09/12/2014

Understanding the Urban Ecosystem

16:15 minutes

When you think of ecosystems, the Amazon’s tropical rainforests or the Arctic’s icy tundra might come to mind. But what about our urban environments? Geologist Sujay Kaushal and ecologist William McDowell discuss how scientists might define an urban ecosystem and what impacts cities have on the surrounding environment.

Segment Guests

Sujay Kaushal

Sujay Kaushal is an associate professor of geology at the University of Maryland in College Park, Maryland.

William McDowell

William McDowell is director of the New Hampshire Water Resources Research Center and an environmental science professor at the University of New Hampshire in Durham, New Hampshire.

Meet the Producer

About Alexa Lim

Alexa Lim was a senior producer for Science Friday. Her favorite stories involve space, sound, and strange animal discoveries.