A new UCLA-led study published in Frontiers in Conservation Science reveals that while larger cities have more species on average, their distribution is less even. This impacts overall environmental health, resident well-being and equity at multiple scales. The study was conducted in partnership with the Los Angeles Department of City Planning and Cal State Los Angeles. 

Utilizing data from iNaturalist and eBird to track 17 widespread, native terrestrial species, researchers assessed how a city’s size relates to the number of animal species living within its borders and how these species are distributed. Dan Cooper, lead author and former UCLA doctoral student, said that “neighborhood by neighborhood, you have winners and you have losers. In Los Angeles, for example, the winners are places like Brentwood and your losers are places like Exposition Park, where there’s almost no natural open space.” 

While the study focused on the urban areas surrounding Los Angeles, San Diego, and San Jose, California, the Los Angeles-based team also took a closer look at their local county. Examination of Los Angeles County general plans — long-term policy planning documents — revealed that policies related to biodiversity are outdated or absent for many municipalities. This leads policymakers and the public to often view extremely urbanized areas as ecologically irredeemable. Such resistance to much-needed restoration raises equity concerns since certain communities, often already socially and economically marginalized, are unable to reap the benefits of nature in their neighborhoods.  

Learn more about the study at UCLA Newsroom. 

Study Authors 

Daniel S. Cooper, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, UCLA 

Nurit D. Katz, Department of Sustainability, UCLA 

Fiona M. Osborn, Department of Geography, UCLA 

Jo Tarczynski, Institute of Environment and Sustainability, UCLA 

Lara K. Bacasen, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, UCLA 

Eric M. Wood, Department of Biological Sciences, California State University Los Angeles 

Kat Superfisky, Department of City Planning, City of Los Angeles 

Image Source: Sean Brenner