, food litter is commonly found on streets and parks, which makes for an unpleasant environment. The paper explored how urban animals, including birds and small mammals, contributed to the ecosystem service of litter removal in Philadelphia and the surrounding area. They did this by leaving a slice of bread out in the open and watching to see which animals visited and the amount of the bread they consumed or removed. They found that eastern gray squirrels and house sparrows were the biggest providers of this service, and that the rate this service was completed varied by habitat type. Their research shed light onto how often overlooked animals can positively contribute to the well-being of humans in urban areas.
Swartz, TM, AR Blaney, JE Behm. 2024. Crumb bums? Context dependence in ecosystem services supplied by common urban animals. Ecosphere, 15(10): e70014.
Photo credits: Kham Tran