If more than half of the Earth’s people live in cities and the amount of paved surfaces in the United States is equivalent to the area of Ohio, shouldn’t our sciences thrive in the city? Urban Ecosystem Ecology takes on the important task of reconciling environmental sciences with the world’s growing urbanization. From wildlife to water, from urban agriculture to low-impact development, we need a better understanding of the urban ecosystem.

Jacqueline Aitkenhead-Peterson is an Assistant Professor of Urban Water and Nutrient Management within the Soil and Crop Science department at Texas A&M University. Her research and teaching have focused on stream chemistry and the impact of land use/land cover management on soil and freshwater nutrient dynamics.

Astrid Volder is an Assistant Professor of Horticultural Landscape Ecology within the Horticultural Sciences department at Texas A&M University. Her research and teaching focus on plant stress response and belowground ecology as affected by climate change, urbanization and ecosystem management.