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Consequences of Urbanization and Climate Change on Human and Ecosystem Health

Project Information


Project Completion:  August 2019; This project is now completed.
Implements Science Plan Theme: 4
Principal Investigator(s): Steve Frank, Department of Entomology, NC State University
Co-Investigator(s): Rob Dunn, Department of Applied Ecology, NC State University

Key Points

  • Entomology research on understudied area of urban forests
  • Studied impact of urban heat island effect on natural resources
  • Created projections on resilient tree species and what insects may become pests

Overview

Urban forests provide many environmental and societal benefits. These are valued at more than four billion dollars per year in the US. Urban areas in the Southeast US are projected to expand by 139% by 2060, and as these areas grow, urban trees become increasingly important. These trees help mitigate climate change, conserving biodiversity, and protecting human health. 

70% of US cities have goals of increasing their tree canopy cover, but the nation’s urban forest is actually shrinking by about 4 million trees per year. A primary threat to urban tree cover is arthropod pests. These pests can be more abundant in urban than rural forests. Temperature increases arthropod pest abundance on urban trees. Urban warming reduces tree condition both from increasing herbivory and from physiological stress. 

We found that exotic trees can remain healthy in urban forest conditions. They can maintain biodiversity of many spiders and insects similarly to native trees. In stressful locations exotic trees performed better. This information can help resource managers choose the best tree species for different locations and goals. We also found that native insects can become invasive pests under urban warming . As pests become more abundant and expand their range, they could damage forest health. Our work helps resource managers predict which species may become pests with climate change.
View a SE CASC Science Seminar Series presentation summarizing this project:

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