Information Package / Course Catalogue
Urban Ecology
Course Code: ZPM608
Course Type: Area Elective
Couse Group: Third Cycle (Doctorate Degree)
Education Language: Turkish
Work Placement: N/A
Theory: 3
Prt.: 0
Credit: 3
Lab: 0
ECTS: 8
Objectives of the Course

The aim of this course is to explain the concept of urban ecology in the context of urban ecosystem as destroyed ecosystems, to examine the ecological dynamics of the cities within and with their environment, to examine the development of cities in the historical process and the effects of ecology science on urban planning practice.

Course Content

Natural-semi natural-artificial ecosystems, development and transformation of urban areas in the world, urban-nature relationship, interaction of urban rural and agricultural landscapes, urban development models, urban areas and wildlife, ecological knowledge in urban planning.

Name of Lecturer(s)
Prof. Bülent DENİZ
Learning Outcomes
1.To know the historical process of the development of urban areas
2.To learn urban development models.
3.To understand the importance of ecological planning for wildlife in urban planning
4.To understand the importance of ecological planning for recreational, social and educational functions in urban planning
5.To be able to transfer this information to ecological planning practice by understanding natural-semi natural-artificial ecosystems and their interactions.
6.To be able to examine urban problems within the framework of ecology discipline and develop solutions.
Recommended or Required Reading
1.Alberti, M. (2008). Advances in urban ecology: integrating humans and ecological processes in urban ecosystems (No. 574.5268 A4). New York: Springer.
2.Boone, C. G., & Fragkias, M. (Eds.). (2012). Urbanization and sustainability: linking urban ecology, environmental justice and global environmental change (Vol. 3). Springer Science & Business Media.
3.Forman, R.T., 2014. Urban ecology: science of cities. Cambridge University Press.
4.Gaston, K. J. (Ed.). (2010). Urban ecology. Oxford University Press.
5.McHale, M. R., Pickett, S. T. A., Barbosa, O., Bunn, D. N., Cadenasso, M. L., Childers, D. L., ... & Peterson, M. N. (2015). The new global urban realm: complex, connected, diffuse, and diverse social-ecological systems. Sustainability 7: 5211–5240.
6.Kabisch, N., & Haase, D. (2013). Green spaces of European cities revisited for 1990–2006. Landscape and urban planning, 110, 113-122.
7.Niemelä, J., Breuste, J. H., Guntenspergen, G., McIntyre, N. E., Elmqvist, T., & James, P. (Eds.). (2011). Urban ecology: patterns, processes, and applications. OUP Oxford.
8.Pickett, S. T., Cadenasso, M. L., Grove, J. M., Groffman, P. M., Band, L. E., Boone, C. G., ... & Law, N. L. (2008). Beyond urban legends: an emerging framework of urban ecology, as illustrated by the Baltimore Ecosystem Study. BioScience, 58(2), 139-150.
9.Spirn, A. W. (1984). Granite garden. Basic Books.
10.Wu, J. (2014). Urban ecology and sustainability: The state-of-the-science and future directions. Landscape and urban planning, 125, 209-221.
11.Zipperer, W. C., & Pickett, S. T. (2001). Urban Ecology: patterns of population growth and ecological effects. e LS.
12.Pataki, D. E. (2015). Grand challenges in urban ecology. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, 3, 57.
13.Mostafavi, M., & Doherty, G. (Eds.). (2016). Ecological urbanism. Zurich: Lars Müller.
14.Byrne, L. B. (2022). Ecology with cities. Urban Ecosystems, 25(3), 835-837.
15.Wu, J. (2008). Toward a landscape ecology of cities: beyond buildings, trees, and urban forests. In Ecology, planning, and management of urban forests: international perspectives (pp. 10-28). New York, NY: Springer New York.
16.Klaus, V. H., & Kiehl, K. (2021). A conceptual framework for urban ecological restoration and rehabilitation. Basic and Applied Ecology, 52, 82-94.
Weekly Detailed Course Contents
Week 1 - Theoretical
General information about the course: scope, needs and method
Week 2 - Theoretical
The concept of ecology, its development and importance
Week 3 - Theoretical
Natural, semi-natural and artificial ecosystems
Week 4 - Theoretical
Natural, semi-natural and artificial ecosystems
Week 5 - Theoretical
Natural, semi-natural and artificial ecosystems
Week 6 - Theoretical
Urban, agricultural, rural landscapes and their relations
Week 7 - Theoretical
Emergence and development of cities and urban planning models
Week 8 - Theoretical
Emergence and development of cities and urban planning models
Week 9 - Theoretical
Urban ecology for the continuity of wildlife
Week 10 - Theoretical
Urban ecology for recreational, social and educational functions
Week 11 - Theoretical
Theory and applications in planning and urban ecology
Week 12 - Theoretical
Theory and applications in planning and urban ecology
Week 13 - Theoretical
Practical work, homework presentations and discussion
Week 14 - Theoretical
Practical work, homework presentations and discussion
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Type of AssessmentCountPercent
Midterm Examination1%30
Final Examination1%70
Workload Calculation
ActivitiesCountPreparationTimeTotal Work Load (hours)
Lecture - Theory1473140
Midterm Examination116117
Final Examination142143
TOTAL WORKLOAD (hours)200
Contribution of Learning Outcomes to Programme Outcomes
PÇ-1
PÇ-2
PÇ-3
PÇ-4
PÇ-5
PÇ-6
PÇ-7
PÇ-8
PÇ-9
OÇ-1
1
1
1
3
2
OÇ-2
4
1
4
3
2
OÇ-3
2
3
2
2
OÇ-4
2
3
2
3
OÇ-5
4
3
1
3
4
3
5
5
OÇ-6
5
3
1
5
5
3
5
5
Adnan Menderes University - Information Package / Course Catalogue
2026